FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2014
Courtesy of New Haven Athletics Communications
WEST HAVEN, Conn. - University of New Haven Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Deborah Chin introduced Chris Pincince as the University's new head football coach at a press conference today in UNH's Charger Gymnasium. Pincince becomes the 10th head coach in program history and will begin his duties immediately.
Including his two previous stints as an assistant at New Haven, Pincince brings nearly 20 years of collegiate coaching to his new post. He began his career with the Chargers in 1995 as an assistant for UNH Athletics Hall of Famer and current Oakland Raiders Assistant Head Coach Tony Sparano.
He spent three additional seasons with the Chargers from 1999 to 2001 under Darren Rizzi, current special teams coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. Prior to his most recent position as offensive coordinator at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member Elon University in North Carolina, Pincince was the offensive coordinator at the University of Rhode Island and the College of the Holy Cross.
"We were pleased to have such an outstanding pool of candidates in our search for a new head football coach," President Steven H. Kaplan said in a statement read by Vice President for Enrollment Management James McCoy. "During this process, Coach Pincince rose to the top because of his record of achievement, his passion for the University of New Haven's program and his commitment to the success of our student-athletes on and off the field. I am excited for the future of Chargers football."
Chin noted, "Coach Pincince is the perfect choice to keep our program at the top of Division II. It was important for us to find a head coach with previous experience in all phases of running a team. He will be an excellent recruiter and a dynamic leader who will continue our proud winning tradition. I'm sure our alumni and fans will appreciate what he brings to our program."
At Elon, Pincince was the offensive coordinator as well as the quarterbacks and running backs coach for three seasons. In his first year Elon's offense led the Southern Conference and ranked 14th nationally with 281 passing yards per game. Pincince's offensive scheme was anchored by All-America wide receiver Aaron Mellette, who led all of FCS in receptions per game (10.27) and receiving yards per game (149). His season totals also set new school and conference records in 2011.
Quarterback Thomas Wilson also led the conference and ranked 14th nationally in total offense. In his second season at Elon, the offense ranked 12th in the FCS in passing yards per game (296), with Mellette again earning All-America honors. The receiver became the first Elon player invited to the Senior Bowl and was later selected in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. In Pincince's final season at Elon, the Phoenix ranked second in the conference in passing yards per game (231) and averaged over 350 total yards per contest.
During the three seasons prior to arriving at Elon, Pincince was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Rhode Island. While at URI, Pincince installed the spread offense, and the Rams ranked fifth in the Colonial Athletics Association (CAA) in passing offense in his first season.
Pincince also spent four years at the College of the Holy Cross, including two seasons as the Crusaders' offensive coordinator. In 2007, the Holy Cross offense led the Patriot League in scoring (35.9 ppg), passing (335 ypg), total offense (463 ypg) and first downs (272). Crusaders quarterback Dominic Randolph led the league in passing (3,604 yards), touchdown passes (30) and total offense (340 ypg) and finished 12th in the balloting for the Walter Payton Award. Pincince's first two seasons at Holy Cross were spent as the wide receivers coach.
Prior to his tenure at Holy Cross, Pincince served as the offensive coordinator at Ursinus College in 2003. The season before, Pincince was the quarterbacks coach at Brown University. He also spent two seasons at Fairfield University.
During his five previous seasons at New Haven, the Chargers combined for a 32-18-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinal round in 1995. The Chargers finished the regular season undefeated and earned a 27-12 victory over Edinboro in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs. In his second stint, the Chargers averaged over 30 points and 350 yards per game during his three-season stretch.
"I think Chris is absolutely the right person for us at this time," said Ralph F. DellaCamera Jr., a member of the UNH Board of Governors who named the university's football stadium in his father's honor. "He has great energy and a clear vision for what we can accomplish. I think he will be a terrific addition to the UNH football program."
"I'm very happy to be back at the University where I began my coaching career nearly 20 years ago," said Pincince. "I'm excited to get my family up here to join me and the rest of the UNH community. I'd like to thank President Kaplan as well as the search committee for giving my family and I this tremendous opportunity to return to UNH. I'm ready to continue the great tradition of Charger football and can't wait to start working with the dedicated student-athletes currently on the team."
A native of Woonsocket, R.I., Pincince earned his bachelor's degree from Boston University in 1994. He was a member of the Terriers' 1993 Yankee Conference Championship team and played on two NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) playoff teams. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Zachary and Owen, and a daughter, Emma.