A 33-year verteran of the football coaching profession, Larry Zdilla is in his 15th season on the Monmouth coaching staff. In 2012, Zdilla was chosen to coach the MU linebackers after years of mentoring the defensive secondary. In September of 2007, Zdilla, the winningest coach in Solanco High School program history, was inducted to their hall of fame.
The 2012 season saw Zdilla mentor the linebackers for the first time in his career at Monmouth. Junior Dan Sullivan became the first Hawk linebacker to earn all-conference honors, when he was named First Team All-Northeast Conference. Sullivan dropped opposing quarterbacks five times and had nine tackles for a loss, which were both top-10 in the league. Senior outside linebacker Bill Lauch finished second in the NEC in forced fumbles with three. Three MU linebackers finished in the top-five on the team in tackles, including Sullivan who led the team with 64 stops.
Zdilla mentored one of the finest defensive players in the history of Monmouth in safety Jose Gumbs. Gumbs, who signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, was a three-time First Team All-NEC selection and led the Hawks in tackles all four seasons he was in West Long Branch (2008-2011). Gumbs finished his career in 2011 with 306, third most in school history.
The 2011 season saw safetyPat Gray lead all freshman (In the FCS) with four interceptions. In 2010, Gumbs was a first team all-league selection while fellow safety Kendall Haley earned second team honors. Haley and current Buffalo Bill Chris Hogan each had three interceptions in 2010, which tied the duo fifth in the NEC.
In 2008 the Hawk defense was second in the Northeast Conference in interceptions with 16, while leading the nine-team league in interception yardage and INTs returned for touchdowns. Safties Kendall Haley and Jose Gumbs earned First Team All-NEC honors, while Gumbs who also spent time at linebacker, was named Defensive Player of the Year as a redshirt sophomore. In 2008, Gumbs earned NEC Rookie of the Year after leading the team in tackles from his safety position. Senior Ayo Falae also picked up Second Team All-Conference honors for the second consecutive year.
In 2007 two of Monmouth's defensive backs earned Second Team All-NEC honors, including senior safety Derrick Bischoff and corner Falae. Bischoff led the Hawks in tackles (57). while Falae finished with two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and finished tied for second in tackles with 49. MU defensive backs accounted for seven of the team's 12 interceptions while the Hawks boasted the second best pass defense in the conference.
In 2006 Zdilla guided Monmouth safety Matt Hill to Mid-Major All-American, First Team All-Northeast Conference and Football Gazette Mid-Major Defensive Back of the Year honors. Hill finished his career with the fourth most tackles in school history, leading the Hawks two out of his four years in the category. The championship season also had senior cornerback David Jiles become the all-time leader in interceptions at Monmouth en route to Gazette Second Team All-American and Second Team All-NEC honors.
Zdilla began his head coaching career at Solanco High School in Lancaster County, Pa., where he took a program that only experienced one winning campaign in its previous 30 years to 11 straight winning seasons and the only two championships and state playoff appearances in school history. He was recently named Solanco's Coach of the Last Half Century. In 1993, he became the head coach at Marlboro (N.J.) High School and promptly led the Mustangs to its first winning season in 20 years. In 1994, Marlboro won the Central Jersey, Group IV State Championship. He earned his respective conference's coach of the year honors on four occasions in 1983, 1990, 1991 and 1994. In June of 2013 he was inducted into Marlboro's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 19 years as a prep head coach, Zdilla compiled an overall record of 120-60-1.
Hailing from Monessen, Pa., Zdilla was a three-year letterwinner at California University of Pennsylvania and earned All-Pennsylvania honors on one occasion.
Zdilla has two sons, Dan and Michael.
