Phil Longo, who spent the past two seasons serving as the head football coach at NCAA I-AA LaSalle University, has been named the University of Minnesota Duluth’s new offensive coordinator.



Longo, whose appointment begins March 6, joins the Bulldog program after developing the LaSalle offense into one of most explosive in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. In addition to his head coaching duties at the Philadelphia-based school, Longo was also the Explorers’ offensive coordinator, a position he held since coming to LaSalle in 2002. During his two seasons as head coach, Longo produced two MAAC Offensive Player of the Year award recipients, five All-Americans (a first for the LaSalle football program) and 13 All-MAAC selections. In addition, he oversaw an offensive unit which established some 29 school records and finished first in the MAAC in both passing and total offense each of the last two seasons. His overall record at LaSalle was 7-14, which included a 4-7 mark last fall.



A New Jersey native, Longo signed on with the Explorers after spending two years as William Paterson (N.J.) University’s offensive coordinator. In 2001, Paterson sported one of the top passing offenses in NCAA III football and, one year later, finished with the third highest scoring average in school history while equalling or setting more than three dozen team records.



Longo’s head coaching resume also includes stints at a pair of New Jersey secondary schools -- Parsippany Hills High School (1996-99) and Orange High School (1995). He also was employed as an assistant coach at Williamson (PA) Junior College (1994) and New Jersey City State University (1993).

Longo played three years of football at Rowan University (1988-89 and 1991) and as a senior runningback was a member of the school’s first New Jersey Athletic Conference championship team and NCAA III playoff qualifier. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in physical education from Rowan University in 1992 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education from LaSalle.



“We’re excited to have Phil be a part of UMD football,” said third-year Bulldog head coach Kyle “Bubba” Schweigert. “He brings an enormous amount of experience, knowledge and leadership to our program. He’s very well-versed in the spread offensive attack and we look forward to having him on board for our upcoming spring practice session.”



UMD, which begins spring practice on April 1, ranked 13th among all NCAA II schools in passing offense last fall en route to posting an 8-4 overall record and claiming a share of the North Central Conference championship. The Bulldogs, who were 4-2 in league play, also advanced to the NCAA II playoffs for the second time in four years