NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2004-05

September 20, 2004


MONTCLAIR'S GIANCOLA CAPTURES HIS 150TH
CAREER FOOTBALL COACHING VICTORY


BECOMES SECOND NJAC FOOTBALL COACH TO REACH THE 150-WIN PLATEAU


Long-time Montclair State head football coach Rick Giancola added yet another milestone to his career on September 18 as he picked up his 150th career victory in the Red Hawks' 29-14 victory over Frostburg State.

With the win, Giancola, who reached the mark on his 58th birthday, became just the second gridiron coach in New Jersey State history to reach the plateau joining The College of New Jersey's Eric Hamilton as the only members in the club.

Now in his 22nd season, Giancola is the all-time winningest coach in MSU football history and his record stands at 150-68-2. The veteran coach entered the season ranked eighth among current active Division III coaches in wins and his winning percentage (.692) was in the Top 25. Also, Giancola has won over 75 percent of his conference games going 90-28. In 1989, Giancola surpassed Fred Hill for the top spot on the Montclair State victory list as he captured his 53rd win in just his seventh season.

Named the 12th head coach in Montclair State history in 1983,  Giancola has led Montclair State to eight New Jersey Athletic Conference championships, including last season as his Red Hawks claimed their 17th league title and earned a bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs where MSU fell in the second round. It was the seventh time that Giancola had taken his team to the NCAA Tournament and fourth time in the last five years. In addition, Giancola's teams have also captured two ECAC championships in 1993 and 1998.

Eight times during his career, Giancola has been named the NJAC Coach of the Year, including 2003. In his 21 previous seasons, he has had nearly 20 of his athletes garner All-American honors while several have gone on to sign professional contracts.