WEST LONG BRANCH – Let’s tell it like it is.
Monmouth University’s defense has been a thorn in the side of its football program for as long as anyone can remember.
It’s an elephant in the room that, for some reason, nobody wants to address. There have been some recent personnel changes over the past couple of years, but the outcome has stayed the same.
Its incompetence flies under the radar at the expense of Monmouth’s offense, which has historically been one of the most explosive in the FCS year in and year out.
Take last season, for example. Monmouth’s offense ranked No.1 in the country in total offense per game (498.7) and No.5 in scoring offense (40.0). In contrast, the defense ranked 93rd in total yards allowed per game (405.6) and 77th in points allowed per game (27.9). That’s out of 126 FCS teams.
In the final game of the season last year against Albany, all Monmouth had to do was beat the last-place Great Danes, and they were guaranteed a spot in the FCS playoffs. Albany’s offense entered the game ranked 117th in total offense (280.2) and 112th in scoring offense (16.8), yet the Hawks' defense allowed Albany to score on five of its first six possessions, taking a 31-3 lead midway through the third quarter.
Monmouth’s offense rallied to pull within 31-24, but ran out of time, and the Hawks were left out of the FCS playoffs the following day. A crushing blow to the program.
The scenario above is no outlier. It has been played out so many times in games over the years that it’s predictable.
However, there’s hope on the horizon.
Monmouth elevated linebacker coach Louis DiRienzo to defensive coordinator/linebacker coach, a position he held at Springfield College for five seasons prior to joining Monmouth’s staff last season.
DiRienzo’s defenses at Springfield, a DIII program, were consistently among the stingiest in the NEWMAC. In 2022, DiRienzo’s defense surrendered just 17 points per game as the Pride repeated as NEWMAC Champions and advanced to the NCAA DIII Championship Sweet16 for the first time since 2006. In 2023, he was chosen as the Gridiron Club of New England’s Division DII/DIII Co-Assistant Coach of the Year as Springfield won its third-straight conference title. In 2025, Springfield went 12-1, with its only loss coming at the hands of No. 1 North Central in the national quarterfinals. Again, DiRienzo’s defense ranked at the top of the NEWMAC, allowing just 14.8 points per game.
“Obviously, you grow and learn as a coach, and my time at Springfield gave me that opportunity,” said DiRienzo. “The schemes change a little bit, and you’re always constantly studying and learning, trying to grow, and I hope to continue on that path as defensive coordinator here at Monmouth.”
DiRienzo is optimistic he can right the ship, but he stresses it won’t just be him overhauling the defense. It will be a group effort from top to bottom.
“It’s not going to just be me, it’s not I, it's we,” said DiRienzo. “I think we have a great coaching staff with all of us working together. It’s all five of us working together, and it’s not just us; it’s the players and us, and we’re working on this thing together. We’re focused on 2026, and all we can do is control these 15 practices we have in spring ball. We’re not naive; we know what went on here in the past, but it’s a completely different group of coaches, it’s a completely different group of players. Some of us have been here in the past, but this is a new year, and we’re focused on getting better every day right now. We’re confident in our abilities to do so, but talking about it is one thing; we just have to show up every day and do the work, and we’ll be proud of the outcome later if we take care of the process.
“I think the group we have can change the direction of this defense under the leadership of coach Gallo,” DiRienzo added. “Scheme-wise, there are some things that are similar, some things that are different. Obviously, we’re gaming things differently and doing things differently, and scheme’s a big part of that, but it’s how we play and how we attack. We want to be on that field and get that stop in the fourth quarter. We want people to write about Monmouth’s defense after the games and when the season is done.”
Monmouth lost seven defensive players, three starters, through the transfer portal, and two starters graduated this offseason. But, really, how much of a setback could that be when those players helped produce one of the worst defenses in the FCS? Change is good, especially in this scenario.
The Hawks caught a big break when their leading tackler, safety Jaeden Jones, pulled his name out of the transfer portal and decided to return. Jones was a first team All-CAA selection and a second team FCS All-American after recording 118 total tackles last season – ninth in the country. He added five TFL, sack, interception, three pass BU, FF, FR to his repertoire.
“Jadean is having an unbelievable spring coming off an All-American campaign,” said DiRienzo. “But what I’m proud of, obviously, he’s a great player, but he’s really worked on the areas of his game he needed to improve. He wants to be a better player; he’s playing man coverage better than ever. But what I’m most proud of him for right now is his leadership. He’s a guy we have to count on in a leadership role, and he’s really taken strides in that area. We’re counting on Jaedan in a big way this year.”
The common denominator of the transfer portal is that it both giveth and taketh away. To supplement those losses, Monmouth signed 15 players through the portal, 10 of whom are on the defensive side of the ball.
“I’m happy with all the players we’ve added through the portal, and how they’ve clicked with their teammates and their willingness to learn,” DiRienzo said. We all have a long way to go, and the depth is far from being set, but really, with all the additions we brought in, it’s their character and the people they are that make me most excited. They want to show up every day and want to be coached and be part of this defense.”
DiRienzo mentioned a couple of transfer portal additions who have stood out so far this spring. He singled out cornerback/safety Amir Haskett (Richmond) for doing a great job and loves his position flexibility and desire to be coached. He feels the same about cornerback Omar Ibraham (Temple), who he says strives every day to get better and is working really hard. DiRienzo also likes what he’s seen out of safety Jaiden McClendon Parker (Glenville St.) and the effort he puts in every day in practice; another one who wants to be here and contribute to the defense.
Upfront, DiRienzo identified defensive tackle Hugo Gil (Charleston Southern), defensive end Jahide Lesaine Jr. (Syracuse), and linebacker Donovan Dyson (UMass). DiRienzo admires Dyson’s work ethic and want-to and joked that Dyson is in his office so much that he sees him more than he sees his own family.
Last season's viper position is now called the star position in DiRienzo’s defense, similar to the viper in that it’s a nickel hybrid player that will have cornerback, safety, or even linebacker responsibilities depending on the scheme.
Senior Hasson Manning Jr., a transfer from Delaware, was second on the Blue Hens defense with three passes defended, redshirt sophomore Destin Hill and true freshman Amori McNeil, who started for powerhouse Don Boscoe, which finished ranked second in New Jersey his last season, are three players DiRienzo says have excelled this spring and could claim the job this summer.
DiRienzo’s enthusiasm is contagious. His upbeat personality and coaching skills command his players' full attention; when he speaks, they listen. But it’s his love and passion for the game that are most identifiable to everyone around him.
“We’re in a growing phase now, but we’re really coming together as a group,” said DiRienzo. “Something we talk about defensively is connection, growth and toughness, that’s something we’re preaching every day. It’s not the D-line, not the linebackers, not the secondary. We all have to be connected as one and play eleven as one. We’re a process-over-outcome right now; the bullets aren’t live for four more months. Right now, in every situation, there’s something to learn and grow from, and we’re doing that. We talk about having a champions mindset, and I’m really proud of how we’re jelling right now.”
New head coach Jeff Gallo just may have hit the jackpot in elevating DiRienzo to defensive coordinator. Time will tell.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Long Branch, NJ Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.