FOOTBALL COACHES

OFFICE: 250 Tuttle South Athletic Complex
PHONE: (585) 395-5348
E-MAIL: rsalomon@brockport.edu

Assistant Coach contact information:
Jason Mangone
PHONE: (585) 395-5480
E-MAIL: jmangone@brockport.edu

Pete Matthews
PHONE: (585) 395-2346
E-MAIL: pmatthew@brockport.edu

Jeremy Lynch
PHONE: (585) 395-5362
E-MAIL: jlynch@brockport.edu

Mike Kemp
PHONE: (585) 395-5031
E-MAIL: mkemp@brockport.edu

Head Coach: Rocco Salomone

Head coach Rocco Salomone has transformed the College at Brockport Golden Eagle football team into one of the most highly regarded programs in the country. Prior to his arrival as an assistant coach under Ed Matejkovic in 1990, the Golden Eagles had suffered through eight straight seasons of sub-.500 years. In the 18 years since retuning to Brockport (five as assistant coach and 13 as head coach) the Eagles have had just five years with non-winning records.

After a 5-5 record in 2007 his overall record stands at 81-51-1 (.609).

The 2007 campaign saw Salomone win his 80th career game with an 18-14 win over Apprentice. The Golden Eagles finished 5-5 overall, including four losses to NCAA Division III Tournament teams in their final season in the Atlantic Central Football Conference. Under Salomone, Brockport had its first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002 in senior Matt McCormick and ten players earned All-Conference honors. He became the all-time winningest football coach at Brockport with a 46-0 victory over Mount Ida in 2001.

Five Golden Eagles have earned First-Team All-American status during his tenure with Tom Massey, Josh Warner, Jay Johnson, Mike Condello and Cuyler Groth each reaching the pinnacle of college football.

Salomone led the team to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2000-2003, including an NCAA Quarterfinals appearance in 2002.

Salomone guided his 2002 squad to an 8-2 regular season record and the Golden Eagles were selected to the playoffs. Brockport posted a record five shutouts and finished the year leading all of NCAA Division III in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense, while ranking seventh in total defense. The Golden Eagles were named the ECAC Division III Team of the Year and won the Lambert Trophy. The 2002 team broke many school records, including wins in a season with 10. Defensive lineman Mike Condello was a consensus All-American for the Golden Eagles.

The 2003 season featured a 6-0 start and a 9-1 regular season mark. Brockport hosted a first round NCAA playoff contest and finished 19th in the AFCA national coaches’ poll. The Golden Eagles were also #20 in the D3football.com poll and #25 in the Football Gazettte poll.
A 1988 SUNY Brockport graduate and a full-time football staff member since 1990, Salomone was named the eighth head coach in the program’s history on Nov. 21, 1994. Just the second alumnus to be Brockport’s head coach (joining Gerry D’Agostino ’49, who coached from 1964 to 1973), Salomone replaced Ed Matejkovic, who stepped down at the end of the 1994 season.

In Salomone’s first season as head coach, Brockport got off to a slow start but went unbeaten in its last four games. In 1996, after going 2-0 to open the season, the team established a school record with the six-game unbeaten streak over two years.

In 1997, Brockport won all five home games, including a thrilling 30-28 victory over NCAA playoff-bound Cortland in the season finale. The following year the squad closed out with three straight wins, including victories over NCAA playoff-bound College of New Jersey, and rival Cortland. It was the third year in a row Brockport had beaten Cortland, a first in the 50-year series.

Brockport’s program took a step up to the national level for the first time in its 54-year history, posting an undefeated campaign in 2000 and earning its first NCAA playoff berth. Brockport led all NCAA divisions in scoring defense and allowed just 44 points and five total touchdowns all year. All-American offensive lineman Josh Warner later signed with the New York Giants and earned a ring as a starter with the Berlin Thunder, the 2001 World League Champions.

The 2001 campaign featured a seven-game winning streak and an eventual NCAA playoff team. All-American linebacker Jay Johnson capped off his season by starring in the prestigious Aztec Bowl and later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Salomone was a two-year starter at Brockport (1986-87) after stints at Juniata College (1983) and East Stroudsburg (1984-85, including a redshirt year in ’84). He and his brother, Blase Salomone, were two of the first recruits for Matejkovic, who took over as head coach in 1986.
After his senior year, Salomone had tryouts with several teams, including New England and the New York Giants.

He was a graduate assistant under Matejkovic in 1988 before taking a position as the offensive and defensive line coach at Camp Hill (PA) High School in 1989. He returned to Brockport the following fall as Matejkovic’s first full-time assistant. In his first season, he coached the running backs then moved to the defensive side, later serving as the defensive coordinator in 1993 and 1994.

Salomone attended Arundel High School in Maryland for two years before his family moved to Carlisle, Pa., for his junior and senior years. A 1983 graduate of Carlisle High School, he was a first-team All-State selection as a junior and led his team to an undefeated season and the Pennsylvania 4A state title.

Salomone and his wife, Kelly, live in Brockport with their two daughters Cecilia and Tori and son Joey.

Assistant Coaches

Jason Mangone
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Receivers
PHONE: (585) 395-5480
E-MAIL: jmangone@brockport.edu

Education: Bachelor's degree in physical education from The College at Brockport in 2000.

As a Player: Played two years at Alfred before transferring to Brockport in 1997. He became the starting quarterback in 1997 and also started in 1998, setting season records for completion percentage and efficiency rating in his first season at Brockport.

As a Coach: Ninth year on the football staff. This is his fourth season as offensive coordinator. In 2004, he led the Golden Eagle offense to school records for scoring (327) , scoring average (32.7 points per game) and touchdowns in a season (45). Last year the Golden Eagles boasted the top running back in the ACFC and in 2005 had the conference rookie-of-the-year in quarterback Zack Luke. Mangone is the recruiting coordinator for the SUNY Brockport Athletics Department and acts as home event manager for several sports. He also works a variety of camps during the summer months.

Notes: Received the Offensive Player of the Year Award in 1998, and Rookie of the Year honors in 1997 with Brockport. Was the rookie of the year at Alfred in 1995. Mangone is a native of Lancaster, N.Y., and currently resides in Chili with his wife, Janine.


Pete Matthews
Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
PHONE: (585) 395-2346
E-MAIL: pmatthew@brockport.edu

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from Dickinson in 1990. Master's degree in physical education from The College at Brockport in 1995.

As a Player: Four year varsity member at Dickinson, also was on the track and field team for two years.

As a Coach: The most experienced assistant coach on the Golden Eagle staff as finished his 15th year. He took over as offensive coordinator in the middle of 1999 and served in that role until 2003. This is his 12th season as a full-time assistant. Also has served as tight ends coach, JV offensive coordinator, receivers coach, and quarterbacks coach. Has also coached at Oberlin (OH) College in 1991, and Ewing High School in Trenton, NJ.

Notes: Teaches physical education at The College at Brockport and resides in Brockport.


Steve Milne
Kickers and Punters

Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from The College at Brockport in 1993.

As a Player: Played three years as a kicker at Brockport. Was the second First Team All-American in school history (1993). Led the nation in field goals made per game in 1993. Still holds Brockport records for field goals in a season (13) and points scored by a kicker in a season (58).

As a Coach: Has assisted the Brockport staff for seven seasons. He also coached at the University of Rochester in the 2002 season.

Notes: Works full-time at the University of Rochester.


Jeremy Lynch
Defensive Backs
PHONE: (585) 395-5362
E-MAIL: jlynch@brockport.edu

Education: Earned a Bachelor's degree in physical education with adapted teacher certification from The College at Brockport in 2005.

As a Player: Played four seasons at Brockport with NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his four seasons. Was named a second team Hewlett-Packard All-American and a second team D3football.com All-American in 2002. Was voted team captain in 2003 and still holds punt return records at Brockport for yards in a season (454) and yards in a career (974). He was also the last Golden Eagle to return a punt for a touchdown (2002 vs. Springfield).

As a Coach: Served as student assistant coach in 2004 working with the outside linebackers. Named full-time assistant coach in 2005 as the defensive secondary coach, leading the unit to a second place conference ranking in pass defense (167 yards/game) and also ranked second in pass efficiency defense (104.7). Coached the secondary again in 2006 and 2007 and the unit finished second in the conference standings for pass defense (124 yards/game) in 2006.

Notes: Serves as an instructor for physical education classes at SUNY Brockport.

Mike Kemp
Linebackers/Special Teams

Education: Graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1975 with a degree in Pre-Medicine and a minor in Sociology. Earned a master's degree in Athletic Administration from Springfield College in 1986 and also earned certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in 1986.

As a Player: Played defensive back for Notre Dame making the team as a walk-on and also earned a scholarship to wrestle at the university. He was a three-year starter and senior captain of the wrestling team.

As a Coach: Returns to the Brockport where he started his college coaching career in 1980. He has served as head coach at Plymouth State as well as Utica College. Led Plymouth State to a 19-12 record in three seasons and two trips to ECAC postseason games. Has also worked as an assistant coach at SUNY Cortland, University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut, St. Lawrence University and Springfield College.

Notes: Kemp and his wife, Katharine live in Brockport with their daughter, Stephanie, and son, Sean.



Joe Periera
Running Backs

Education: Earned a Bachelor's degree in Health Science at The College at Brockport in May 2007.

As a Player: As a starting outside linebacker for the Golden Eagles in 2005, he was second on the team with 71 tackles including 35 unassisted stops. He also had eight tackles for loss, three sacks and intercepted two passes while breaking up six. He was an All-ACFC selection in 2005.

As a Coach: Finished his second season with coaching responsibilities for the Golden Eagles and worked with the linebackers in 2006.


Steve Marriott
Defensive Line

As a Player: Started at defensive end in 2005 and 2006 earning First-Team All-Conference honors as a senior and D3football.com All-Region honors in 2006. In 2006, he had 55 tackles with 15 behind the line of scrimmage. He played one season with the Rochester Raiders of the Continental Indoor Football League.

As a Coach: Starting his first season as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles and will work with the defensive linemen.

Gary Bohl
Running Backs

As a Player: Started at fullback in 2006 and 2007. He scored three touchdowns on 20 carries for the Golden Eagles as a senior in 2007.

As a Coach: Starting his first season as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles and will work with the runningbacks.