WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University football head coach Kevin Callahan has announced the addition of three new defensive staff members as the Hawks gear up for spring practice ahead of the 2025 season.

"I am thrilled to welcome these three outstanding coaches to our defensive staff," Callahan said. "Each brings an impressive background, a wealth of experience, and a strong commitment to player development. Their addition will be invaluable as we continue to build a championship-caliber defense. I'm eager to see them work with our players and help elevate our program."

Meet the New Defensive Coaches:

Codey Cole – Defensive Line Coach
Cole joins Monmouth with a proven track record in player development and defensive success. He most recently served as the Defensive Line coach at Bucknell, where he helped develop standout players such as 2024 All-Patriot League OLB Brad Jamison and DT Aneesh Vyas. Prior to Bucknell, he coached at Findlay, where his defensive unit ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense, total defense, and run defense. His experience also includes stints at Alderson Broaddus, where he contributed to a top-15 NCAA takeaway defense, and Northern Illinois, where he assisted a MAC Championship-winning defensive line in 2021. A former collegiate player at Kansas, Cole graduated in 2019 after two seasons with the Jayhawks.

Louis DiRienzo Jr. – Linebackers Coach / Defensive Run Game Coordinator
DiRienzo Jr. arrives at Monmouth after serving five seasons as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at Springfield. Under his leadership, Springfield won multiple conference titles, and he was named the Gridiron Club of New England's Division II/III Co-Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023. He previously worked at Rutgers as a Special Teams Quality Control Coach (2019) and at Wagner (2018), where he mentored Cam Gill, the NEC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. A 2016 graduate of Southern Connecticut State, DiRienzo Jr. was a standout linebacker and team captain during his playing career.

Kamau Dumas – Defensive Backs Coach
A familiar face returns to Monmouth as former All-Big South defensive back Kamau Dumas takes over coaching duties for the secondary. Dumas, who was part of Monmouth's 2017 playoff team, spent the 2024 season at Central Oklahoma, where he helped lead the program to an MIAA Conference Championship and a second-round playoff appearance. His defensive backs ranked among the top-10 nationally in pass breakups. Dumas also coached at Wagner (2023), where he was named to Football Scoop's Rising Minority Coaches List, and at Gannon (2022), where he helped guide the team to a PSAC West Championship and one of the best seasons in school history. Before transitioning to the college level, he spent three years coaching at Morristown High School in football and track & field.

Monmouth begins its fourth season as a member of the CAA in 2025 and will open spring practice in early April.