Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Mike Palazzo as the new Head Football Coach.
 
Palazzo becomes the eighth head coach in program history and takes over for Rick Giancola, who retired in November after spending 40 years at the helm of the Red Hawks.
 
"I'm excited to announce Mike as our next head coach," stated Director of Athletics Rob Chesney. "He's worked really hard for this opportunity and learned from one of the best in Coach Giancola. We're excited about the program's future and look forward to the 2023 season." 
 
"It's a tremendous honor to be named the next head coach at Montclair State University," Palazzo expressed. "Coach Giancola was not only a mentor to me but a great friend. I plan on honoring him by instilling the lessons he taught me in our current players. I have spent over half my life at Montclair State. It is home to me, I take our success on and off the field personally. I am eager to begin this new era of Montclair State Football." 
 
It is the third stint as a member of the coaching staff for the former MSU player who started his career as a student assistant in 2007 when the Red Hawks claimed the ECAC South Atlantic Championship and as Tight Ends/ Video Coordinator from 2012-2013 following his playing career.
 
In his first season as the Defensive Coordinator in 2022, he guided the Red Hawks to the No. 1 scoring defense in the NJAC and coached safety MIKE RAMOS to All-American honors. In 2020 and 2021, he served as the Special Teams Coordinator, blocking eight kicks in 2021 while having the No. 1 kickoff return unit in the NJAC in 2020.
 
Palazzo returned to Montclair State in 2015 and served as the Defensive Quality Control Coach at Division I Towson University under Head Coach Rob Ambrose in 2014. While with the Tigers, Palazzo worked directly with Defensive Coordinator Matt Hachmann in various functions, including film breakdown and practice planning for the defensive unit that included future NFL players Tye Smith and Ryan Delaire.
 
Since returning to Montclair, Palazzo has coached All-NJAC Wide Receivers Julanee Price, Kason Campbell, Brian Kowalczyk, and Carsen Johnson while serving as the Wide Receivers Coach. During the COVID-19 shortened Spring Season in 2021, Palazzo coached a trio of All-Conference Special Teams performers, including NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year Zahir Wilder.
 
He appeared in 29 games as a student-athlete for the Red Hawks and was a part of a pair of NJAC Championship Teams. In 2008, he was awarded the Fred Hill Hustle Award, and in 2011 was named the Alan Coder Award recipient, which is awarded to players who possess loyalty and unselfishness while putting personal goals aside for the team while also earning the Iron Man Award for perfect attendance throughout his career. In addition to football, he was a four-year member of the MSU Track & Field team and placed ninth in the javelin during the 2008 NJAC Championships.
 
Palazzo came to Montclair after playing high school football at Toms River South. An All-Conference choice in 2005, he was the All-Shore Conference Game MVP in 2006. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Social Studies Education and received his Master's in Sports Administration from Montclair State in 2022. While pursuing his Masters, he interned with Army Football under Chief of Staff Clayton Kendrick-Holmes and was part of the team that knocked off Missouri in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl. He has been a member of the AFCA since 2014. He currently resides in Little Falls.

Steve Sciarappa will serve as the Associate Head Coach in addition to his Offensive Coordinator responsibilities and a new Defensive Coordinator will join the staff in Spring 2023.
 
COACHING HISTORY
2022 – Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/ Recruiting Coordinator – Montclair State University
2020-21 – Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator – Montclair State University
2016-20 – Wide Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator – Montclair State University
2015 – Tight Ends Coach – Montclair State University
2014 – Defensive Quality Control Coach – Towson University
2013 – Tight Ends Coach – Montclair State University
2012 – Assistant Offensive Line Coach – Montclair State University
 
All-NJAC PLAYERS COACHED
2022 – NICHOLAS BURGESS
2022 – MIKE RAMOS
2022 – DIMITRI PALI
2022 – JALIL TERRELL
2022 – BRENNAN RAY
2022 – KIMANI CARRINGTON
2022 – OMARIE WILMORE
2021 – Mile Djordijovski
2020 – Zahir Wilder (Special Teams Player of the Year)
2020 – Anthony Marinelli
2020 – Brian Kowalczyk
2020 – Carsen Johnson
2019 – Kason Campbell
2018 – Kason Campbell
2018 – Brian Kowalczyk
2017 – Julianee Prince
2012 – Doug Pannone