Monmouth Football Promotes Two to Assistant Head Coach

By: Greg Viscomi,
Monmouth Assistant Athletic Director: Communications and New Media

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Longtime Monmouth  football assistant coaches Brian Gabriel and Jeff Gallo have been elevated to the title of Assistant Head Coach, Head Coach Kevin Callahan announced recently.

“Brian and Jeff have made significant contributions to the program for a number of years,” said Callahan. “Brian is an excellent football coach who has done a terrific job with our offensive line and in his role as our recruiting coordinator, he is integral to one of the most important facets of our program. Jeff has been a valuable part of the Monmouth program since his playing days here. He has been involved of every aspect of our program and is an outstanding on-the-field coach and recruiter.

The two coaching mainstays have been on the sidelines for all three of Monmouth’s 10-win seasons, three conference championships and helped guide the Hawks into one of the most exciting times in program history as MU moves to the Big South Conference in 2014.

Gabriel begins his 11^th season as the offensive line coach on Callahan’s staff and his seventh as the Hawks’ recruiting coordinator. Last season, behind the same starting front five, Monmouth was the only FCS team and one of two Division I teams in the nation with a pair of 1,000 yard rushers. During his time at Monmouth he has coached 20 all-conference selections along the offensive line, including a five-year stretch in which the Hawks averaged at least two all-conference selections per season. As the head of Monmouth's recruiting efforts, Gabriel is responsible for organizing recruiting weekends and coaching staff areas along with the creation and distribution of MU's printed materials. Monmouth’s most recent recruiting class is widely regarded as one of the best in the program’s 22 year history.

Gallo, an all-conference offensive lineman for the Hawks from 2000-2003, has been a member of Callahan’ staff since the 2004 season. Serving as Monmouth’s tight ends coach since the 2007 season, the position has seen unparalleled growth under his direction. MU’s three starting tight ends during his tenure have rewritten the Hawk record book, beginning with John Nalbone who became the first Hawk selected in the NFL draft after the 2008 season. Tyler George (2009-12) set the school’s record for reception yards by a tight end and NFL prospect Mike McLafferty recently completed his senior campaign by setting MU TE records for single season reception yardage, career 100-yard receiving games and the single game receiving yardage record.

Monmouth football begins a new era in 2014, its first season in the Big South Conference. The Annual Blue/White Spring game is slated for April 27, while the 2014 opener is at home against Delaware State on August 30.