Utica University Football

Blaise Faggiano has been the head coach at Utica University since 2008. In 2023 he led the Pioneers to their second most successful season in school history, capped

Bob Jones was hired in the summer of 2012 and will assist with the offensive line.  He is recently coming off a 38 year stretch with the New Hartford High School

Brian McQueen joined the Utica College football coaching staff as a volunteer coach in the Summer of 2014 and is responsible for the planning and implementation

Jerrod Clowes was hired in the summer of 2017 as an assistant coach for the offensive line and strength and conditioning.    Clowes returns to Utica after a brief

Coach Polito joined Utica University's football coaching staff in August 2025. Polito, a native of Hull, Massacusetts, joins the staff after graduating from Utica

Coach Kirchgessner joined the Utica University football program in August 2025, directly ahead of the 2025 season. He stepped directly into his role as the Pioneers' Wide Receivers Coach following a successful career at the NCAA Division I level with SWAC member Bethune-Cookman. Kirchgessner took his high-level experience into a few key roles with the Pioneer program, becoming the Wide Receivers Coach in addition to the Video and Technology Coordinator, and Head Coach of the Utica JV football program. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Kirchgessner first made waves as a standout player during his time at Robinson High School. He graduated from Robinson in 2020, after serving as the team captain from 2017-2019, becoming the team MVP in 2019, and graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2020. After high school, Kirchgessner took his talents to Daytona Beach, where he was one of only two players to be selected as a walk-on for the Bethune-Cookman football program. He then began to grow his prestige with the Wildcats, eventually earning a full scholarship in 2023 and graduating Cum Laude in 2024. While at Bethune-Cookman, Kirchgessner played alongside some of the country's top talents, including 3x First Team All-SWAC Omari Hill-Robinson, 2x First Team All-SWAC Darnell Deas, and 1x First Team All-SWAC Kemari Averett.

Coach Kaires returned to the Utica University football program in August 2025, directly ahead of the 2025 season. He rejoined the team as a graduate assistant coach,