Vinny Marino has been named the 15th Head Coach of the Nichols College Football Team, on November 28, 2023.
Marino wrapped up his first season as Head Coach of the Football Team. The Bison finished with a 3-7 record overall. Marino earned his first collegiate win on September 14, with a 63-12 win over Maine Maritime. Marino's first season saw the three Bison earn Conference of New England (CNE) All-Conference honors, including two First Team selections in Jack Morvan and Derrick Revolus. The Bison posted the third best offense, averaging 33.3 points per game and led the conference in offensive efficiency. Morvan was also named to the 2024 New England Football Writers Association All-New England Team.
During his two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Bison (2022-23), Marino elevated the Bison offense to back-to-back top rankings in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, which included a conference tie for 1st in total touchdowns scored and a school record for touchdowns in a single season (48). In 2022 the Bison averaged 27.5 points per game and in 2023 that average grew to 35.6 points per game, compared to the 12.2 points per game in the season prior to his arrival. Additionally in 2023, Nichols ranked 29th in total offense among the 238 Division III programs.
Marino spent the 2019 campaign at the offensive coordinator at Brown University, where he helped orchestrate a massive turnaround of the Bears offense, which averaged 30.0 ppg and 454.5 yards of total offense per game, compared to 2018 (the year prior to his arrival) when the squad averaged 14.3 ppg and 285.5 yards of total offense per game. Meanwhile, the run game improved to 153.4 yards per game, up from 65.1 yards the previous season.
Brown quarterback EJ Perry – the 2021 Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year who attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this month – led the nation total offense (367.8 ypg) in 2019, set an Ivy League record for total offense in a season (3,678 yards), was named First Team All-Ivy, and was a finalist for the Bushnell Cup (Ivy Offensive Player of the Year). Four other members of the offense – Jakob Prall (WR), Livingstone Harriott (WR), Emerson Logie (TE), and Chad Broome-Webster (OL) – received All-Ivy honors in 2019.
Marino's first season with Bryant in 2017 was a success as the Bulldogs put together one of the best offensive seasons in program history, finishing first in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in total offense. The wide receivers thrived under Marino's watchful eyes and in the new Bryant offense, establishing program-records for both receptions and receiving yards in a single season. Three student-athletes posted 45+ catches on the season.
Overall, the 2017 Bulldogs offense averaged nearly 100 more yards per game with Marino serving as the OC. Bryant put up 30.3 points per game and broke the NEC record for passing yards per game in a single season. The following season in 2018, his offensive unit continued to light up the scoreboard, averaging 32.5 points per game, while averaging 411.1 total yards per game. Both totals were good for second in the NEC.
Marino was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Davidson in 2016 and spent the prior two years at Boston College. During his time with the Eagles, Marino served as the recruiting coordinator, the assistant director of player personnel and quality control for the offense special teams. Marino was part of a coaching staff that helped guide the Eagles to seven wins and an appearance in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Before arriving in Chestnut Hill, Marino spent two years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgetown, and six years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Columbia. With the Hoyas, he helped the Hoyas lead the Patriot League in red zone scoring and fewest turnovers in 2013.
Marino also excelled during his time at Columbia, coaching five All-Ivy League quarterbacks in his six seasons. He coached quarterback Craig Hormann, who signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns. Marino also recruited All-America tight end Andrew Kennedy and wide receiver Austin Knowlin, the all-time leading receiver in Columbia football history.
Marino has also made stops at UConn (2002-05, Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Coach), Rhode Island (2000-01, Running Backs/Special Teams), Richmond (1999, Wide Receivers/Quarterbacks), Holy Cross (1996-98, Offensive Coordinator; 1998, Quarterbacks; 1996-97, Running Backs/Special Teams), Western Carolina (1993-95, Graduate Assistant) and Bowdoin (1992, Wide Receivers/Returns).
At UConn, Marino helped the Huskies win the 2004 Motor City Bowl and was named one of the top 10 football recruiters in the Big East by Rivals.com.
Marino helped guide URI to one of its best seasons in program history in 2001, as the Rams finished 8-3 and ranked No. 19 in the nation. At Richmond, Marino coached wide receivers Muneer Monroe (sixth round draft pick of the Denver Broncos) and Dwaune Jones (Cleveland Browns free agent).
Marino graduated from UConn in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and earned a master’s degree in physical education from Western Carolina in 1996.
