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On March 24, Kean
University announced the hiring of long-time Montclair State University
offensive coordinator Charlie Cocuzza as its 11th head football coach.
The longest tenured of all New Jersey Athletic Conference coaches with a
remarkable 27 years of service to the Montclair State program, Cocuzza
becomes a collegiate head coach for the first time in his distinguished
30-year career. The architect of the high-powered Montclair State offense,
Cocuzza was instrumental in the Red Hawks compiling of a 191-82-6 record
during his tenure, while winning 10 NJAC championships, earning nine
postseason berths and garnering seven NCAA Division III playoff
appearances. His offenses have averaged more than 300 yards-per-game
during his career and have consistently ranked at or near the top of the
conference. During his time at Montclair, Cocuzza coached eight of the Red
Hawks’ Top 10 leaders in passing yards, including Walter Briggs and Ed
Collins, who logged time with the New York Jets and New York Giants,
respectively.
Cocuzza began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Memorial High
School in Jersey City, and also spent one season as an assistant coach at
Upsala College before becoming the head coach at Cresskill High School in
northern Bergen County. He joined the Montclair State staff in 1976 as a
receivers coach, but was quickly promoted to offensive coordinator by Head
Coach Fred Hill, better known today as the legendary baseball coach at
Rutgers University.
In spring 2000, he was the offensive coordinator of the New Jersey Red
Dogs of the Arena Football League, where he coached quarterback Tommy
Maddox, who was recently named the NFL’s 2002 Comeback Player of the
Year after leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a playoff appearance.
A former teacher in the Cresskill school district, Cocuzza earned his
Bachelors of Arts degree from Upsala College and a Master of Arts degree
in administration supervision from Seton Hall University. He and his wife
Roz have three sons and currently reside in Verona, N.J.
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