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| Photo by Caleb Williams, d3photography.com |
Jay Accorsi, the Rowan University football program’s all-time leader in victories, has announced his retirement as head football coach after 22 seasons at the helm. The longest-tenured head coach in the program’s history, Accorsi leaves after a total of 30 years of service to the University.
Accorsi’s head coaching record in 22 years stands at 143-78 with seven shared or outright NJAC titles and seven appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Profs made four straight NCAA playoff appearances while two of his squads (2004, 2005) advanced to the NCAA Semifinals. He guided the Profs to a .500 or better record 17 times, including the past two seasons, and an overall record of 103-54 in NJAC games.
“In the spring of 2002, I was bestowed the honor of becoming the 7th head football coach of the program. I am thankful to then-president Donald Farish, vice president Drew Calandrella and athletic director Joy Solomen. They had enough faith and thankfully saw something in a young, unproven coach from New England,” said Accorsi, whose overall coaching career spans 34 years. “I cannot begin to thank the countless people I have encountered in my wonderful 30-year journey here at Rowan University. Especially the coaches, athletic training and equipment staff and administrators in our athletic department. I wish them all nothing but the best. I would be remiss though, if I did not mention ‘the’ coach – Coach Richard Wackar. He had a profound effect on me personally and on my career.”
“It has been my pleasure to serve this institution for over 30 years. All the assistant football coaches, student staff and support staff have made my role much easier, and I am indebted with gratitude. To all the football student-athletes I am thankful for their sacrifices, commitment, and dedication. My hope is they know I always cared more about them as people than as football players! Wherever I am and whatever I will be doing I will always be rooting for the Brown and Gold – GO PROFS!”
“Jay Accorsi has led Rowan football with great integrity for the last 22 years. He emphasized character and academics, holding student-athletes accountable and caring for them in a way that positively affected hundreds of lives. He always worked at having his teams represent Rowan in a first-class manner,” said athletic director John Giannini. “Jay has also been a great colleague to everyone in Rowan athletics. We are grateful for Coach Accorsi’s leadership and service and wish him the best in his next chapter of life with his wonderful family – wife, Nancy and children, Gabrielle, Rachel and Jack.”
In his final season with the Profs, Accorsi’s squad went 4-2 in the NJAC to tie for second place and 5-5 overall. Rowan placed 11 players on the all-conference team, with two players (Nate Meiers, Carter Williams) earning the league’s top rookie honors.
Accorsi, a native of Somers, Connecticut, and alumnus of Nichols, received NJAC Coach of the Year honors five times (2014, 2013, 2005, 2004, 2002) during his tenure at Rowan and earned the Maxwell Football Club Tri-State Coach of the Year award in 2005. In his 22 years, a total of 258 players earned NJAC All-Conference honors, with numerous others being named to the All-Region squads.
The coach always ensured that the Profs were prominent in the community, partnering with such national organizations as the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation, and working locally with groups such as the Boys and Girls Club of Glassboro. Due to Accorsi’s commitment, Rowan Athletics was named the recipient of the Dr. Harry Gamble Coaches Award by the Adam Taliaferro Foundation.