Sacred Heart University Football

Mark Nofri concluded his 14th season as head coach of the Sacred Heart football program in 2025, after taking over the program in 2011. Nofri began his coaching career at Hamilton College, where he worked with the wide receivers, before coming to Sacred Heart in 1994 as a part of Gary Reho's coaching staff. At SHU, he coached defensive backs for six years, then inside linebackers and coordinated the defense and special teams. Nofri was then named Associate Head Coach in 2002 until 2012, when he took over as Head Coach. He graduated from Keene State in 1993 and earned his Master's Degree in education from Sacred Heart. Nofri and his wife, Julie, live in Naugatuck with their sons Mark and Mathew.

Tiernan concluded his seventh season as assistant coach for Sacred Heart Football in 2025. He works primarily with the offensive line. Tiernan was a member of the Pioneers' Northeast Conference Championship teams of 2013 and 2014. He enjoyed a five-year playing career as an offensive lineman. He appeared in 29 games on the offensive line for the Pios. At Sacred Heart, he was part of the 2018, 2020-21, and 2021 NEC Championship Teams and the 2024 and 2025 Yankee Conference Cup Championship Teams. He served as the assistant offensive line coach (2018), tight ends coach (2019-21), and tackles/tight ends coach (2022). He helped the Pios finish 2021 ranked 22nd in the FCS National Poll, produced two All-NEC selections, and coached Cole De Magistris, who signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Before his return to Sacred Heart, he served as offensive line coach at Stonehill College in 2019.

Murdock enters his first season as an assistant coach for the Sacred Heart football team in 2026. He works primarily with the outside linebackers. Murdock brings nine years of coaching experience and four years of collegiate playing experience from the University of Toledo to Lewisburg. He is a 2016 graduate of the University of Toledo, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and played inside linebacker for four years. He played 49 of 52 college season games, including three Bowl Games, and earned First And Monday (FAM) Sophomore All-America Team honors for the 2013 season. Murdock ranked second in the Mid-American Conference with 9.9 tackles per game and 109 total tackles in 2013 and was a 2013 Hustle Belt All-MAC Second Team player. Murdock led the Toledo defense in tackles in 2015 with their #5 nationally ranked rushing defense.

Edwards concluded his ninth season as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Sacred Heart football team in 2025. He also primarily works with the defensive line. During his collegiate playing career, Edwards was a four-year letter-winner at Miles College in Fairfield, Ala. A four-year starter on the offensive line, he was inducted into the Miles Hall of Fame in 2010. He also had stints in the North American Football League with the Central Alabama Renegades, the National Indoor Football League, and the Arena 2 League before joining the coaching ranks. Edwards graduated from Miles College with a Bachelor's Degree in social studies education.

White concluded his second season as an assistant coach for the Sacred Heart football team in 2025. He works primarily with the safeties. With 18 years of college coaching experience, White brings a wealth of knowledge and guidance to the Pioneers' defense. As a student athlete at Iona College, he helped the team win its first MAAC Championship in 2007. White was a first-team All-MAAC wide receiver who was invited to the Washington Redskins Pre-Season camp. White is a native of Prince George's County, Maryland. He was part of the 2024 and 2025 Yankee Conference Cup Championship Teams. Prior to Sacred Heart, he served as the Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at McDaniel College, where he developed top-ranked Centennial Conference defensive units and tutored 11 All-Conference performers, three All-Region players, and a Centennial Conference Sportsmanship Winner. He has also served as the Defensive Backs Assistant Coach at Rutgers University, as the Defensive Coordinator at ASA where the unit saw two #1 ranked defenses, six All-Americans, and 26 All-Conference Performers, and started his college coaching career as the wide receivers coach at his alma mater Iona.

Purnsley concluded his second season as assistant coach for Sacred Heart football in 2025. He works primarily with running backs. Purnsley brings a wealth of coaching knowledge to the staff, having spent 23 years on the sidelines. A native of North Carolina, he played collegiately at Catawba College, where he was a wide receiver and quarterback. He earned a degree in physical education from Catawba in 1990. At Sacred Heart, he was part of the 2024 and 2025 Yankee Conference Cup Championship Teams and currently coaches Mitchell Summers, who had a breakout rookie campaign and was named Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American. Before joining Sacred Heart, Purnsley served as Head Coach of Guangzhou Power in the China Arena Football League, coached with the Iowa Barnstormers, Philadelphia Soul, and Chicago Rush in Arena Football, and spent time at Murray State, Charleston Southern, and Southern Illinois.

Duke concluded his third season as an assistant coach for the Sacred Heart football team in 2025. He works primarily with the quarterbacks. Duke was the quarterback for the Pioneers and a member of the 2018 Northeast Conference Championship team. That year, he earned Second-Team All-NEC honors after throwing for 1,736 yards and 13 touchdowns. Six times, he was named NEC Offensive Player of the Week during his junior and senior campaigns. A two-year team captain, he earned four spots on the NEC Academic Honor Roll. Duke was a member of the SHU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and collected All-America honors from the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Duke graduated from Sacred Heart in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. He added a master's in Business Administration the following year. Before joining Sacred Heart, he had a two-year stint as a graduate assistant at Springfield College, serving as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach. He helped the Pride to a 7-4 record and a spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Under his direction, kicker Christian Hutra was named NEWMAC Special Teams Athlete of the Year.

Wiggins concluded his second season as assistant coach of the Sacred Heart football team in 2025. He works primarily with the corners. Wiggins began his college career at Wesley College before transferring to Kean University, where a season-ending injury led him to help coach the defensive scout team. He then graduated from Kean in 2016 with a degree in communications. Before joining Sacred Heart, he spent five seasons at Frostburg State working primarily with the safeties and serving as a defensive assistant. He also served as the defensive quality control coach at Monmouth, assisting the head coach and defensive staff with practice organization, game preparation, and student-athlete academic progress monitoring. At William Patterson, he spent two seasons coaching inside and outside linebackers, assisting with all aspects of defensive game planning and gameday responsibilities, as well as special teams and secondary assistance.

Woodrings begins his first season as an assistant coach of the Sacred Heart football team in 2026. He works primarily with the tight ends.

Del Forno concluded his first season with the Sacred Heart football program in 2025 as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach and Video Coordinator. Prior to graduating from SHU, he served as a Student Assistant Outside Linebackers Coach, contributing to defensive game planning, assisting with position meetings, and leading scout-team operations. In addition to his work with SHU football, Del Forno is an Assistant Trainer with Optime Elite Special Teams in Danbury, Conn., where he trains and evaluates kickers and long snappers at the FBS, FCS, and high school levels. His role includes providing individualized technique feedback and promoting training sessions through social media. A 2025 graduate of Sacred Heart University, Del Forno earned a bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in sports management.

Saporito concluded his 10th season as an assistant coach for the Sacred Heart football team in 2025. He works primarily with special teams and wide receivers. Saporito earned his bachelor's degree in History from Iona College in 2006. He played two seasons as a graduate student at Western New Mexico University, primarily as a receiver and on special teams. At Sacred Heart, he was part of the 2018, 2020-21, and 2021 NEC Championship Teams, as well as the 2024 and 2025 Yankee Conference Cup Championship Teams. He helped the Pios finish 2021 ranked 22nd in the FCS National Poll and produced two All-Americans - James Rentz and Noah Gettman. Before joining Sacred Heart, Saporito had coaching experience at Elmhurst College, Stetson University, Alderson Broaddus, US Merchant Marine Academy, and University of Charleston.