Valpo Football Camp Staff
Jason Miran
Jason Miran will serve as offensive coordinator after four seasons as Lehigh's wide receivers coach. The Pottstown, Pennsylvania native oversaw one of the best receiving corps in Lehigh school history in 2011. The unit as a whole that season ranked third in the FCS in total offense and fifth in passing offense. Under Miran's tutelage, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ryan Spadola flourished to finish his Lehigh career second in receptions and receiving yards.
Miran played collegiately at Penn where he started at fullback his senior season. He earned his degree in communications from there in 2009. Miran also spent a season at Franklin and Marshall as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach.
"Jason has been a pleasure to work with the last four seasons. He's a bright coach with a bright future in this profession," head coach Dave Cecchini boasted.
Ernest Moore
Ernest Moore was hired in January 2014 from the University of Chicago, where the former Lehigh assistant spent three seasons. He has been assigned as defensive coordinator. Most recently, Moore served in the same capacity with the Maroons for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Moore graduated from Lehigh in 2008 before beginning his coaching career at Franklin and Marshall that same year.
"Ernest did a phenomenal job with the defense at the University of Chicago," head coach Cecchini stated.
Justin Stovall
Justin Stovall was named linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the Crusaders in January of 2014 after serving as an assistant coach at Lehigh for two seasons. Stovall played college ball at three-time Patriot League champion Lafayette from 2003-06. Stovall worked alongside the defensive coordinator at Franklin and Marshall for three seasons before accepting the defensive assistant position at Villanova. He was the outside linebackers coach at Lehigh.
"Justin brings a great deal of enthusiasm, passion, and excitement to special teams," head coach Dave Cecchini said.
Vinny Giacalone
Vinny Giacalone was named the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator in January of 2014.
The 2008 Carnegie Mellon graduate was an assistant coach and co-recruiting coordinator at his alma mater for two seasons before making the transition to Lehigh in 2012. In his first year on the Mountain Hawk staff, Giacalone helped mold an offensive line in transition into one of the Patriot League’s top offensive line units. With four first-time starters in the mix, Lehigh led the Patriot League in passing offense and ranked fifth in the nation in fewest sacks allowed.
"Vinny did an outstanding job with the offensive line at Lehigh and I look forward to that success here at Valpo," head coach Dave Cecchini remarked.
Kasey Teegardin
Kasey Teegardin is entering his third season at Valparaiso, spending the 2014 season as the team’s tight ends coach after serving the past two seasons as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
A native of Palm City, Fla., Teegardin will also serve as the program’s NFL and academic liaison, as well as the Crusaders’ community outreach coordinator.
Coach Teegardin came to Valpo after spending the 2011 season at Division II Northwood University, where he coached the secondary. Prior to his time at Northwood, Teegardin coached at Division II University of Charleston, where he served as the youngest defensive coordinator in the NCAA (hired at age 24) in 2010, leading a defensive attack that ranked 19th in the nation in rush defense.
Teegardin first joined the Golden Eagles staff in 2007 as a graduate assistant coaching the defensive line, before moving on to coach the linebackers in 2008, where he led three All-WVIAC selections.
In 2009, Teegardin became Charleston’s secondary coach for a team which finished the season 9-2 and ranked 19th nationally in the AFCA Poll. He helped lead a defense that led the WVIAC in five defensive categories: rush defense (#13 nationally), scoring defense, total defense, pass efficiency and red zone defense (#6 nationally). UC was also third in the league in interceptions, third down percentage (#23rd nationally) and takeaways (#26 nationally). Teegardin coached four All-WVAIC performers, including the league’s Defensive Player of the Year - safety Chris Woomer.
Teegardin is a 2007 graduate from Charleston with a degree in sport management. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from the school in 2008. During his undergraduate years, Teegardin played linebacker for the football program and was selected a captain his senior season, helping the team to an 8-3 overall record. During his first two seasons at UC, Teegardin also served as an outfielder and catcher for the baseball team.
Steve Donovan
Steve Donovan joined the Valparaiso University coaching staff prior to the 2011 season. He will serve as the defensive line coach.
Prior to joining Valpo, Donovan spent one year coaching the defensive line at his alma matter, Benedictine University, where the Eagles posted an 8-3 overall mark, including a perfect 7-0 record in the Northern Athletics Conference on the way to a league crown. Benedictine qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships in his one season on the sidelines.
Donovan was a four-year letter winner and a two-year starter for the Eagles. In his junior and senior season he recorded 85 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, and had six quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception.
A 2010 graduate of Benedictine with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Donovan had a concentration in management and organizational behavior. He graduated with a masters of sports administration at Valparaiso University in 2013.
John Snyder
John Snyder returns for his second stint as an assistant coach with the Valparaiso football program in 2013, responsible primarily for working with the running backs. Snyder previously served as an assistant coach for the Crusaders from 1989 through 1991.
Snyder spent the last 18 years at Chesterton H.S., serving six years as an assistant coach before taking the reins as the program's head coach for the last 12 seasons. During his tenure as head coach, the Trojans won 74 games, including three Duneland Athletic Conference titles.
Prior to his tenure at Chesterton H.S., Snyder spent one year as head coach at Paoli H.S. and three years as an assistant coach at Valparaiso H.S. Snyder was a member of the Valparaiso University coaching staff prior to that from 1989 through 1991, serving as offensive coordinator and working with the wide receivers and punters. He also spent time on the coaching staff at Iowa Wesleyan College and Winfield-Mt. Union (Iowa) H.S.
Snyder is a 1987 graduate of Iowa Wesleyan College with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health. He was a four-year letterwinner on the gridiron at Iowa Wesleyan, where he played quarterback, wide receiver and punter. Snyder went on to earn his master's of education from Valparaiso University in 1991.
Eric Deutsch
Eric Deutsch joins the Valparaiso football coaching staff for the 2013 season and will assist with coaching the defensive line.
Deutsch comes to Valpo after spending the 2012 season at Washington and Lee University as its defensive line coach. In his one season at Washington and Lee, the program won seven games and captured the ODAC championship, advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Deutsch coached a Second Team All-Conference honoree on the line as well.
Previously, Deutsch served as defensive line coach in 2011 at the College of Mount St. Joseph. He helped the Lions to six wins and a second-place HCAC finish, coaching a trio of All-Conference recipients.
Deutsch is a 2004 graduate of Wofford College with a bachelor's degree in computer science. During his time at Wofford, he was a three-time All-America offensive lineman for the Terriers. He earned All-Southern Conference honors his final three seasons and was named to the Southern Conference All-Decade team for 2000-2009. Deutsch was inducted into the Wofford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.