Vincent DiGaetano in his second season in the role of Defensive Assistant, having previously worked on the defensive side of the ball for several football programs within the New York City metropolitan area.
Most recently, DiGaetano was the linebackers coach at Nassau Community College in 2015, having previously spent 10 years on the staff at SUNY-Maritime. From 2008-2014, the 1999 Wagner College graduate served as Defensive Coordinator for the Privateers, which followed a three-year stint (2005-07) where he served as Special Teams Coordinator at SUNY-Maritime from 2005-07.
In 2014, Coach DiGaetano was a finalist for the AFCA Assistant Coach of the year in Division III. He also served as Defensive Coordinator of the USA Select Tram for the 2015 International Bowl which defeated the IFAF World Team 20-15 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.
In 2013, DiGaetano was named to the USA Football Master Trainer program and is the only college coach in the nation with this assignment. Recognized as a subject matter expert in the area of tackling, Vincent has presented this NFL-sponsored program to many high school and youth football programs. His efforts in this area are helping to create a better, safer game for players across the nation.
“Vin offers myself, and our entire defensive staff, a valued set of eyes and I’m excited to have him as part of our program,” said Head Coach Jason Houghtaling. “His experience is a tremendous asset to our players and program and, having been a four-year player here, he will offers a unique perspective for our guys.”
A lifelong educator, DiGaetano currently serves as New York City’s Department of Education Bronx Borough Safety Director, as well as Bronx Alternate Learning Center Principal. In June, 2017, he was a recipient of the 2017 Sloan Public Service Award, widely regarded as the Nobel Prizes of NYC government, this honor is annually bestowed upon six outstanding civil servants whose work performance and commitment to the public transcend not merely the ordinary but the extraordinary.
While at Maritime, 20 of his defensive players were named to the All-ECFC squad, headlined by linebacker Keith Barnes, who was a two-time (2010, 2011) Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2012, the Privateer Defense continued its dominance of opponents, finishing 36th in the nation in Total Defense, 11th in Pass Defense and 32nd in 3rd Down Conversions. Barnes finished his career holding a program lead in virtually every defensive statistical category as well as a NCAA Statistical leader in Total Tackles with 8.33 per game for the 2012 season.
The 2011 season proved to be the best statistical year for DiGaetano’s defense as the Privateers finished in the Top 10 nationally in Passing Defense (2nd), 1st Down Defense (7th) and Total Defense (8th). They also set program records in 3rd Down Defense (14th), Scoring Defense (34th) and Passes Intercepted (53rd).
In helping to key an 8-2 record, which included a 6-1 conference mark, the 2011 Maritime Defense led the ECFC in five major defensive statistical areas while also having the conference’s best Turnover Margin en-route to an 8-2 (6-1) record.
During the 2010 season, DiGaetano’s defense proved the axiom “Defense wins Championships” as this unit made the difference for the Privateers. The most significant improvement came in Rushing Defense as this statistic jumped from 123rd to 37th in the national rankings. Total Defense jumped from top 30 in 2009 to top 25 in 2010,r anking as the 24th ranked defense in the nation.
The statistical area that made the biggest impact for the Privateers came in turnovers as the defense followed DiGaetano’s “Rippin and Tearin” philosophy to national rankings of 14th in Fumbles Recovered and 28th in Forced Turnovers. He also coordinated the Punt Return efforts in 2010, helping this unit achieve a No. 12 national ranking.
Prior to Maritime, DiGaetano spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where he coached two future NFL players in Ramon Guzman (Indianapolis Colts) and Dequan Mobley (NY Jets).
DiGaetano earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology from Wagner in 1999 and a Master's of Science in Education in 2001.
A native of Island Park, NY, DiGaetano attended West Hempstead High School where he lettered in football, track and lacrosse.
He currently resides in Oakdale, N.Y. with his wife Jennifer and daughters Madeleine and Olivia.
