LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 16, 2012) – Saint Francis University, athletic director Bob Krimmel and head football coach Chris Villarrial announced Thursday the hiring of Scott Benzel as the co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
 
“We are very proud and happy to add Scott to our staff,” head coach Chris Villarrial said. “When you can add a great coach to your staff you are always happy but when you can add a coach who has helped a team win the Northeast Conference and know what it takes to reach the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs you are thrilled.”
 
Benzel spent the last nine seasons as an assistant coach at Robert Morris, as well as seven as assistant recruiting coordinator. In January of 2009 the Colonials elevated Benzel to co-defensive coordinator by head coach Joe Walton.
 
“I am very excited about coming to Loretto and bring my family to very welcoming and gracious environment,” Benzel said. “I am looking forward to getting started and hopefully getting this team to where we can make some noise in the Northeast Conference.” 
 
In his first two seasons as co-defensive coordinator, Robert Morris led the Northeast Conference in total defense twice. In 2010, the Colonials allowed an average of 312.6 yards per game en route to a share of the NEC regular-season championship and the league's inaugural bid to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. The Robert Morris secondary tutored by Benzel finished with 18 interceptions in 2010, the program's highest total since establishing a school record with 20 in 1999.
 
Benzel will tutor the Red Flash secondary that ranked 106th nationally a season ago and will run an SFU defense, which allowed an average of 44.1 points a game in 2011. Benzel will also serve as the play caller for the defense. SFU does return several talented defensive players including second-team College Madness All-American Anthony Bowman (Damascus, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) along with the teams top seven tacklers.