Wilkes University Men's Football

Chris Bantell enters his second season as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Colonels in 2025. In 2024, Bantell coached a defense that saw nine defensive players earn All-Landmark Conference honors, with Donell Mackey-Woodson being named an All-American. Mackey-Woodson and defensive lineman Angel Ramos also landed on the All-Region 2 team, placing on the third and second team respectively under Bantell's leadership. Bantell returns for his second stint on the Wilkes football staff having served as Defensive Backs coach, Defensive Pass Game Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator for the Colonels for three seasons from 2012 to 2014. Bantell coached seven All-Conference players during that stretch including one linebacker and two defensive backs who earned First and Second Team honors.   Bantell comes to Wilkes following five seasons at nearby King’s College where he was in charge of the defensive backs. During the 2020-21 season, he was promoted to co-Defensive Coordinator. His defenses ranked nationally in multiple categories including 4th in passing and 7th in total defense in 2023. Bantell also helped develop two All-American defensive backs in 2022 and 2023 while coaching 12 All-Conference players from 2019 to 2023. He also served as Academic Coordinator overseeing 46 players who earned 3.0 grade point averages or better in 2021.   Before his time at King’s, Bantell spent three years as the Defensive Backs and Defensive Pass Game Coordinator at Division II Kutztown University from 2017 to 2019. While at Kutztown, he helped KU to a Top 20 national ranking, while assisting the squad to a 2018 NCAA Division II Playoff berth. His defensive unit was top 10 in Division II in interceptions, turnovers and turnover margin. Prior to Kutztown, Bantell made a stop for one season at Misericordia University where he held the same role.   Prior to his first stint at Wilkes, Bantell served two years as an assistant coach at his alma mater West Chester University working as the defensive backs coach with the Rams during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.  During his tenure he helped mentor the safeties including two All-Conference players. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Widener University where he worked extensively with the linebackers and defensive backs. He also gained experience in film and video editing, breakdown, and recruiting while at Widener.   Bantell takes over the helm of a stout Colonel defense in its first year in the Landmark Conference ranking second in points allowed (25.3 points per-game) and second in total yards (344.5 yards per-game). Wilkes also ranked second in rushing defense (128.1 yards per-game) and had the third most sacks in the league (23).   Bantell earned his bachelor of arts in communications/athletic coaching from West Chester in 2009. He lives in Dunmore with his wife Ashley and his three sons, Carter (8), Cullen (5) and Cade (3).  Recruiting Areas PENNSYLVANIA: BERKS, BUCKS, CHESTER, DELAWARE, MONTGOMERY, PHILADELPHIA, WAYNE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS: DUNMORE HS, HONESDALE HS, MID-VALLEY HS, NORTH POCONO HS, VALLEY VIEW HS, WALLENPAUPACK HS, WESTERN WAYNE HS

Guarino ‘25 joins the Wilkes Football staff in 2026 as the tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach. Guarino was a four-year starter at guard for Wilkes, playing in 32 career games. He earned All-Landmark Second Team Honors in his junior year and was named to the First Team as a senior. He was also named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on September 20, 2022 as a part of the Wilkes offensive line. The Cedar Grove, N.J. native graduated from Wilkes in December of 2025 with a degree in Business Management. Recruiting Areas NEW JERSEY: BERGEN, ESSEX, HUDSON, PASSAIC, SUSSEX, UNION, WARREN NEW YORK: WESTCHESTER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL: WYOMING VALLEY WEST HS  

Marshall joins the Wilkes Football coaching staff in 2025 as a student assistant, coaching defensive backs. Marshall played four years for Wilkes as a defensive back, earning All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) second team honors in 2022 and All-Landmark second team honors in 2024. The Cambria Heights, N.Y. native played in 40 games with 161 total tackles, 19 deflected passes, seven interceptions, and two touchdowns. Recruiting Areas NEW YORK: NASSAU, SUFFOLK, ALL NYC LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL: NANTICOKE HS

Devon Fink '20 begins his fourth season on the Wilkes football staff serving as the Special Teams Coordinator and the Linebackers coach in 2025. It marks Fink's third year in a full-time role for the Colonels. Fink coached defensive backs from 2022 to 2024, Coaching multiple-time All-Conference selection Leroy Marshall while helping Rob Barbieri and Donell Mackey-Woodson earn their first All-Landmark honors in 2024. Under Fink's guidance, Mackey-Woodson was named an All-American that season. Fink returned to the Wilkes football program where he was a former player after serving as an assistant coach at Pottsgrove High School in 2020 and 2021. At Pottsgrove, Fink coached the running backs and defensive backs. He also served as assistant head coach of the Pottsgrove winter and spring track teams in 2021-22. Fink, graduated in May of 2020 from Wilkes with a Bachelor's degree in History. He was a member of the Wilkes football team for four seasons from 2015-2018. Fink began his career as a running back before transitioning to the defensive side at corner. He finished his career with five interceptions including one for a touchdown and 57 total tackles. He recorded 279 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 403 receiving yards with one touchdown. Fink was prominent in the kick return game as he totaled 922 return yards and a 20.5 average. Recruiting Areas  PENNSYLVANIA: WYOMING MARYLAND: ALLEGANY, BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE CITY, CALVERT, CECIL, CHARLES, GARRETT, HARFORD, MONTGOMERY, ST. MARY’S, WASHINGTON VIRGINIA: ARLINGTON, (EAST) FAIRFAX, FAUQUIER, KING GEORGE, PRINCE WILLIAM, STAFFORD DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: All LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS: ABINGTON HEIGHTS HS, CARBONDALE HS, LACKAWANNA TRAIL HS, LAKELAND HS, TUNKHANNOCK HS

Heath Hoovler begins his second season on the Wilkes Football staff in 2025 after being promoted to full-time status as Recruiting Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach. Hoovler served as the team’s running backs coach in 2024 where he coached the Landmark Conference leading rusher Elijah Jules. After graduating from Wilkes in 2022 with a degree in business administration, Hoovler was an assistant coach at SUNY Morrisville, where he was the junior varsity head coach, special teams coordinator, and wide receivers coach. Morrisville saw two receivers earn Empire 8 All-Conference selections under his tutelage in 2022 and 2023. In his time as a Colonel, Hoovler was named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll four times. The former quarterback played in 18 games for Wilkes with 249 career passing yards and three touchdown passes, as well as one rushing touchdown. Recruiting Areas NEW YORK: DUTCHESS, ORANGE, PUTNAM, ROCKLAND, SULLIVAN, ULSTER MARYLAND: ANNE ARUNDEL, CARROL, FREDERICK, HOWARD, PRINCE GEORGE’S LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS: SCRANTON PREP, SCRANTON HS, WEST SCRANTON HS, RIVERSIDE HS, OLD FORGE HS, DELAWARE VALLEY HS  

Bours Jr. joins the Wilkes Football staff in 2025 for his first season as the defensive backs coach and academic coordinator. Bours graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 2024 with a double major in actuarial science and economics, and had a fruitful playing career with the Flying Dutchmen. Bours was a five-year starter on special teams and three-year starter on offense playing multiple positions. He was named to the All-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) team twice, MAC player of the week six times and d3football.com team of the week three times. He was also named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll three times, the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team twice, and the Academic All-MAC Team once in his career. After his playing career, Bours remained on the staff as a volunteer recruiting assistant. While in college, Bours also spent time as a volunteer coach at his alma mater Annville-Cleona High School, where he coached quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive backs. Recruiting Areas PENNSYLVANIA: ADAMS, CENTRE, CLINTON, CUMBERLAND, DAUPHIN, FRANKLIN, HUNTINGDON, JUNIATA, LANCASTER, LEBANON, LYCOMING, MIFFLIN, PERRY, SCHUYLKILL, SNYDER, UNION, YORK LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL: NORTHWEST HS

Malvestuto joins the Wilkes Football coaching staff in 2025 as the team's running backs coach. Malvestuto graduated from the University of Delaware, where he worked on the Blue Hens staff in 2023 and 2024 as a volunteer assistant and operations intern where he assisted the team's running backs coach. He also spent time with his alma mater Salesianum High School as a JV assistant coach in 2021 and 2022, helping install the run game while coaching the offensive and defensive line. Recruiting Areas NEW JERSEY: ATLANTIC, BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, CAPE MAY, CUMBERLAND, GLOUCESTER, SALEM DELAWARE: KENT, NEW CASTLE, SUSSEX MARYLAND: CAROLINE, DORCHESTER, KENT, QUEEN ANNE’S, SOMERSET, TALBOT, WICOMICO, WORCESTER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS: HOLY REDEEMER HS, WILKES-BARRE AREA HS

Reigel joins the Wilkes Football coaching staff in 2025 as the team's defensive line coach. Reigel was the defensive line coach at East Stroudsburg University from 2023-2025, helping coach four defensive linemen who went on to earn All-PSAC honors while making two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances with the Warriors. Reigel graduated from ESU with a degree in business management in December of 2022. Recruiting Areas PENNSYLVANIA: CARBON, MONROE CONNECTICUT: FAIRFIELD, HARTFORD, MIDDLESEX, NEW HAVEN  

Maffea joins the Wilkes football program as their director of football operations for the 2025 season. Prior to joining Wilkes, Maffea spent time with Northampton Community College as an athletics intern in 2025 and as a game day operations intern with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in 2023. In addition to this, he helped organize and coordinate numerous events promoting East Stroudsburg University's sports management program, and collaborated with charities such as the Salvation Army on other projects. Maffea received his associate degree in sports management from Northampton Community College in August of 2023, and his bachelor's degree from East Stroudsburg University in August of 2025. Recruiting Areas TEXAS: ALL LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL: HANOVER AREA HS

Mike Coe returns to the Wilkes Football staff in his second year as a kicker/specialists coach. Prior to joining Wilkes, Coe spent time as the athletic directing intern at Lycoming College where he graduated in May of 2023 with a degree in business administration. Coe spent three seasons with the Warriors as a punter, playing 31 games and averaging 35.1 yards per punt with seven over 50 yards and 36 inside the 20 yard line. Coe earned MAC All-Academic Honors his entire collegiate career from 2019-2022.  

Kyle Dickerson begins his sixth season on the Colonels football staff in 2025, where he takes the role of offensive coordinator after being promoted to the post last spring. Prior to offensive ccordinator, Dickerson spent five season as special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator to go along with his work with the wide receivers. He coached Second Team All-MAC wide receiver Nate Whitaker in 2022 and All-Landmark Honorable Mention Devin Higgins in 2023.   Dickerson came to Wilkes after a season with SUNY Morrisville, where he coached receivers and returners.  He coached two All-Empire 8 wide receivers in his season with the team.  He was also an assistant football coach with South Plainfield High School from 2011-2018.   Dickerson also played four years of football at MAC for Albright College, where he earned three All-MAC awards and earned two All-ECAC selections and two All-East honors from D3football.com.  He caught 170 passes for 2170 yards and 21 touchdowns throughout his career at Albright.   He helped Albright make two Centennial Bowl series games, including one victory, and earn one MAC conference championship in 2015, including a victory in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs that season.   Dickerson graduated from Albright College in 2019 with a degree in Business Administration. Recruiting Areas NEW JERSEY: HUNTERDON, MERCER, MIDDLESEX, MONMOUTH, MORRIS, OCEAN, SOMERSET VIRGINIA: CLARKE, (WEST) FAIRFAX, FREDERICK, LOUDON, SHENANDOAH, WARREN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS: CRESTWOOD HS, DALLAS HS, LAKE LEHMAN HS, PITTSTON AREA HS, WYOMING AREA HS