2011 COACHING STAFF

Mike Whalen - Head Coach  (Offensive Line)

(860)  685-2908 - mwhalen@wesleyan.edu

 

     Beginning his long-standing collegiate coaching career at his alma mater in 1983-84 as an assistant coach in both football and wrestling, Mike Whalen, a 1983 Wesleyan graduate, returned to the Cardinal staff to become head football coach and assistant athletics director. His appointment began April 1, 2010.  He is directing Cardinal football for a second season in 2011.
     Serving as head coach at Williams College for six seasons (2004-09) with a cumulative record of 38-10, Mike led the Ephs to only their sixth undefeated season (8-0) in 2006. He won four Little Three titles and had a perfect 6-0 mark against Wesleyan.
    Along with being named the 2006 NESCAC Coach of the Year, Mike is the recipient of many coaching honors, including selection as a finalist for the prestigious 2006 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which is presented to the nation’s top coach in all divisions. Mike was the only Division III coach among the 16 finalists. He has also received the Johnny Vaught Head Coaching Award from the All-American Football Foundation and was named the Master Sports University/College Coach of the Year.
     Mike had at least one Eph offensive lineman named All-NESCAC first team every season. He has coached the only player in NESCAC and ECAC New England history to win back-to-back Offensive Player of the Year awards.
     Before being appointed head coach at Williams, Mike served as an assistant football coach there for eight years, first as offensive line coach for five years and then as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator for three years. Mike also served as the wrestling coach at Williams from 1996 until 2004.
     As the head coach of Williams wrestling, Mike had 36 All-New England performers. In 2000 he was named New England College Conference Wrestling Association (now the New England Wrestling Associaiton, NEWA) Coach of the Year for leading Williams to a second place finish among the 15 teams in the region. The NEWA named Mike the Rookie Coach of the Year in 1997 as well, and he has since been inducted into the NEWA Hall of Fame.
     While an undergraduate at Wesleyan, Mike captained the football team, earning All-New England recognition three times and  honorable-mention All-America honors an offensive lineman. He was also a captain of the wrestling team, a four-time all-New England wrestling honoree as a heavyweight, and the first wrestler to win four consecutive NEWA titles. He qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships each of his four years.
     Mike’s coaching career began at Wesleyan during the 1983-84 academic year when he served as as an assistant defensive line coach and assistant wrestling coach. He went on to Springfield College in 1984 where he served as a graduate assistant in both football and wrestling while earning a master’s in physical education. Upon completing his degree requirements at Springfield, Mike joined the staff at the University of Pennsylvania, and the 1986 Quakers went undefeated and won the Ivy League title. From Penn Mike moved on to Lafayette College, where the Leopards won the Colonial League title in 1988 and the Patriot League title in 1989. In 1993, Mike went to Colgate University, where he was the Associate Head Coach and offensive line coach for the Red Raiders.

Dan DiCenzo - Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Backs)

(860)  685-3012 - ddicenzo@wesleyan.edu

     Dan DiCenzo, formerly the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach at Williams College, joined the Wesleyan University coaching staff as associate head football coach and defensive coordinator for the 2010 season and is now in his second campaign in 2011.
     Dan, a 2001 graduate of Williams College where he excelled in football and wrestling, coached at Williams for six seasons including three as head wrestling coach. Earning all-NESCAC football honors as well as all-New England honors on the mats as an undergraduate, Dan served as a team captain of both sports and received the Purple Key Award for 2000-01 as the top male athlete at the college. Before returning to Williams for the 2004 football campaign, Dan had coaching stints at both Trinity College, where he working on his Master's degree, and Brown University.
     As head wrestling coach at Williams, Dan led the Ephs to national prominance over the last several seasons, culminating in both the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Duals team championship and a NEWA tournament title in 2009-10. The NEWA tournament title was his second in a row. His team was ranked 15th nationally heading into the NCAA Division III Championships this past March. His squad finished in a tie for 23rd nationally during the NCAAs. Over his three seasons in charge of the Eph matmen, Dan amassed a cumulative dual-match record of 50-16-1.
     A part of the Williams football staff throughout the head coaching career of Mike Whalen, Dan was on the defensive side of the ball, handling defensive backs. Nine of the players under his tutelage earned all-NESCAC recognition.
     In addition to his football coaching assignment, Dan will assist Wesleyan head wrestling coach Drew Black in his duties as the athletic department's strength and conditioning coach.

Jack Siedlecki - Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks)

(860)  685-3198 - jsiedlecki@wesleyan.edu

     A tremendous veteran coaching talent whose last assignment featured an 12-year stint as head football coach at Yale University (1997-2008), Jack Siedlecki joined the Cardinal football staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2010.  He directs the attack for a second time in 2011.
     Named New England Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to a 9-1 mark in 2007, Jack compiled a 70-49 overall mark at Yale.   Prior to his years with the Elis, Jack was head football coach at Amherst College for four seasons, directing the Lord Jeffs to a 20-11-1 mark from 1993-96 after inheriting a team that went 0-8 in 1992.  In 1996, Jack's charges tied for the best record in the NESCAC with a 7-1 posting.  Before arriving at Amherst, Jack handled the head coaching duties at WPI from 1988-1992.  His squads there enjoyed four winning campaigns and an overall record of 36-11-1.  In 1992, he was named AFCA District Coach of the Year as he helped the Engineers to a 9-2 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Division III tournament.  His 1990 squad posted the first undefeated season in WPI history with an 8-0-1 record.  Thus, Jack's 22-year head coaching record is an outstanding 126-67-2.
     Jack is a 1974 graduate of Union College and played both football and baseball for the Dutchmen.  He also had experience as a coach/player in semi-pro football with the Glove City Colonials in New York after graduating from Union. His initial college coaching experience came in 1976 as an assistant at the University of Albany (1976-79).  Before taking over at WPI in 1988, Jack served as an assistant at Wagner (1980) and Lafayette (1981-87).  

Jeff McDonald - Assistant Coach (Linebackers & Special Teams)

(860)  685-2909 - jmcdonald@wesleyan.edu

 

      Jeff McDonald returns for his 3rd season on the Cardinal coaching staff for 2011 after coming on board for the first time in 2009 by coaching the secondary. Once again this year, Jeff will direct the linebackers and special teams while also serving as recruiting coordinator.
     Under Jeff's direction last year, the Cardinal linebacker corps placed Cyprian Oyamba ’12 on the first team All-NESCAC defense and Myers Beaird ’14 was named the team’s rookie of the year.  On special teams, Pete Modera ’11 finished the year as the second-leading punt returner and third-leading kickoff returner in the NESCAC.
     In 2008 Jeff served as the defensive coordinator for Towson University in arguably the best FCS conference in the country. Working with a young defense, which at times had six freshman on the field, Jeff led the group to a #2 national ranking in red-zone defense and had two players named to the all-CAA squad.
     From 2002-07, Jeff served as an assistant football coach at Yale University. Coaching the defensive ends/outside linebackers, he helped the Bulldogs win the Ivy League Championship in 2006 while coaching six all-league players.  The 2007 Yale defense become the #1 scoring defense in the FCS. Jeff also was the recruiting coordinator for Yale, overseeing the Elis' national recruiting efforts.

      The veteran coach also has spent time coaching the linebackers at Central Connecticut State U. (spring of 2009) and the University of New Hampshire (2001).  His college coaching career began at Quincy University (NCAA Division II) in Illinois where he served in a number of different roles including defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Hawks. Jeff received his master’s degree in 2004 from Quincy.

     Upon graduating from the University of South Florida in 1995, Jeff taught history and coached football at Ridgewood High School in New Port Richey, Fla.

     McDonald has led the team in its drive to get involved in the Middletown community.  The team has partnered with Woodside Intermediate School, mentoring their students and adding extra supervision during recess. 
     Jeff also is a co-advisor for Wesleyan’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of the United Way’s Young Leader Society.
     Recently, McDonald completed a series of instructional DVDs on defense in conjunction with American Football Monthly.  Previously he had an article published in the magazine.  He has been a regular clinic speaker for the annual Nike Coach of the Year Clinics.
     Jeff, who grew up in Jupiter, Florida, now lives in Middletown with his wife, the former Rebecca Lieser, and their rescued greyhound, Blitzen.    

Andrew Kirkland  - Assistant Coach  (Wide Receivers)

aekirkland@wesleyan.edu

  

Steve Ziogas  - Assistant Coach  (Defensive Line)

sziogasglsp@wesleyan.edu

 

     A 2009 graduate of Brown University where he earned all-Ivy League honors as a linebacker, Steve Ziogas came aboard the football assistant coaching staff as a department intern last year and will handle that role again in 2011.  Steve led the Bears in tackles his senior year as Brown secured an Ivy title.  He received the 2008 Eugene Swift Award as the member of the team who best displays character, devotion, fairness and personal courage.     Gaining a taste of college coaching as a recruiter and quality control advocate at Central Connecticut St. U. in 2009, Steve was part of the Blue Devils NEC Championship squad.  Most recently, Steve was a player/coach for the Carinthian Black Lions in the Austrian Football League, seeing action at linebacker, defensive back and running back.  His coaching duties included defensive coordinator as the four American imports on the squad took care of all coaching responsibilities.
     A native of Bristol, Conn, Steve was an All-Conference and All-State football standout in high school.  He played in the Connecticut-Rhode Island Governor's Cup game in 2005 and received a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete award.  He also volunteered as a coach with his former high school during his college playing career.

Joe Giaimo - Assistant Coach  (Tight Ends)

     In no way a new face at Wesleyan, Joe Giaimo received his diploma with a degree economics this past May.  Enrolled as a graduate student in 2011-12, Joe will use a year of eligibility in baseball to compete for the Cardinals in 2012 after earning first-team all-NESCAC accolades in 2011.  He also will serve as an assistant football coach during the fall.
     A two-sport standout at Wesleyan, Joe played quarterback and receiver during his Cardinal gridiron career and served as a team tri-captain in 2010.  Vice-President of his fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon, as a senior, Joe was a student member of the committee that selected Mike Whalen as head football coach last year.  Joe also was part of the Freeman Student Athletic Committee and taught a class on strategies of leadership during his final semester as a student.
     A resident of Gillette, N.J., Joe was a first-team all-county, all-area and all-conference choice in both football and baseball at Watchung Hills Regional High School.

Tyler Wells - Assistant Coach  (Running Backs)

     With assistant coaching experience in football, ice hockey and lacrosse at Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut, Tyler Wells was a new face among the Wesleyan part-time coaching staff for 2010 and rejoins the squad in 2011. 
     A 2006 graduate of Yale University after playing football for the Elis from 2002-05, Tyler moved into coaching and teaching at Avon Old Farms, his alma mater.  He was captain of both the football and ice hockey teams at Avon during his senior year (2001-02) while picking up all-New England prep laurels in the former sport.  He taught classes in math, economics, history and English between 2006-09 as part of the residential faculty with dorm parent responsibilities.
     Starting work toward an M.A.L.S. at Wesleyan in 2007, Tyler accepted a teaching job in social studies at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield in 2009.  He also volunteered as an assistant coach in boys' ice hockey and girls' lacrosse. 

Seth Jacoby - Assistant Coach  (Defensive Backs)

     Seth Jacoby joins the Cardinal coaching staff for his first season assisting with the secondary after spending more than a decade as an assistant coach at Glastonbury (Conn.) High School.  There, Seth served as offensive coordinator in 2008 and played an integral role in the Tomahawks perfect 13-0 season and class LL state title.  A 1986 graduate of Glastonbury High, Seth went onto attend Dartmouth where he lettered for two seasons as an outside linebacker.  Following his graduation from Dartmouth, Seth was a player/coach for the Marseille Phoceens football team in France.   Seth both played linebacker and coordinated the defense, and helped lead his team to the French National Division 2 Championship with a 15-0 record. 
     Seth and his wife Mairead live in Glastonbury with their children Brigitte (14) and Ronan (12).