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| A former Division III quarterback, Jimmy Robertson is heading off to coach Division I quarterbacks. FDU-Florham athletics file photo |
FDU-Florham football head coach Jimmy Robertson has resigned from his position with the Devils to accept the job of quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Division I FCS Monmouth (N.J.). At this time, current recruiting coordinator/defensive coordinator Anthony Van Curen has been named as the interim head coach at FDU-Florham.
Robertson, the 2021 Middle Atlantic Conference Football Coach of the Year, guided the Devils to a record of 7-4 in his first year as the head coach in Madison. Robertson was named head coach at FDU-Florham on Feb. 12, 2020 and previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Devils from 2015-19.
"I want to thank Jimmy for his short stint as head football coach; his contagious energy laid a solid foundation for the football program's renewed success. To have such an impact within two years clearly shows that Jimmy is a rising star and Monmouth University certainly landed a great one. On behalf of the entire athletic department, we wish Jimmy and his family the best in his new endeavor," said athletic director Jenn Noon. "Our goal is to build on our immediate past successes hence we cannot take a step back within development, recruitment and retention. It is an honor to name our defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator Anthony Van Curen as our interim head football coach since he has been an integral part of the football team's success."
In 2021, Robertson and the Devils made history as they won their first Eastern College Athletic Conference bowl game. FDU hosted St. Vincent on Nov. 20 and defeated the Bearcats 38-19 on Robert T. Shields Field. Robertson earned his first win as head coach at William Paterson on Sept. 11 and guided FDU to the most wins the team has seen in a single year since the 1993 season.
"The opportunity to have been head football coach at FDU was a true honor. My love for our players, coaches, and this program runs deep, and I will forever cherish being a part of the first bowl win in school history. Everything we accomplished this past season is a true testament to all the great people in the program – the players, coaches, support staff, alumni, families, and admins," said Robertson. "I want to thank Jenn Noon for the opportunity she gave me to lead the program, thank our players for believing in our Fast Five Star vision, and thank my staff for going above and beyond in everything they did. I am excited for the opportunity to join Coach Callahan's staff at Monmouth ... While it is sad to leave a place that has truly been home to me, I look forward to watching the FDU program grow!"
This fall, Robertson coached D3football.com All-American and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year Kenny Hands as well as D3football.com All-Region honorees Connor Perez and Chris DiMedio. At the conclusion of the season, six Devils earned All-MAC accolades including Hands, Perez, DiMedio, Anthony Caserta, Brendan Egan and James Rosciano IV. Caserta broke the single season records for passing yards and passing touchdowns, while Hands broke the single season record for sacks. FDU's offense was guided by Caserta and Perez, who finished with 20 total touchdowns (17 receiving, 2 rush, 1 pass) in his senior season.
As quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at FDU in 2019, the Devils finished as the top total offense in the MAC (No. 27 in the nation) and the top pass offense in the MAC (No. 9 in the nation), while in 2018 Robertson coached All-American Mike Panzarino '18 and MAC Offensive Player of the Year Malik Pressley '17.
Robertson also oversaw the four-year career of the program's best quarterback of all time, Jagger Green. At the time he graduated, Green finished as the program's single-game leader in passing yards, completions, passing attempts and passing touchdowns. Green also finished atop the all-time list for single season completions, passing yards, passing attempts, touchdowns, pass completion percentage and passing yards per game along with finishing as the school's all-time leader in completions, pass attempts, touchdowns and completion percentage.
Robertson came to FDU from the United States Merchant Marine Academy where he coached from 2011-14. He served as quarterbacks coach from 2012-14, after coaching the wide receivers in 2011. In 2014, he mentored quarterback Matt McDaniels who was named First Team All-Liberty League.
Prior to his four years at Merchant Marine, Robertson played in the German Football League (GFL) for the Plattling Blackhawks in 2009 and 2010. During this time, he helped lead the Blackhawks to their first ever GFL playoff appearance. He also previously served as assistant quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, RPI, during the 2009 season while obtaining his M.S. in management.
As a student-athlete at RPI, Robertson was a four-year starting quarterback and served as team captain for two seasons. In 2007, he helped lead RPI to a Liberty League championship and an NCAA playoff appearance. They also won ECAC Bowl championships in 2005, 2006, and 2008. He was the Liberty League Player of the Year in 2008 and Liberty League Rookie of the Year in 2005, while garnering all-league accolades in each season. After his playing career was over, Robertson was inducted into the RPI Athletics Hall of Fame in April 2018.
At this time, Van Curen will take over as interim head coach for the FDU-Florham football team. Van Curen was named defensive coordinator in July of 2019 and previously guided the Devils defensive line from 2014-16. Between his stints with FDU, Van Curen served as a defensive assistant at Rutgers.
"I am thankful for the opportunity to have coached with Coach Robertson the last two years as his defensive coordinator. He is a phenomenal football coach, an inspiring leader, and a great person. Coach Robertson is going to continue to do amazing things at Monmouth University, I couldn't be happier for him and his family," said Van Curen. "I would like to thank Jenn Noon for the opportunity to lead our program to continued success in the future. It is an incredible honor to be in this position. This university has always been special to me and a place I considered home because, for me, FDU is where my college coaching career began."
A national search for the next head coach for the Devils will begin immediately.