Jay Civetti has been at Tufts since
2008. Tufts athletics photo |
Jay Civetti, the offensive coordinator at Tufts for the past
three seasons, has been named interim head coach of the Jumbo
football team effective immediately. The announcement was today by
Tufts athletic director Bill Gehling. Civetti will coach the Jumbos
for the 2011 season.
Civetti takes over as interim head coach after Bill
Samko stepped down in December following 17 seasons at Tufts.
Tufts was 1-7 this past season and 57-79 in Samko's tenure.
A native of Wellesley, Mass., Civetti came to Tufts in 2008
after working at North Carolina State and Boston College under Tom
O'Brien for five seasons from 2003-07. At Tufts, he directed a
record-setting passing attack last season (2010), coached
quarterbacks, tight ends and the offensive line during the course
of his tenure and also led the program's recruiting efforts among
other responsibilities.
"I'm very excited to announce that we have decided to elevate Jay
Civetti to the position of interim head coach," Gehling said. "In
his three years on the staff, Jay has distinguished himself. He has
all the makings of an outstanding head coach with passion for the
game and for coaching at this level, great organizational and
communication skills, a strong coaching network and outstanding
leadership qualities. I have confidence that Jay will do a great
job building the foundation for a strong future for this program. I
look forward to partnering with him in this effort."
With Civetti's direction, the Tufts offense broke many team,
NESCAC and New England Division III passing records. The Jumbos
were ranked fourth in the NCAA Division III passing statistics with
323.4 passing yards per game. Led by nationally ranked quarterback
Anthony Fucillo, the Jumbos compiled 2,587 yards with 17 touchdowns
through the air in eight contests. Tufts passed for a New England
Division III record 596 yards at Amherst on October 30. In his
first season as offensive coordinator (2008), Fucillo was the
league's most efficient passer.
"I am excited and honored to be named the interim head football
coach at Tufts University," Civetti said. "The institution is
internationally renowned and less than 10 miles from one of the
best cities in the world. Tufts attract the best and the brightest
to its campus community, and I expect our football program to do
the same. My wife Kate and I are excited to be part of the Tufts
family, and we look forward to the fantastic opportunities and
challenges ahead."
"On behalf of the Tufts Football family, I want to thank Coach
Samko and his family for 17 plus years of commitment, dedication,
and love for Tufts University and this football program," Civetti
continued. "Personally, I thank Sammy for years of great friendship
and guidance, as well as for his support during this
transition."
Civetti was one of the New England Small College Athletic
Conference's best offensive linemen at Trinity from 1997-2000.
Civetti started all 32 games of his Bantam career and captained the
team as a senior. During his career he was named ECAC Rookie of the
Year, All-ECAC and All-NESCAC. He played for two seasons under
legendary coach Don Miller, whose 174 victories at Trinity are 15th
most among NCAA Division III coaches all-time. Civetti graduated
from Trinity in 2001 with a degree in English.
After two years teaching special education and coaching at Milton
(Mass.) High School, Civetti joined the Boston College football
staff as a graduate assistant coach in 2003. He was a recruiting
assistant for the first two years, and then worked directly with
offensive coordinator Dana Bible as an offensive assistant coaching
the wide receivers for the next two seasons. He also worked as a
special teams assistant. Civetti earned a master's degree in
education from BC in 2006.
"Right now, our top priority remains our recruiting year and
finishing up with a terrific 2011 class," Civetti said. "The staff
has been working hard and is determined to bring in young men with
great talent and character, men who will represent this institution
with class. We are also focused on the well-being of our current
student-athletes. Coaching changes can be challenging for a team,
and it is important for their future and the future of this program
that we start right; focused, committed, and together."