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GANNON NAMES JIM KIERNAN HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
ERIE, PA - Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. has announced the hiring of former Saginaw Valley State assistant head coach Jim Kiernan as the school’s new head football coach. He becomes the fourth head football coach in Gannon’s history.
Kiernan will be formally introduced to the Gannon community at a press conference Tuesday, December 12 at 3:15 p.m. in Old Main’s Boardroom, W. 6th Street.
A proven winner in the rugged Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Kiernan has spent the last eight seasons as the Saginaw Valley State assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. The Cardinals were 69-24 (.742) overall and 62-17 (.785) in GLIAC contests during Kiernan’s tenure. The program advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament five times in the last seven seasons, including three trips to the Elite Eight. SVSU was ranked among the nation’s top 25 the last seven seasons and rose to the No. 1 ranking in the country during the 2003 campaign.
“Gannon is pleased to welcome a head football coach of the caliber of Jim Kiernan. His record of success is outstanding, and his experience will help our student-athletes perform well in the classroom and on the playing field,” said President Antoine M. Garibaldi.
In 2006, Kiernan guided a Saginaw Valley State offense that ranked second in the GLIAC in passing offense (242.3 ypg), third in scoring offense (26.9 ppg), and fourth in passing efficiency (142.6).
Saginaw Valley State has ranked among the GLIAC’s top three in both scoring offense and passing offense during each of the last five seasons. The Cardinals had the GLIAC’s top passing offense three times (2002, 2004, and 2005) during that span. SVSU set a school record with 479 points in 2003.
“Jim brings experience, enthusiasm, and integrity to our football program,” noted Director of Athletics Bill Elias. “He has proven to be committed to our Mission statement and we are excited and anxious to work with Jim.”
Kiernan previously served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, and strength and conditioning coordinator at Division III Lakeland (Wis.) College during the 1998 season under current Saginaw Valley State head coach Randy Awrey. He then moved to Saginaw when Awrey accepted the head coaching position in 1999.
Kiernan guided Lakeland to national rankings in total offense (13th), passing offense (15th), and scoring (24th).
The Queens, N.Y., native has also been the offensive coordinator at Mercyhurst College (1995-97), outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama A&M University (1994), and offensive coordinator at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1990-93).
Kiernan was a four-year letterman at his alma mater, St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. In high school, he played for one of the top teams in the metro New York area at St. Francis Prep, where he earned two varsity letters.
Kiernan earned a B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence in 1990. He and his wife, Colleen, were married in 2004.
ERIE, PA - Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. has announced the hiring of former Saginaw Valley State assistant head coach Jim Kiernan as the school’s new head football coach. He becomes the fourth head football coach in Gannon’s history.
Kiernan will be formally introduced to the Gannon community at a press conference Tuesday, December 12 at 3:15 p.m. in Old Main’s Boardroom, W. 6th Street.
A proven winner in the rugged Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Kiernan has spent the last eight seasons as the Saginaw Valley State assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. The Cardinals were 69-24 (.742) overall and 62-17 (.785) in GLIAC contests during Kiernan’s tenure. The program advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament five times in the last seven seasons, including three trips to the Elite Eight. SVSU was ranked among the nation’s top 25 the last seven seasons and rose to the No. 1 ranking in the country during the 2003 campaign.
“Gannon is pleased to welcome a head football coach of the caliber of Jim Kiernan. His record of success is outstanding, and his experience will help our student-athletes perform well in the classroom and on the playing field,” said President Antoine M. Garibaldi.
In 2006, Kiernan guided a Saginaw Valley State offense that ranked second in the GLIAC in passing offense (242.3 ypg), third in scoring offense (26.9 ppg), and fourth in passing efficiency (142.6).
Saginaw Valley State has ranked among the GLIAC’s top three in both scoring offense and passing offense during each of the last five seasons. The Cardinals had the GLIAC’s top passing offense three times (2002, 2004, and 2005) during that span. SVSU set a school record with 479 points in 2003.
“Jim brings experience, enthusiasm, and integrity to our football program,” noted Director of Athletics Bill Elias. “He has proven to be committed to our Mission statement and we are excited and anxious to work with Jim.”
Kiernan previously served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, and strength and conditioning coordinator at Division III Lakeland (Wis.) College during the 1998 season under current Saginaw Valley State head coach Randy Awrey. He then moved to Saginaw when Awrey accepted the head coaching position in 1999.
Kiernan guided Lakeland to national rankings in total offense (13th), passing offense (15th), and scoring (24th).
The Queens, N.Y., native has also been the offensive coordinator at Mercyhurst College (1995-97), outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama A&M University (1994), and offensive coordinator at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1990-93).
Kiernan was a four-year letterman at his alma mater, St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. In high school, he played for one of the top teams in the metro New York area at St. Francis Prep, where he earned two varsity letters.
Kiernan earned a B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence in 1990. He and his wife, Colleen, were married in 2004.