SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna University head football coach Steve Briggs has announced the hiring of former SUNY Brockport head coach Rocco Salomone as the Crusaders new defensive coordinator.

“We are extremely fortunate to get someone with Rocco's experience to be part of the Susquehanna football staff and athletic department,” Briggs said. “Coach Salomone brings over 20 years of successful DIII coaching to our staff and is highly regarded in the coaching profession. He will be a great addition to our staff.”

Salomone replaces former defensive coordinator Brad Fordyce who accepted an assistant coaching position at Division I Bucknell.

Salomone has been employed at SUNY Brockport since 1990, serving as the Golden Eagles head coach from 1994-2013 after spending his first several seasons as an assistant coach. In March of 2013 he then moved into the role of Assistant Athletic Director, a position he held until accepting the defensive coordinator position at Susquehanna.

During his tenure as head football coach, Salomone became the winningest coach in program history with a 103-80-1 record from 1995-2012. He was named the 2002 Northeast Region Coach of the Year and his teams made four-consecutive NCAA playoff appearances (2000-03). During that 2002 campaign in which he received regional recognition, his team reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs and was named the ECAC Team of the Year.

Salomone's 2000 squad finished with the only unbeaten record in program history while his 2005 team won the Atlantic Central Football Conference championship and his 2008 Golden Eagles captured the ECAC Northwest title.

Over the course of his career, Salomone has coached 20 All-Americans as well as two players who signed with NFL teams.

In addition to his head coaching responsibilities, Salomone also served as Brockport's defensive coordinator from 1993-2009. In 2000 and 2002, the Golden Eagles were the top ranked team in scoring defense among Division III schools while the 2002 squad led the nation in pass defense.

In March of 2013 Salomone moved into an administrative role at Brockport as an Assistant Athletic Director.

Salomone graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1988 with a degree in physical education. He went on to earn his Master's from Brockport in 1990 with a degree in education (physical education) with a concentration in athletic administration. Salomone also served as a graduate assistant with the Golden Eagles football team while completing his Master's.