CHARLESTON, W.Va. – University of Charleston Head Football Coach Tony DeMeo announced his retirement today after six seasons with the Golden Eagles at an 11:30 a.m. press conference.
“We are announcing a transition today that coach DeMeo will be leaving his current position as head football coach and will be assuming a position as a representative of the university who will have responsibilities for athletic advancement and development activities.” according to university president Dr. Edwin Welch.
DeMeo took over a UC program in 2005 that had a record of 5-16 since being brought back from a 45-year hiatus in 2003. It did not take long for him to implement his strategy of creating a team with the right dynamics as students and top-tier athletes. In his first season the Golden Eagles went 8-3, setting a conference record for one season turnarounds and earning DeMeo the D2football.com WVIAC Coach of the Year award.
“I’ve been really fortunate” stated DeMeo, “No head coach has success without great players and without great coaches…I have been blessed with both that bought into what I was selling. That’s why we’ve had success and it will continue.”
According to DeMeo, “I’m a grandfather now and I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren. I felt like the program was in good hands with a great group of coaches and a strong young group of players, so I felt like now would be the time.”
DeMeo has amassed a 43-23 overall coaching record at Charleston, including a record of 6-5 this past season. He has lead the Golden Eagles to a ranking as a high as No. 10 in NCAA Division II (2009) and touts one of the top team GPA’s in the conference. Over his career that has spanned some 32 years DeMeo has amassed an overall career record of 137-108-4, while successfully starting or turning around programs at Washburn, Mercyhurst and Iona.
“I look back at our six years here and we did some really outstanding things…we won more games than any other period in UC or Morris Harvey history and this school has a storied history in the sport.”
DeMeo closed with “I hope to be here to make the transition go smooth and maybe I can be some help in fundraising for the new Sports and Fitness Center to help that program out so we can continue to recruit top notch student-athletes.”
Tony DeMeo Career Highlights
School Years Record W/L Pct
Charleston (WV) 6 43-23 .662
Iona 4 22-10-2 .688
Mercyhurst 7 41-21-2 .656
Washburn 8 31-54 .365
Career 25 137-108-4 .568
Notes
-2005 West Virginia Conference Coach of the Year
-1999 Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year
-1985 Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year
-1976 & 1977 Metropolitan Conference Coach of the Year
- 1997 Inductee to Iona College Hall of Fame
-2009 Team Ranked No. 10 in d2football.com coaches poll
-Second most wins in University of Charleston/Morris Harvey history as head coach (Eddie King – 61)
