SELINSGROVE - Longtime Susquehanna University head football coach Steve Briggs will step down after 25 seasons to take a university relations role at the school.
Briggs, 53, Susquehanna's winningest coach, guided the program to its only appearance in a Division III semifinal game.
"In his new role as an advancement officer in the division of university relations, Steve will continue to do familiar work: developing trust and confidence in Susquehanna," said Vice-President Ron Cohen. "The university anticipates a comprehensive capital campaign in the near future and we're fortunate to have this extraordinary and timely opportunity for Steve to engage his broad network of Susquehanna alumni and families in ways that can be beneficial for our future."
"This decision is somewhat bittersweet for me," said Briggs, who has also served as an assistant athletic director for Susquehanna since 2003. "But the time is right. The program is poised for success and at this time in my life, I'm ready for a different kind of life and a new challenge. Coaching is an all-consuming profession and I've loved it, but I have not had a fall off since 1973. I've missed a lot of key moments in my family's life and it's time to make up for that lost time."
Briggs said he is grateful for the opportunity to have coached the Crusaders.
"I've been privileged to work with a great group of young men over the past 27 years. I've had an opportunity to coach them in a sport I love and to teach them life lessons along the way. I've had a great run and coaching the Crusaders has been the greatest honor of my life," Briggs said.
Susquehanna University President L. Jay Lemons said he is proud of Briggs' accomplishments and the program he has shaped. "As the Crusaders' winningest coach, Steve stands at the head of a long line of highly regarded Crusader coaches, including his immediate predecessors William 'Rocky' Rees and Bill Moll, and football coaching legends Jim Hazlett, Jim Garrett and Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr. and Sr.," Lemons said.
"Steve's legacy as the Crusaders' head coach goes well beyond the many wins and multiple championships that he won," said Athletic Director Pam Samuelson. "A true teacher/coach, Steve has positively impacted the development of on the order of 1,000 young men through his work with them, both on and off the field."
Briggs compiled a record of 127-126 during his head-coaching career at Susquehanna. In 2009, he led the Crusaders to the Liberty League title. Briggs and his staff earned the league's Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2009 and, that same year, the Liberty Mutual Group named Briggs one of five NCAA Division III finalists for its national Coach of the Year award.
He guided his 1991 team to the Division III South Region championship and the program's only berth in the national semifinals. In 1992, his team went 9-1, coming up just four points short of a perfect season and another NCAA playoff berth.
A native of Massachusetts, Briggs arrived at Susquehanna in 1988 to serve as chief defensive assistant coach for Rees. He was in that role for two years before assuming the head coaching position in 1990. Prior to his tenure at Susquehanna, he had served as an assistant coach at Lehigh University, the University of Richmond and Bowdoin and Springfield colleges.
Briggs has coached an impressive list of 73 first-team all-conference players since 1990 in the Centennial Conference, Liberty League and Mid-Atlantic Conference.
Five of those players were named conference players of the year. He has also coached seven All-Americans and four Academic All-Americans, a testament to his recruitment and coaching skills.
Offensive Coordinator Nate Milne will serve as interim head coach until a new coach is named, Samuelson said, adding that a national search will begin immediately. Defensive backs coach Alan Zemaitis, a former Penn State All-American who went on to play for the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will become acting defensive coordinator. Zemaitis joined the Crusaders coaching staff in 2012. Scott Knapp, who joined the Crusader staff in 2008, will serve as interim offensive coordinator.