Sean McDonnell, the 2005 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year, begins his 12th season as head coach of the University of New Hampshire football program with an impressive 80-52 overall record after leading the 2009 Wildcats to a 10-3 record, a sixth consecutive appearance in NCAA FCS postseason play and a fifth trip to the quarterfinals in that span. In the past six years, McDonnell has guided UNH to a 57-20 record (.740 winning percentage) with back-to-back North Division conference titles in 2004 & 2005 and 2008 & 2009.

McDonnell has returned UNH football to the upper echelon of the FCS and has recruited several All-Americans and NFL-caliber players, including the likes of Walter Payton Award-winning QB Ricky Santos and the all-time NCAA FCS record holder for TD catches in WR David Ball, who surpassed Jerry Rice’s college mark of 51 TDs with his 58. Ball has spent time with the Jets and Bears of the NFL. Tight end Scott Sicko received multiple All-America awards and signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.

Last season, UNH continued its success against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams with a hard-fought 23-16 victory at Ball State University. It marked the Wildcats’ fifth consecutive win against an FBS opponent; the ‘Cats have also defeated Army, Marshall, Northwestern and Rutgers since ’04.

New Hampshire went on to finish the 2009 season ranked seventh in the nation at 10-3 overall, including 6-0 at Cowell Stadium, to mark the fourth time in six years the team reached double digits in victories. In front of 14,811 fans on Homecoming Weekend, UNH was the only team to defeat eventual national champion Villanova.

In their sixth NCAA tournament appearance in as many years, the ’09 Wildcats traveled to Louisiana to play McNeese State in the first round and advanced to the quarterfinals with a 49-13 victory.

In 2008, the team topped FBS team Army, won the CAA North Division and defeated Southern Illinois in the first round of the NCAA’s en route to a 10-3 record. UNH finished the season ranked No. 7 or No. 8 in most national polls. McDonnell was also honored as the New England Coach of the Year (FCS level) for the second time in his tenure at UNH.

In 2007, the Wildcats were 7-5 overall and just narrowly missed defeating No. 1 Northern Iowa in the first round of the NCAA’s, losing on a last-minute TD, 38-35. The Wildcat offense once again averaged over 400 yards per contest. UNH finished ranked No. 16 in the nation.

The Wildcats were ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation in 2006 and finished the campaign ranked No. 6 as the ‘Cats defeated Hampton in the first round (41-38) to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.

In 2005, McDonnell was honored as the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year by the Sports Network after leading his Wildcats to a record-breaking 11-2 season, an Atlantic 10 Championship title, and a second straight NCAA appearance in the I-AA quarterfinals.

A 1978 graduate of UNH, McDonnell had his Wildcats ranked No. 1 in the nation at the end of the 2005 regular season. In 2005, the Wildcats played two nationally-televised NCAA tournament games on ESPN at Cowell Stadium as UNH defeated Colgate in the first round, but lost a hard-fought battle to Northern Iowa in the NCAA quarterfinals.

In 2004, his hard work rebuilding the program paid off in a 10-3 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference, which earned the team the Northern Division Championship title. UNH earned a bid to the NCAA I-AA Championships for the first time since 1994 and advanced to the quarterfinals, further than any other UNH team in the history of the program. UNH won its first ever NCAA contest under McDonnell, upsetting Georgia Southern in the first round by a 27-23 margin on national television. McDonnell was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year and was selected District Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

In 2003, UNH steadily improved as the season progressed and the Wildcats went on to win three of their last four contests, including an upset victory over top 25 squad Maine; the ‘Cats also toppled nationally-ranked UMass, 31-14, at Cowell Stadium. The team’s 5-7 record could have easily been above .500, as UNH narrowly lost to No. 1-ranked Delaware on a missed field goal in the closing seconds, and UNH was driving for the game-winning TD late in the Division I contest at Central Michigan, but ran out of time.

In 2002, McDonnell’s offense was one of the most prolific in I-AA football and averaged 449.2 yards per contest and 36.7 ppg. In the victories over the likes of Hampton, James Madison, Dartmouth and Massachusetts the ‘Cats scored 37 ppg and scored over 40 points in two of the victories. UNH finished with a 4-7 overall record in 2001.

In 2000, the Wildcats were ranked as high as 23rd in the nation and knocked off three top 25 opponents, including Hampton (31-17), Massachusetts (24-16) and a huge upset victory over No. 2 ranked Delaware on Nov. 4 (45-44 OT). Injuries down the stretch  squashed UNH’s chances for a playoff berth after opening the campaign with a 4-0 record, its best start since 1977 when the Wildcats won seven straight games. UNH finished the season with a winning 6-5 record and tied for fourth in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference. As a result of his outstanding coaching performance, McDonnell was named the Gridiron Club Of Greater Boston College Head Coach Of The Year.

In his 1999 rookie year as head coach, McDonnell led the Wildcats to a 5-6 overall record with impressive victories against the likes of Northeastern (33-31), Connecticut (43-18) and Maine (31-20). Under McDonnell and his staff, the Wildcats featured a crafty and wide open offensive attack that led the Atlantic 10 with an average of 457.3 yards per game.

McDonnell, who served as offensive coordinator for the Wildcats for five seasons prior to being hired, was named the 19th head coach of the UNH football program on April 22, 1999. McDonnell replaced legendary head coach Bill Bowes, who retired after 27 years as the mentor of the Wildcats.

McDonnell served eight seasons as a Wildcat assistant and completed his fifth in 1998 as the team’s offensive coordinator. McDonnell rejoined the Wildcats as an assistant coach before the 1991 spring camp, and in his first two seasons, McDonnell worked with the quarterbacks and receivers. In 1997, McDonnell was named the recipient of “The College Assistant Coach Award” by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in recognition of his quality of performance, loyalty and longevity.

A native of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., McDonnell was a standout defensive back for UNH. He started for the 1975 and 1976 Yankee Conference championship teams and came back to start for the 1978 squad. After his graduation from UNH in 1978, he spent one year as an assistant coach at Manchester (N.H.) Memorial High School and followed that up with a three-year stint at Manchester West (1980-82). McDonnell worked as the defensive coordinator at Hamilton College for two seasons (1983-84) and subsequently spent three years (1985-87) coaching the receivers and tight ends at former conference-rival Boston University. During the 1988 campaign, McDonnell served as a graduate assistant coach at Boston College. He spent two seasons as an assistant at Columbia (1989-90) prior to his coaching debut in Durham.

Sean and his wife, Jenny, live in Durham with their two boys, Timmy and Tommy.

Tim Cramsey, a former UNH quarterback, enters his eighth year on the New Hampshire football coaching staff. The 2010 season will mark his first as offensive coordinator and third as quarterbacks coach. Cramsey served as the running backs coach for two years (2006-07) and mentored the tight ends and fullbacks in his first three years at UNH (2003-05). During his stint with the UNH tight ends, Cramsey had the opportunity to work with All-American Jon Williams, who signed as a free agent with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.

Cramsey coached for two seasons at the high school level, one at Allentown Central Catholic and another at Emmaus High School, where he coached quarterbacks.

A 1998 graduate of UNH, Cramsey was the starting quarterback for the Wildcats for two seasons. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration.

Sean McGowan enters his fourth year as the defensive coordinator in his seventh year overall with the UNH football staff. The 2010 season will mark his second consecutive year – five years total – as coach of the defensive backs; he also coached the DBs for three seasons (2004-06) before serving as mentor of the linebackers for two years (2007-08).

McGowan, was instrumental in helping the Wildcat defense to lead the nation in fumble recoveries, interceptions and turnover margin in 2005. McGowan mentored Jeff Pammer, who earned All-America honors. Furthermore, McGowan worked closely with Buck Buchanan Award candidate Corey Graham, who was drafted in the fifth round of the NFL draft in 2007 by the Chicago Bears and could be a starter this season. Although he didn’t have the official title, McGowan served in a defensive coordinator capacity in ‘06.

McGowan arrived in Durham after working at the University of New Haven before the school discontinued the football program. Prior to that, he spent the 2003 season as the defensive coordinator at West Virginia Tech.

McGowan began his coaching career at Division III Occidental College, where he served as the quarterbacks coach. He then moved on to the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant for three seasons. McGowan spent his first season in recruiting before moving to defense, where he worked with the secondary. McGowan then took over as defensive coordinator at Duquesne University, where the defense finished ranked first in total defense in I-AA.

He was a two-year letterwinner at Fordham as he started out as quarterback before moving to safety his final two seasons. He received his business degree from Fordham in 1998.

Joe Conlin enters his seventh season with the UNH football coaching staff. In 2010, he enters his second year coaching the offensive line after being promoted to full-time status in 2008, when he worked with the safeties.

Conlin mentored the defensive line for four years (2004-07). During that time, he worked with Derek Stank, who developed into one of the conference’s top defensive tackles and was named All-Atlantic 10 Second Team as a senior under Conlin.

Prior to his arrival in Durham, Conlin coached the defensive line at West Virginia Tech from 2003-04. He also gained valuable coaching experience at Greensburg Central Catholic High School from 2002-03 by working with the tight ends and defensive ends while also handling strength and conditioning.

A 2002 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Administration of Justice, Conlin was a three-time starting defensive tackle for the Panthers.

Jon Shelton, a former defensive assistant coach at the University of Kansas, enters his sixth season with the UNH football coaching staff. He has worked with the defensive line in his stint with the Wildcats and will work specifically with the defensive ends again in 2010.

Shelton, who has 17 years of football coaching experience, coached and managed all aspects of the defensive line on game day and handled all of the day-to-day duties along with the rest of the Kansas defensive staff. While with the Jayhawks from 1999-2003, Shelton coached a line that was ranked among the top squads in the nation.

Following that stint, Shelton worked at Bryant College as the defensive coordinator, assistant head coach and director of operations from 2002-04. While with the Bulldogs, he was responsible for recruiting players from the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. areas. Shelton also gained experience while at Montgomery Community College (Rockville, Md.) in 1997-98 as the assistant coach responsible for linebackers and kickers.

At the University of Maryland, Shelton was a student assistant and helped coach the defensive line from 1995-97. Shelton began his coaching career at Montgomery Community College, where he was the defensive line coach from 1993-95.

Shelton earned his Masters in Education (Counseling) at Providence College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Maryland at College Park and he has an Associates of Arts degree in Finance from Montgomery Community College.

Brian Barbato enters his third consecutive year – fourth year overall – with the UNH football coaching staff in 2010. Barbato has served as the tight ends coach for the ‘Cats since rejoining the team for the 2008 season. Under his tutelage, Scott Sicko earned All-America accolades in both the ‘08 and ‘09 seasons.

In his first stint on the New Hampshire staff in 2004, Barbato mentored the offensive line.

Barbato served as the outside linebackers and safeties coach under former UNH assistant coach Chris Phelps at St. Lawrence University for two years (2006-07). He gained valuable experience with the program, serving as assistant recruiting coordinator, assistant video coordinator, assistant academic coordinator and as assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Barbato also gained football coaching experience at Exeter High School in 2005, when he was part of a team that posted a 10-2 season record and placed second in Division II.

A 2004 graduate of UNH, Barbato was an outstanding offensive lineman for the Wildcats. He earned All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honors in 2003 and Third Team honors in 2002 as a 37-game starter who played all five lineman position.

Ryan Carty enters his fourth year with the UNH football coaching staff in 2010, when he will work with the wide receivers. Carty joined the Wildcats in 2007 and worked with the tight ends for one year. He then mentored the running backs for two seasons (2008-09).

Carty played quarterback and was a captain at the University of Delaware, where he was on the roster of the 2003 national title squad.

Carty also gained valuable coaching experience as an assistant football coach at Somerville High School from 2002-2007. Furthermore, he worked as a camp assistant coach for the Blue Hen Youth Football Camp in 2006 teaching young players basic quarterbacking skills.

Michael Ferzoco enters his third season with the UNH football coaching staff in 2010. He will coach the running backs this year after mentoring the linebackers each of his first two years (2008-09) with the program.

Ferzoco came to UNH via Kenyon College, where he worked as an assistant coach from 2004-07. He served as the offensive coordinator and coached the quarterbacks and receivers during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In 2007, his offense broke the school record for yardage (460.2 yards per game) and averaged 31.2 points per contest. His offense was also explosive in 2006, when the squad averaged 451.4 yards per game and posted 35.4 ppg. – 12th-best in the nation. He also served as coach of the offensive line in ‘05 and was the wide receivers coach in ‘04.

Ferzoco is a 2004 graduate of Kenyon, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Jake Zweig enters his second season with the UNH football coaching staff in the 2010 season. He will work with the defensive tackles for the second straight year.

Prior to UNH, Zweig spent one year (2008) at Iona as the special teams coach and two seasons at Catholic University of America (2006-07) as the defensive line and special teams coach. His special teams earned top conference honors in both touchdowns scored and punt return yards. He was instrumental in recruiting the largest class in the history of Catholic football.

In 2005, he joined the University of Maryland coaching staff as a graduate assistant and worked with the wide receivers coach. Zweig returned to college athletics following a successful career in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 as a commissioned officer. He served as a surface warfare officer for two years onboard the U.S.S. Merrimack before reporting for Navy SEAL training at Basic Underwater Demolition School. Following his SEAL training, Zweig reported to SEAL Team 8 in Little Creek, Va. and attained the rank of Lieutenant.

He has earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from the U.S. Naval Academy.

His college athletic record includes playing nose guard for Coach George Chaump and varsitywrestling.

A native of Steilacoom, Washington, he attended the Charles Wright Academy of Tacoma where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the 1989 state runner-up football team. He was also a State “A” wrestling champion and a member of the varsity golf team. He is married to the former Sarah Claud of Stony Creek, Va. They currently reside in Durham, N.H.

Rob Keys enters his first year with the UNH football coaching staff in the 2010 season; he will work with the defensive backs and safeties. Keys comes to New Hampshire after four years as an assistant coach at Slippery Rock University (Slippery Rock, Pa.), where he coached the defensive backs, was special teams coordinator as well as the recruiting coordinator.

Prior to his work at SRU, Keys served one season as safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Indiana State, five seasons as co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at University of Findlay (Ohio) and one season in that same role at Glenville State (West Virginia) College.

A native of Jefferson, Pa., and graduate of Jefferson Morgan High School, Keys started his coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant from 1996-98 at West Virginia University.

As a player at WVU, Keys earned the special teams MVP award in 1995 (the same season in which he served as a team captain), was selected as the top walk-on player in 1994 and was named to the Mountaineer Club (the highest honor a WVU player can achieve) in 1994 and 1995.

He was a member of Mountaineer teams that won the 1993 Big East Conference championship and played in the 1994 USF&G Sugar Bowl and 1994 Carquest Bowl games.

Keys earned both his bachelor and master of science degrees in physical education at WVU and also has a post-graduate degree from the Marine Military Academy (Harlingen, Texas).

Coach Keys and his wife, Jenifer, are the parents of three daughters, Katie (12), Casey (9) and Kaylee (1).

Terrence Klein enters his first year as an assistant coach with the UNH football program in 2010. Klein graduated from New Hampshire in May 2010 following a four-year playing career for the Wildcats.

As a senior in ‘09, Klein ranked third on the team in total tackles with 80 (45 solo, 35 assisted), and he was second in tackles for a loss with 9.5 from his position of safety. Klein had a team-high six interceptions and returned one for a TD. In his junior year, Klein was sixth on the team in tackles (28-31-59) and third in interceptions (four). The Wildcats finished with a 10-3 overall record and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals both of those seasons.

Scott Lukas enters his first year as the Director of Football Operations in 2010. 

Prior to joining the Wildcats' staff, Lukas was the Director of Athletic Operations and Tickets at Bryant University in Rhode Island.  At Bryant, he was responsible for the planning and execution of all 24 D-I varsity athletic events, supervising the maintenance of all varsity athletic facillities, and managing ticket operations for all home and away varsity games.

Scott received his Bachelor's Degree in English at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., in 2009. 

While at St. A's, Scott worked as the student assistant for the varsity football team.  As the team manager, his primary duties consisted of assisting in drills during practice, charting plays and statistics, and managing all aspects of home and away game preparation.  He was awarded the honor of being a four-year varsity letter winner for football.