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| Duke Greco, former Delaware
Valley quarterback and assistant coach, gets promoted into the head
coaching position for the Aggies. Delaware Valley athletics photo |
Delaware Valley is proud to announce that current assistant head coach/offensive coordinator and 2003 graduate Duke Greco has been elevated to head coach as Jim Clements has resigned to take over as head coach at Division II Kutztown.
The move is similar to when Clements became head coach of the Aggies back in 2006 as he was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for then head coach G.A. Mangus. Mangus went on to become the offensive coordinator at Division I Middle Tennessee State and Delaware Valley named Clements as his successor.
Kutztown was 4-7 last season.
“This is a move that we knew was going to happen at some point because, with the great success he has had here at Delaware Valley College, it was just a matter time with a higher-level school was interested in,” director of athletics Steve Cantrell said. “We are supportive of this move and are very happy for Jim and his family.
“At the same time, we knew we had his successor already on board in Duke, who has been a successful coordinator and recruiter for the program. Plus, he’s a former all-conference player for DelVal, an alum and someone who loves this institution so it’s the perfect transition for us.”
The winningest coach in program history, Clements posted a 66-24 record in his eight years as head coach of Delaware Valley. His teams captured four MAC and two ECAC titles and made three NCAA second-round appearances. He was named the MAC Coach of the Year three times and was a two-time Liberty Mutual Division III Coach of the Year finalist. In 2010, Clements was selected as the American Football Coaches Association’s Region 2 Coach of the Year and, just one year later, received the prestigious Tri-State Coach of the Year award from the Maxwell Football Club.
Clements first arrived at Delaware Valley in 2004 and his work with the defense was one of the key reasons why the team posted back-to-back 12-1 records. The Aggies captured the MAC championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals each season.
Clements won 13 games in his first two years as head coach and the 2006 squad went to an ECAC Bowl game. He then went 55-16 over the next six years, including a 38-9 mark in the four MAC championship seasons (2008-11).
“After much consideration, I have decided to accept another head coaching position and feel it is time for a new challenge and chapter in my coaching career,” Clements said. “My decision to leave the Aggies Nation has been a difficult one as my time here over the past 10 years has been a highlight of my professional career thus far.
“I feel privileged to have been part of Delaware Valley College’s football program and athletic department. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the many talented coaches, administrators, support staff and student-athletes that have made each and every a rewarding experience for me and my family.”
The Aggies were 7-4 this past season, 6-3 in the MAC.
Greco has been an assistant coach with Delaware Valley for 11 years, including the last eight as offensive coordinator. In those eight years, the Aggies won four Middle Atlantic Conference championships and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs three times. The four MAC tiles were from 2008 to 2011 as Delaware Valley was one of just five football teams in the 100-year history of the conference to notch four or more consecutive championships. They also captured a pair of ECAC Bowl championships.
The last of the MAC titles was, perhaps, Greco’s greatest challenge as an offensive coordinator as he had to replace nearly the entire starting offensive unit from the year before, including the quarterback, running back, two wide receivers and four offensive linemen. He worked a rookie quarterback – current signal-caller Aaron Wilmer – into the system from day one and Delaware Valley went on to average 35 points and nearly 440 yards per game. The team went undefeated in the regular season and finished 11-1.
Greco coached various positions with the Aggies from 2002 to 2004, including ’04 as they won the MAC title and reached the NCAA quarterfinals. After a year away from the program, he returned in 2006 when Clements became head coach.
Greco’s playing days with Delaware Valley saw him finish as one of the school’s all-time leading passers. Despite playing just 20 games at quarterback (he began his career as a defensive back), Greco finished third on the career charts with 299 completions, 3,974 yards and 45 touchdowns. He earned second-team all-MAC honors in 2001 as he set single-season marks (since broken) with 2,405 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.
Greco graduated with a bachelor of science degree in sports management.
“I would like thank (Delaware Valley president) Dr. Brosnan and coach Cantrell for giving me this great opportunity,” Greco said. “And if it wasn’t for Jim Clements, I wouldn’t be in this position so I will always be grateful to him.
“I’m excited to get to work with our coaches and our current players and continue moving forward with our recruiting efforts as we look ahead toward next season and the seasons after that.”