Flash Points:

• Saint Francis Football Head Coach Chris Villarrial will be inducted into the Capital Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall Of Fame On Saturday, June 10.
• Villarrial has won back-to-back NEC Coach of the Year awards after leading SFU to back-to-back winning seasons and its first NEC Title in 2016.
• The Hershey, Pa. native has coached 10 All-America and 45 All-NEC selections during his seven years leading the Red Flash.
• A three-time All-American at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Villarrial played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Bears (1996-04) and Bills (2004-06) and was a two-time All-Pro selection.

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis Football Head Coach Chris Villarrial will be inducted into the Capital Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall Of Fame on Saturday, June 10.  The former NFL All-Pro Offensive Lineman will enter his eighth year leading the Saint Francis Football program in 2017. 
 
Villarrial has earned two straight NEC Coach of the Year awards, with his 2016 award coming after helping the Red Flash to earn its first ever Northeast Conference Title and FCS Playoffs bid.
 
The Red Flash finished the 2016 season with a 7-5 record, including a 5-1 mark in the NEC.  Saint Francis earned its first conference title since it became a Division I program in 1992 and posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1991-92.  SFU went 4-0 in home games and currently have a nine-game home win streak.
 
Villarrial was also named the 2016 ECAC FCS Coach of the Year and was a STATS FCS National Coach of the Year finalist for the second straight year.  In 2015, Villarrial was named the NEC Coach of the Year and the Bob Ford Coach of the Year (Metro New York Football Writers).
 
With 31 career wins, Villarrial already ranks second in program history and sits 14 wins away from the program record, held by Art Martynuska (1969-79, 81). 
 
Since taking over the program in 2010, Villarrial has led the Red Flash to constant improvement, going from one win in 2010 to two wins in 2011, five wins each in 2012-14, six wins in 2015 and seven wins in 2016. 
 
During his time at Saint Francis, Villarrial has coached 10 All-Americans, including three last season, with safety Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella), receiver Kamron Lewis (Fresno, Calif./Edison) and linebacker Solomon Leaeno (Kapolei, Hawaii/James Campbell) earning All-America honors.  Jerome was named All-America by six different publications and picked up invitations to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine before signing an undrafted free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
 
Villarrial has coached 45 All-NEC players, including 27 First Team selections.  He has coached two NEC Offensive Players of the Year, two NEC Offensive Rookies of the Year and an NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
 
A native of Hershey, Pa., Villarrial spent 11 seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears (1996-2004) and the Buffalo Bills (2004-06).

Villarrial made an impression on NFL scouts prior by breaking the NFL Combine Bench Press Record, and was then drafted in the fifth round (152nd overall) by Dave Wannstedt in April of 1996. As a member of the Chicago Bears from 1996-2004, Villarrial played six seasons under head coach Dick Jauron, and was a two-year All-Pro player in addition to being named to the All-Joe Team. He paved the way for a 1000-yard rusher every season, blocked for Anthony Thomas, who was the NFL Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year in 2001, and was a member of an offensive line that gave up the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2001, when the Bears advanced to the NFC Divisional Playoff Game. He also received the Golden Bear Award, which is given to the rookie who has perfect attendance in the weight room.

Villarrial was one of the most sought out free agents in Buffalo Bills history for head coach Mike Mularkey, and continued his streak of 1,000-yard rushers every season with the Bills. He was a member of an offensive line that gave up the fewest sacks in franchise history. Villarrial, who also played two seasons in Buffalo under coach Jauron, finished his NFL career with 148 starts.

Following his professional career, Villarrial returned to Ebensburg, where he served two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Central Cambria High School football team. He led the team to two district title games, and personally helped 13 players continue their playing careers at the collegiate level, while developing and implementing a successful strength and conditioning program.

Villarrial played his collegiate football for head coach Frank Cignetti at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Special Education, with a concentration in rehabilitation. While playing for IUP, Villarrial was a three-year All-American and three-year all-conference player. He played in the 1993 Division II national championship game, and received the Jim Langer Award for Best Lineman in Division II in 1996. Villarrial had his college jersey No. 75 retired by IUP.

Villarrial is a 1991 graduate of Hershey High School, where he played for head coach Bob "Gump" May. Hershey retired Villarrial's high school jersey No. 78 on May 5, 2001.