Coaching Staff

Manny Rojas | Defensive Coordinator

Manny Rojas returned to Newark in the spring of 2020 as Delaware's defensive coordinator. Rojas, who brings more than a decade of coaching experience, previously spent two seasons (2017-18) as UD’s linebackers coach. In his 15 seasons as a college coach and player, he has been a part of seven conference championships and five NCAA playoff appearances.

In 2021, the Blue Hens ranked fifth in the CAA in total defense (339.4 ypg) and sixth in scoring defense (23.4 ppg) while forcing 14 turnovers. Delaware led the conference with a league-low in opponent first downs, allowing just 16.55 per game. Seven Blue Hens earned All-CAA nods from the defensive side of the ball, highlighted by a second-straight All-CAA First Team selection for Kedrick Whitehead who also earned Third Team All-America honors.

In his first season back in the Blue & Gold, Rojas turned around the Blue Hens' defensive unit to be one of the best in the FCS throughout the 2020-21 season. They finished third nationally in scoring defense (14.4 ppg) and fourth in total defense (118.4 ypg) while carrying a plus-11 turnover margin that included 11 interceptions. Delaware had at least one takeaway in all but one game and multiple turnovers forced in five contests. The defense constantly set the tone, with three forced turnovers on the opponent's first possession.

Three Blue Hens earned All-CAA First-Team selections in 2020-21, including First Team All-American Kedrick Whitehead, Second Team All-American Nijuel Hill, and linebacker Johnny Buchanan.

Rojas spent the 2019 season as the defensive coordinator at Lafayette College where he changed the Leopards' defensive scheme but still had five All-Patriot League selections. Additionally, Malik Hamm earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors and Yasir Thomas was third in the nation in fumble recoveries.

Rojas spent the 2017-18 seasons in Newark as UD’s linebackers coach and special teams co-coordinator. He coached future Super Bowl champion Troy Reeder to All-America honors at linebacker and the Blue Hens ranked third in the CAA in scoring defense in both seasons.

Prior to his first stint at Delaware, Rojas was the linebackers coach at Richmond for five seasons (2012-16). Much of Richmond’s success during its three-year NCAA playoff run can be attributed to the play of the defensive unit, particularly from the linebacker corps. Rojas helped guide the Spiders defense to CAA top-five rankings in passing defense (No. 2 at 170.2 yards per game), total defense (No. 3/317.0 yards per game), scoring defense (No. 5/23.4 points per game), and rushing defense (No. 5/146.8 yards per game) in 2016.

Richmond linebackers earned numerous All-CAA honors with Omar Howard earning first-team honors in 2016; Eric Wright earned All-CAA laurels in three-straight years and Aaron Roane was twice. In 2012, Rojas helped a pair of Spider linebackers earn All-CAA recognition - the first time that had happened since the 2009 season – as Richmond led the country in turnover margin at +22.

Rojas began his coaching career at his alma mater Liberty where he was a defensive and special teams assistant coach during the 2010-11 seasons. In 2010, the Flames ranked No. 24 nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 20.18 points per game, which also led the Big South by more than five points per game. That marked the fourth year in a row Liberty was ranked nationally in the FCS Top 25 in scoring defense.

The Flames also finished the 2010 season ranked No. 17 in the country in total defense, allowing just 309.18 yards per game. The Flames run defense, which ranked No. 20 in the country, set a program standard by allowing just 1,273 total rushing yards. In 2011, the Flames led the Big South in scoring defense (22 ppg) and were second in total defense (343.3 ypg).

Rojas was a dominating force for the Flames on the field from 2003-06, finishing his career with 348 tackles. As a senior, he led the squad with 102 tackles, making him one of only three Flames' defenders in the previous eleven seasons to crack the 100-tackle mark in a year. A two-time Big South all-conference performer, Rojas still currently ranks in the top 10 in the conference record books for career tackles (348), assisted tackles (208) and forced fumbles (7).

Rojas' senior season in 2006 marked a dramatic change in the culture that surrounded Liberty football. After finishing the prior season with a 1-10 record, Rojas played a key role, both statistically and as an emotional team captain, helping the 2006 squad post a 6-5 record. The five-win improvement over the previous season marked the best turnaround in all of NCAA FCS football for the 2006 season.

A large part of Liberty's five-win improvement was due to the Flames' defensive efforts as Liberty set a new program standard by allowing just 172 total points and the Flames finished the year ranked No. 12 in scoring defense (15.6 points per game). Along with the new program record for points allowed, Liberty set seven other defensive records in 2006, including a new standard for shutouts, as Liberty blanked three opponents. The Flames also knocked off No. 24 Charleston Southern, 34-20, in their season finale, marking the first Top 25 program Liberty had defeated in a decade.

After concluding a stellar four-year career for the Flames, Rojas graduated from Liberty in 2007 with a bachelor of science degree in communication studies with an advertising and public relations concentration. He remained close to the program, working within the Athletics Department as a member of the strength and conditioning staff.

A native of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, Rojas came to Liberty following a standout career at West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pa. He was a three-year starter for the Indians, where he earned first team all-conference and All-State honors.

Rojas and his wife Deanna have two sons Aiden and Nico, and two daughters Camelia and Alina.

Art Link | Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties

Art Link joined the Delaware coaching staff in December 2021 and will serve as the program’s special teams coordinator as well as coaching the safeties.

Link joins the Blue Hens after serving as the head football coach at Christopher Newport University for the past five seasons. He compiled a 19-22 record coached two NJAC Defensive Players of the Year, as well as two All-Americans, four all-region players and a total of 42 all-conference honorees.

Prior to Christopher Newport, Link spent three seasons (2014-16) as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lafayette College. No stranger to the CAA or Head Coach Ryan Carty, Link spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons as the linebackers coach at the University of New Hampshire, helping lead the Wildcats to the FCS Semifinals in 2013.

Link was the first defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Campbell University when the program was started in 2008. He held that position through the 2011 season, when he helped lead the Camels to their first winning season and the defense ranked 13th nationally in total takeaways.

In 2006, Link was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Catholic University. He got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant during the 2004 and 2005 seasons at his alma mater, the University of Florida, where he worked primarily with the linebackers.

A native of Gainesville, Florida, Link played for the Gators from 1996-99, winning an SEC and a national championship in 1996. He played for Head Coach Steve Spurrier and Defensive Coordinator Bob Stoops and was part of teams that played in the Orange Bowl (1999), Citrus Bowl (1998), and Sugar Bowl (1997). Link graduated from Florida with a bachelor of science as well as a master’s in exercise and sports science.

Terence Archer | Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator

Terence Archer joined the Delaware coaching staff in December 2021 as the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.

Archer makes his return to the East Coast after serving the 2021 season as the wide receivers coach and pass-game coordinator at Sam Houston, where he played an instrumental part in the Bearkats winning the 2020-21 national championship. He arrived at Sam Houston in February of 2014, serving as the wide receivers coach for all eight seasons and as the assistant head coach from January 2017 to March 2020.

In his tenure at Sam Houston, the Bearkats also won three Southland Conference championships, defeated 19 top 25-ranked opponents and finished ranked among the top five teams in the final FCS national rankings in four of his seven years on staff. In addition to the national championships, Sam Houston also reached the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs three times and the quarterfinals once.

In 2016 Archer's receiving corps produced a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and had a third finish with 960 yards as the Bearkats nearly became just the third team in the history of FCS football to produce three 1,000-yard receivers in the same season. That effort helped Sam Houston lead the FCS with an average 49.5 points per game on its way to a 12-1 record and a berth in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.

Sam Houston’s 7,975 yards in 2015 was a Southland Conference season record and ranked third all-time in NCAA Division I FCS history. The Kats led the nation in total offense and first downs and stood No. 5 in scoring and No. 16 in passing in 2015.

Archer had seven wide receivers earn All-Southland Conference honors at Sam Houston. Nathan Stewart became the first freshman 1,000-yard receiver in program history in 2016 and finished third in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the national freshman of the year. He became just the fourth receiver in FCS history to total 1,000 yards receiving as a freshman, sophomore and junior before setting the Southland Conference record for career receiving yards as a senior. In 2018, Davion Davis was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finished up his career as the SLC's all-time leader with 40 touchdown receptions.

Prior to Sam Houston, Archer previously served as the wide receivers coach at Monmouth University from April 2008 to February 2014. He tutored some of the program's top receivers including school record holder and Jerry Rice Award finalist Neal Sterling as well as NFL wide receiver Chris Hogan.

Archer started his coaching career at La Salle University, where he worked from April 2005 to January 2008. While with La Salle, Archer coached the running backs (2005), linebackers (2006-08), and coordinated all aspects of special teams during his stint.

A native of Abington, Pennsylvania, Archer was a four-year linebacker at Monmouth, where he graduated in 2001.

Andrew Pierce | Assistant Coach/Running Backs

A 2014 University of Delaware alum, Edgar Johnson Award winner, two-time team captain, three-time All-American, and No. 2 all-time leading rusher in UD history, Andrew Pierce returned to Newark and joined the UD coaching staff in December 2021 as the running backs coach.

Pierce has spent the past two seasons on the coaching staff at Rutgers, serving as the offensive quality control coach in 2021. He began his stint at Rutgers in March of 2020 as a player development coach during the spring season.

Prior to arriving at Rutgers, Pierce served as the running backs coach at Rowan in 2019. Under Pierce’s guidance, Rowan finished third in the NJAC with 151.6 rushing yards per game, and running back Messiah Divine led the conference in rushing yards per game with 78.4, earning First Team All-NJAC honors.

Pierce began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Cumberland Regional High School from 2017-18.

Before he entered the coaching ranks, Pierce enjoyed a professional career with the Spokane Empire (2016-17) and the Tri-City Fever (2015) of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Pierce led the league in scoring with 28 touchdowns in 2015 and helped the Spokane Empire to a 2016 IFL title.
He competed professionally in the Indoor Football League (IFL) from 2015-17.

Pierce had a stellar career for the Blue Hens, graduating in 2014 with a degree in health behavior science. A three-time All-American and two-time team captain, Pierce finished his career as the program’s second all-time leading rusher with 4,450 career yards on the ground. He produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2010 and 2011, which included 1,655 yards in 2010, a Delaware freshman record.

Chris Rogers | Assistant Coach/Offensive Line / Run Game Coordinator

Chris Rogers joined the Delaware coaching staff in December 2021 and will coach the offensive line while serving as the run game coordinator.

Rogers joins the Blue Hens after spending the last five seasons with Head Coach Ryan Carty on the staff at Sam Houston. He was the team’s offensive line coach for the past two seasons, helping lead the Bearkats to the national championship during the spring 2021 season. During the 2021 campaign, all five starting offensive linemen earned all-conference honors under Rogers’ guidance and Sam Houston ranked in the top six in scoring offense (3rd), total offense (5th), and rushing offense (6th).

During the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Rogers coached the Sam Houston tight ends helping Woody Brandom earn All-Southland Conference First Team honors in 2019. Rogers joined the Bearkats’ coaching staff in 2017 as a quality control assistant.

Rogers spent the 2015 season as the offensive line coach at Garden City Community College. In 2016, he returned to his alma mater – Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado – where he was the offensive line coach. There he coached a pair of all-state players, including ESPN top-100 player Andrew Gentry. Rogers started his coaching career as an undergraduate offensive line assistant in 2013 with the Bearkats.

As a player, Rogers earned all-league honors at Iowa Central Community College in both 2009 and 2010 before transferring to Sam Houston State. During his two years with the Bearkats, Rogers helped anchor the offensive line, earning all-Southland Conference honors in both 2011 and 2012 and serving as a team captain in 2012.

Sean Goldrich | Assistant Coach/Quarterbacks

Sean Goldrich joined the Delaware coaching staff in December 2021 as the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Goldrich spent the previous three years on the staff at Yale, serving as the program’s wide receivers and assistant special teams coach in 2021. In his first season with the Bulldogs in 2019, Goldrich was in the role of offensive quality control and helped lead Yale to the Ivy League Championship.

Prior to Yale, Goldrich spent one season as the wide receiver coach at the University of New England where he helped coordinate the passing game and mentored two First Team All-Commonwealth Coast Conference wideouts.

Goldrich was a four-year starting quarterback at the University of New Hampshire from 2011-15, where he was coached by Head Coach Ryan Carty and led his team to the playoffs four times, including two trips to the semifinals. He compiled more than 7,500 yards passing and 1,100 yards rushing, accounting for 71 total touchdowns.

Goldrich graduated from New Hampshire in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He took part in NFL training camps with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears before playing professionally in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2017 and 2018.

Garrett Smith | Assistant Coach/Tight Ends

Smith joins the Blue & Gold after spending the past two seasons on the staff at Sam Houston as an offensive quality control coach, helping the Bearkats win the 2020-21 FCS National Championship. He worked with the team’s wide receivers as well as assisted with special teams.

During the national championship run, Sam Houston’s offense ranked in the top 15 nationally in total offense and two of Hunter’s wide receivers earned all-conference honors. The Bearkats went undefeated during the 2021 season and the offense improved to a top-five national ranking in total offense. Smith had three wide receivers receive postseason all-conference recognition.

Before arriving at Sam Houston, Smith spent three seasons as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater Louisiana-Monroe. He worked with the team’s quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends while also assisting in all aspects of special teams. In his first two seasons, the Warhawks ranked in the top 25 nationally in total offense and, in 2019, ULM was one of five teams in the country to average more than 200 rushing yards and 250 passing yards per game on offense.

Smith appeared in 22 games at quarterback for the Warhawks from 2015-17. He made 10 starts as a redshirt freshman in 2015, completing 191 passes for 2,033 yards and 17 touchdowns. He threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns in his first career win over Nichols State. For his career, Smith finished with 3,857 yards passing on 329 completions and 31 touchdowns.

Smith graduated from ULM in 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. He earned his master’s degree in 2021 in exercise science.

Sam Daniels | Assistant Coach/Defensive Line

Sam Daniels joined the Delaware football coaching staff in March 2022. Daniels, who brings plenty of CAA experience, will coach the team's defensive line.

Daniels spent the past two seasons at the University of Richmond, coaching the defensive tackles. In his two years with the Spiders, the defense ranked among the top 25 nationally both seasons in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense. Daniels coached Kobie Turner to two All-America selections and Turner was named the CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the shortened spring season in 2021, the first interior defensive lineman in the CAA to earn the award since 2011.

Prior to Richmond, Daniels spent time at both Howard University and Bridgewater College, as well as three seasons at Shepherd University in West Virginia (2016-18) coaching the defensive line. He mentored Myles Humphrey to All-America honors in 2017 and 2018 as the school’s all-time sack leader earned PSAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades in 2017.

Daniels came to Shepherd after two seasons as the defensive line coach at Frostburg State University (2014-15) and two years at the Apprentice School. He was the defensive coordinator, defensive line and recruiting coordinator at the Apprentice School in 2013 while serving as the defensive line and recruiting coordinator in 2012.

No stranger to the CAA, Daniels was a two-time All-American and four-year member of the James Madison University football team. In his final two years, Daniels was a two-time team captain, a two-time All-CAA selection and a two-time All-American. Over his final two seasons, he finished with 108 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss with 10.5 sacks on the defensive line. As a senior, he was the Dukes’ Defensive MVP and Lineman of the Year.

Daniels graduated from James Madison in 2010 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology. He earned his master’s degree in education from Frostburg State in 2016.

Rocco DiMeco | Assistant Coach / Linebackers

Rocco DiMeco joined the Delaware coaching staff in January 2023. He will work directly with the team’s linebackers as well as assist with the special teams units.

DiMeco comes to UD after spending the 2022 season as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Long Island University. His linebackers were part of a defense that led the NEC in interceptions and ranked third in the conference in sacks. On special teams, he coached a pair of All-NEC honorees in punter Will Lynch and placekicker Michael Coney.

DiMeco arrived at LIU after holding the same position at Winona State University from 2018-21. With the Warriors, he developed multiple All-NSIC players. Returner Jake Balliu earned All-NISC and all-region, ranking fourth in the country in combined kick returns in 2021. Clay Schueffner ranked No. 2 in the NSIC in solo tackles and received All-NSIC First Team honors. DiMeco also coached Devon Moore, a second-team All-NSIC linebacker who received an invite to minicamp with the Atlanta Falcons.

In 2019, Winona State had the No. 15-ranked scoring defense and fifth-ranked interception defense in D-II. During the 2018 season, DiMeco led the No. 15-ranked punt return unit in the country, as well as the No. 22-ranked kickoff return unit.

Prior to Winona State, DiMeco coached at Rutgers from 2014-17 in a variety of roles. During his time with the Scarlet Knights, DiMeco worked with Janarion Grant, a preseason First Team All-American return specialist who tied for the NCAA record for combined kick return touchdowns, and with Michael Burton, a fifth-round selection of the Detroit Lions in the 2015 NFL Draft. His special teams unit ranked second in the Big Ten in 2015.

His first taste of Division I coaching came at Holy Cross during the 2013 season when he coached the outside linebackers while also assisting with special teams. He coached Kyle Young who earned multiple defensive and rookie of the week honors at the conference and national levels.

DiMeco’s began his coaching career in 20212 at Anna Maria College where he served as the co-defensive coordinator as well as the strength & conditioning coordinator. Two of his linebackers, Jordan Koehler and Kevin Card, earned all-conference honors under his tutelage.

DiMeco played linebacker at Norwich University and was a first-team all-conference selection and D-III Pro Day All-American. He won a conference championship in 2009 and was the recipient of the Barry Mynter Award for outstanding desire and dedication. He was named a team captain as a senior.

He graduated from Norwich in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He is married to Jacky DiMeco and the couple has three children, Cecilia, Emilia and Rocco.

Tyler Ferguson | Offensive Quality Control

Tyler Ferguson joined the Delaware coaching staff prior to the 2021 season as an offensive quality control assistant.

Prior to joining the staff at Delaware, Ferguson coached at the high school level in Maryland, spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Bohemia Manor High School and the 2019 season at Kent County High School.

Originally from Chesapeake City, Maryland, Ferguson graduated from Salisbury University.

Nick Hunter | Defensive Quality Control

Hunter comes to UD after spending the past two seasons as a graduate assistant on the staff at Austin Peay where he worked with the defensive line. He was the defensive signal caller for a Governors’ defense that led the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in scoring defense (24.9 ppg) and ranked second in sacks (18), while boasting OVC Defensive Player of the Year in Koby Perry.

Prior to Austin Peay, Hunter the 2020 spring on the staff at his alma mater Christopher Newport, where he served as the safeties coach. A wide receiver at Christopher Newport, he caught 33 passes for 428 yards and completed all six of his pass attempts for four touchdowns during his career. He then joined the CNU coaching staff as safeties coach in Spring 2020 before joining the APSU coaching staff.

A Yorktown, Virginia native, Hunter graduated from Christopher Newport with a bachelor’s degree in biology with a focus in cellular molecular and physiology in 2020.

Paul Worrilow | Volunteer Assistant Coach/Defense/Special Teams

Paul Worrilow returned to Newark in January 2022 and will serve as Delaware’s volunteer assistant coach.

Worrilow rejoins the Blue & Gold after an eight-year NFL career that saw him play in 76 games with 52 starts. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and appeared in all 16 games in each of his first two seasons. His 142 total tackles in 2014 ranked fifth in the NFL and he was named a team captain in both 2014 and 2015.

Worrilow appeared in 59 games over four seasons with the Falcons before joining Detroit in 2017. He suited up in 13 games for the Lions before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. He missed the 2018 season due to injury, before appearing in four games for the New York Jets in 2019. Worrilow was on the Jets’ practice squad for part of the 2020 season.

For his career, Worrilow compiled 415 total tackles to go along with 15.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

A 2012 All-CAA First Team and Third Team All-American (The Sports Network) selection as a senior, Worrilow was a two-time team captain for the Blue Hens. He was named the 2012 team MVP and received the 2013 Edgar Johnson Award, given annually to a Delaware student-athlete “demonstrating the characteristics of hard work, dedication, fairness and striving for excellence.”

The Wilmington, Del. native was a key member of the UD team that advanced to the 2010 national championship game, leading the defense with 113 total tackles. Worrilow finished his decorated career ranked fifth all-time in program history with 377 career tackles and is also 11th with 33.5 TFL.

Worrilow graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in history in 2013.

Corico Wright | Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks / Defensive Pass Game Coordinator

Corico Wright joined the Delaware coaching staff in February 2023. He joins the Blue Hens as an assistant coach and will work directly with the team's cornerbacks and will serve as the program’s defensive pass game coordinator.

Wright arrives in Newark after spending the past four seasons at Furman where he started as the safeties coach before working with all defensive backs. He also assisted with all of the special teams units while leading the kickoff coverage team. During his tenure in Greenville, Furman twice advanced to the FCS Championship, defeating Elon in a 2022 first-round game. Over his four years with the Paladins, Wright helped produce nine All-Southern Conference defensive backs.

Prior to Furman, Wright spent one season as the cornerbacks coach at James Madison. In his lone season with the Dukes, he coached consensus All-America cornerback Jimmy Moreland, who returned three of his five interceptions for touchdowns and finished sixth in balloting for the 2018 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defender in FCS.

Wright went to JMU following two seasons at Murray State, where he coached the cornerbacks and also assisted with special teams. During his time with the Racers, he guided D’Montre Wade to a pair of All-O OVC honors, as well as All-America Second Team accolades in 2017. The All-America nod came after Wade led the OVC with six interceptions.

He spent three seasons at his alma mater, Clemson, where he was a defensive graduate assistant on Dabo Swinney’s staff. Wright worked with the secondary under defensive backs coach Mike Reed and was in charge of the defensive game plans and breakdowns while also assisting in the daily operations of the defense.

Wright tallied 200 tackles along with 17.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in a 52-game career (26 starts) at Clemson. He was also an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Honor Roll member and was twice Clemson’s third-leading tackler, accounting for more than 150 stops between his sophomore and junior seasons.

As a player and coach at Clemson, Wright was part of eight bowl games and five bowl victories. He helped the Tigers win the 2009 Music City Bowl and 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl as a student-athlete, and he also took part in the Orange Bowl and Meineke Car Care Bowl. During his coaching tenure with the Tigers, the program captured a pair of Orange Bowls and the Russell Athletic Bowl while also reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama in his final season at Clemson.

Wright served as a Bill Walsh Minority Intern with the New York Jets in 2014 as well as with the Miami Dolphins in 2019.

A native of Milledgeville, Georgia, Wright graduated from Clemson in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in athletic leadership. He later earned his master’s degree in human resource development from Clemson in 2015.

Jerry Oravitz | Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football

Gerald J. “Jerry” Oravitz has been a key member of the University of Delaware Athletics Department for 25 years, including 20 years in various roles in football administration. In February 2022, Oravitz transitioned to a newly created role of Senior Associate AD for Football. During his career at UD, Oravitz has worked closely with Head Football Coaches Tubby Raymond, KC Keeler, Dave Brock, Danny Rocco and Ryan Carty.

In May 2017, Oravitz was promoted by current AD Chrissi Rawak to the new role of Associate Director of Athletics for Major Gifts. In this current role, he works closely with student-athlete alumni and major gift donors as a part of the Athletics Development team led by Deputy Athletic Director Jordan Skolnick. Oravitz was instrumental in the fundraising efforts which resulted in the $60M Whitney Athletics Center which opened in January 2021.

In December 2013, Oravitz was promoted by AD Eric Ziady to the position of Associate Director of Athletics for Football Administration. In that role, he managed the day-to-day operations of the program which included budget management, on-campus recruiting, summer camps; future Football scheduling and strategic planning. Oravitz spent 14 years as Director of Football Operations, including handling operations for the 2003 DI-AA National Championship as well as the 2007 and 2010 FCS National Finalist teams.

Oravitz has also served as an Adjunct Instructor for UD’s Sports Management program from 2003-2014. During this time, he has mentored numerous students who have gone on to successful careers in the NFL and in Intercollegiate Athletics Administration.

Oravitz earned his Master’s degree in Humanics from Springfield College (1998), and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University (MD) in 1984.

He also completed NACDA’s Sports Management Executive program sponsored by the University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas in 2004.

Oravitz served a Graduate Internship with the University of Delaware Athletics Department during the Spring of 1997. He was then named by former AD Edgar Johnson as Athletics Operations Associate in 1997 where he served the then 23-Sport program and Head Coaches. Oravitz was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations across all sports programs as well as Football operations.

While at UD, Oravitz has also served as Tournament Director for the America East Baseball, Indoor Track & Field, Men’s Lacrosse and Women’s Lacrosse Championships hosted by UD. He also served as Tournament Director for the 2003 DI-AA Football Playoff games hosted by UD.

Additionally, Oravitz has served as a Committee member for the American Football Coaches Association Director of Football Operations committee. He also directed UD’s Bone Marrow Drive founded by former Villanova Football Coach Andy Talley, and directed UD’s CAA Blood Challenge which UD claimed the title for 5 consecutive years.

A former First Team All-State Baseball player, and an All-Catholic League Basketball player at nearby St. Elizabeth’s High School in Wilmington, DE, Oravitz was also a Baseball Letter winner at Salisbury University.

Oravitz remains active in our local community serving as a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Newark; the Sunday Breakfast Mission in Wilmington; and the Salisbury University Baseball Alumni Association.

Oravitz and his wife Teresa are life-long Delawareans.

Brett Arnold | Associate AD / General Manager for Football Operations

Brett Arnold joined the Delaware coaching staff in January 2022. He will serve in the role of Associate Athletic Director and General Manager for Football Operations.

Arnold arrives in Newark after two seasons in his second stint at Rutgers where he was the Director of Football Administration for the Scarlet Knights. He was also a member of Rutgers’ staff from 2012-16, when he served as a Director of Internal Football Operations for the Scarlet Knights. Arnold worked with the director of football operations and the head coach to oversee the program’s operating budget and travel needs, as well as the development of weekly itineraries.

From 2017-19, Arnold was the Director of Football Operations at Sam Houston State. During his tenure with the Bearkats, Arnold helped manage the staffing, roster and overall program goals. Arnold oversaw the team’s travel and assisted with scheduling and game contracts. Sam Houston State finished with a winning record in each of the three season’s Arnold was on staff, which included a 12-2 mark and an appearance in the FCS semifinals in 2017.

Prior to his first stint at Rutgers, Arnold operated in ticket sales and revenue generation for two years at Temple (2011-12) and with the Philadelphia Eagles (2010-11).

Arnold began his career in college athletics at Delaware when he spent the 2009 season wearing the Blue & Gold as a football operations assistant.

Arnold earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from Massachusetts Amherst in 2009. A standout punter for the Minutemen from 2007-08, Arnold led the FCS in punting as a senior and was a First Team All-American.

Arnold and his wife, Fatou, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Cameron.

Chris Stewart | Associate AD, Strength and Conditioning/Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Football

Chris Stewart joined the University of Delaware athletic department in January 2017 as the associate AD for strength and conditioning and the head strength and conditioning coach for the football program.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Stewart arrived in Newark after spending eight years as head strength & conditioning coach at the University of Richmond..

Before moving to Richmond in 2009, Stewart had an 11-year stint at the University of Tennessee in 1998-2008, including his last five as associate strength and conditioning coach. At UT, he served as a graduate assistant, assistant, and associate head strength coach during his tenure and worked with numerous National Football League players and Olympians while in Knoxville.

At Delaware, Stewart is directly responsible for the strength and conditioning of the Blue Hen football program and works closely with UD Associate Director of Athletics/Strength & Conditioning Head Coach Ted Perlak.

Stewart is an approved mentor for the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and the former director of the UT Strength and Conditioning Clinic, one of the nation’s largest and longest-running strength clinics involving 800 coaches and athletes.

Stewart assisted with the UT football program while serving as the primary strength coach for the Vols’ nationally acclaimed track & field team. He worked year-round with former Vols in the professional and Olympic ranks.

Stewart earned a sports management/exercise science degree from Western Carolina in 1998 and completed his master’s from Tennessee in 2001. He is certified through the College Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.

His career at Richmond and Tennessee includes one national BCS title; three SEC Championships; one Colonial Athletic Associate title; and 10 bowl games for football. Individually, he has trained 64 current or former NFL players, including 11 who have gone on to play in the Pro Bowl and eight who have won Super Bowl titles.

In track & field, he helped the Vols win two national championships and three SEC titles and has trained seven Olympians and seven individual national champions.
Stewart and his wife, Sherry, have a son, Cole, and a daughter, Lily.

Previous Experience:

The University of Tennessee - Associate Head Strength Coach
The University of Richmond - Director of Football Strength & Conditioning
The University of Delaware - Associate AD for Sports Performance/Head Football Strength Coach

Education:

Masters of Science: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Bachelors of Science: Western Carolina, Cullowhee, NC

Certifications:

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCCa)

At UD Since: 2017

Team Assignments:

Football