Brendan Coppola enters his first season as a graduate assistant coach with the Nichols College football program in 2026.
A familiar name on The Hill, Coppola joins the coaching staff following a four-year playing career with the Bison, where he developed into one of the program's veteran leaders in the secondary. A defensive back from Southington, Connecticut, Coppola appeared in 24 career games from 2022-25 while making the transition from outside linebacker to the defensive backfield. He totaled 49 career tackles, including 21 solo stops, and added a pass breakup during his collegiate career. As a senior captain in 2025, Coppola played in eight games and recorded a career-high 20 tackles, highlighted by a nine-tackle performance at Maine Maritime. He also appeared in six games as a junior, totaling 16 tackles, after registering 13 tackles in nine contests during the 2023 season. Coppola made his collegiate debut as a freshman in 2022 against Curry.
Off the field, Coppola was equally accomplished in the classroom, earning Conference of New England Academic All-Conference honors in 2024 after previously being named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference All-Academic Team in 2023. A graduate of Southington High School, he was an Honor Roll student, National Honor Society member, and DECA participant before continuing his academic and athletic career at Nichols.
Coppola now brings his experience as a team captain, defensive back, and student-athlete to the Bison coaching staff as he begins his coaching career.
