WATERBURY, Conn. – Post University head sprint football coach
Michael Mannetti completed his staff with the hiring of four coaches. Joe Begnal, Steve Croce,
Pete Flammia and William Miller will all serve as assistant coaches. Begnal will assist with defensive backs, Croce will serve as offensive coordinator, Flammia will coach the wide receivers and Miller will assist with running backs.
“I'm extremely excited about bringing this group of experienced men to Post University,” Mannetti said. “They have great football minds and are very familiar with the system we will be running. These guys understand what it means to recruit quality student-athletes who will represent the university well.”
Begnal spent the 2011 season at his alma mater, Western New England College, where he served as a defensive assistant coach. During his time at WNEC, he helped the Golden Bears to a 10-2 record overall and an unblemished 7-0 in New England Football Conference contests. The defense allowed just 149 yards in a 31-0 shutout of MIT. It marked the first shutout for the Golden Bears since 2006. Prior to his stint with the Golden Bears, Begnal coached for two seasons at Sacred Heart High School.
He earned an associate's degree in liberal studies from Western New England in 2009.
Croce was previously the offensive coordinator at nearby Pomperaug High School, where he worked from 2008-11. In each of his four seasons, the offense ranked in the top-10 in the state every year. In 2009, he helped Pomperaug to the state championship, and ranked third in the state. Additionally, Croce's offense led the state in running, passing and total yards.
Prior to his time at Pomperaug, Croce was the offensive coordinator at Holy Cross High School from 2001-07. Each season, his offense was in the top-five in the state in total offense.
With nine years of coaching experience at the scholastic level, Flammia will work with the Post wide receivers in his first season. As the defensive coordinator at Kennedy High School, he helped the team to a Copper Division Title in 2008, its first since 1966. Following the championship, he moved to Lewis Mills High School, where he started the football program. At Lewis Mills, he guided the program to its first win and a victory in the only “Route 4 Bowl.”
Flammia graduated from Central Connecticut State in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in history. He earned his master's degree in secondary education from Bridgeport in 2008.
A high school assistant coach at St. Joseph in Trumbull from 2010-12, Miller will serve as an assistant coach for the running backs. He has nearly a decade of scholastic experience in the Naugatuck Valley and Pequot Leagues.
The Eagles will open the 2012 campaign in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., at the Allegiance Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 22. Post will take on the Army Black Knights with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
