Saint Francis University Athletics

Former National Football League All-Pro Offensive Lineman Chris Villarrial was named the 25th head coach of the Saint Francis University football program on December 20, 2009. He served one year as the offensive coordinator under predecessor Dave Opfar before he became the head coach. The 2025 season marks the 17th year with Saint Francis, 16th season as a head coach (15th playing season since the Red Flash did not field a team during COVID).

Villarrial is one of 15 FCS head coaches that have played in the National Football League in 2025. The Red Flash will host Delaware State (DeSean Jackson) and Robert Morris (Bernard King, Jr.), who are also led by former NFL players. 

With 68 career wins, Villarrial is the winningest coach in Saint Francis football history. He passed Art Martynuska (1969-79, 81 - 45 wins) with a 35-21 win at Delaware State on Nov. 23, 2019.

The 2024 season was highlighted by a 23-17 win against Kent State on September 6, 2024 for the program's first-ever win against an FBS program. The Red Flash 4-7 overall and 2-4 in league play in 2024. Geno Calgaro was named an FCS Football Central Freshman All-American.

Saint Francis went 4-6 overall and owned a 4-3 conference record during the 2023 season. Saint Francis defeated Stonehill in its first road conference game of the season 15-10 on Sept. 30. The Red Flash then defeated Wagner at home 31-7 on Oct. 12 in the first-ever NEC football game televised on CBS Sports Network. Saint Francis also defeated Merrimack 28-21 on Oct. 28 after completing a 15-point comeback. The Red Flash ended the 2023 season with a 49-14 road victory over Central Connecticut.
 
The Red Flash earned two All-American nods with offensive lineman Seth Osborne named Associated Press FCS Third Team All-American and linebacker Carter Glassmyer named Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American. Glassmyer was also named a Jerry Rice Award Finalist, which is presented to the top freshman in the FCS.
 
Under Villarrial’s guidance, Glassmyer earned ECAC and NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Red Flash earned seven total All-NEC selections, with five on the first team and two on the second team.

Saint Francis went 9-3 overall and 7-0 in conference play to earn its second NEC title in program history during the 2022 season. The undefeated conference season was the ninth in NEC history. In its second game against an FBS opponent in program history, Saint Francis took Akron to overtime and dropped the game 30-23. Saint Francis rattled off nine consecutive wins after starting 0-2, which included beating all-seven conference opponents by an average of 34.6 points per game. The Red Flash defeated Merrimack 52-23 in the NEC Championship game on Nov. 19 (both teams entered with a 6-0 conference record). Saint Francis fell in its second FCS Playoff game in program history 56-17. 

During the 2022 season, Villarrial earned his third NEC Coach of the Year honor and was named one of 16 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented to the FCS National Coach of the Year.

As a team on the national level, Saint Francis had a finalist in four of the five major FCS awards presented by Stats Perform. The team also had seven total All-American selections, headlined by defensive end Donnell Brown's Stats Perform FCS Third Team All-America honor. In the NEC, the Red Flash earned four of the five major yearly awards and totaled a program record 10 All-NEC First Team selections.

Saint Francis went 5-6 overall and 4-3 in NEC games during the 2021 season. It was the third time Saint Francis had an above-.500 record in conference play since joining the NEC in 1996. Saint Francis played its first FBS opponent in program history on Sept. 3 at Eastern Michigan - a 35-15 loss. Saint Francis defeated Duquesne 17-10 on Oct. 30 for its first road win over the Dukes since joining the NEC in 1996 (previously 0-9). The Red Flash finished the season second in the NEC in scoring defense (19.1) and fourth in scoring offense (22.9).

Saint Francis went 6-6 in 2019, scoring 30 or more points in five of the last six games and posting the top passing attack in the NEC. Defensively, the Red Flash ranked 3rd in the NEC in scoring defense and total defense and 13th in all of FCS in total defense. Saint Francis has had a top three defense in the NEC in terms of scoring and total defense every season dating back to 2015.

Villarrial is a two-time NEC Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2015 and 2016, as well as the Metropolitan New York Football Writers’ Bob Ford Coach of the Year in 2015 and the ECAC Coach of the Year in 2016. 

He led the Red Flash to its first ever NEC Title and FCS Playoffs berth in 2016 with a 7-5 overall record and 5-1 mark in the NEC. The 2016 season also included Saint Francis’ first ever appearance in a Top 25 poll, when it was ranked 25th in the STATS FCS Media Poll on November 14.  SFU met Villanova in the first round of the FCS Playoffs, but fell 31-21.

Villarrial has mentored 16 CoSIDA/ESPN All-District players, while Kyle Harbridge was named a CoSIDA All-American in 2013.

On the field, Villarrial and his staff have developed 41 First Team All-Conference performers and 32 Second Team performers, including nine all-conference players in 2019.

Khairi Dickson (2014) and Kamron Lewis (2016) received NEC Offensive Player of the Year under Villarrial, while Anthony Abeid (2012) and Marcus Bagley (2014) earned Offensive Rookie of the Year. Lorenzo Jerome (2013), Jalen Brown (2018) and Terrell Smith (2019) won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Individual success under Villarrial has expanded to the All-American landscape as he has coached 13 players to 30 postseason FCS All-American selections. 

Da'Jon Lee was a Buck Buchanon Award Finalist in 2019, awarded to the best defensive player in FCS, while Harbridge, Dickson and Lewis were on the Walter Payton Award Watchlist. 

Nine players have gone on to professional opportunites, most recently Jermaine Ponder who played in preseason games for the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. He recorded an interception in the Texas final preseason game of 2019.

Lorenzo Jerome became the first Saint Francis player to play in an NFL game, making his debut with the San Francisco 49ers. Jerome signed a deal with the 49ers in 2017 and has spent time with the 49ers, Seattle Seahwaks and Calgary Stampeders organizations.

Villarrial inherited a losing program. The Red Flash won just two games over two seasons prior to Loretto, but Villarrial increased the win total from one win in 2010 to seven wins in 2015 and 2016. He has recorded three seasons of .500 or better football.

Villarrial's teams have also shown the ability to compete with the best programs in the country. The Red Flash recorded its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in 2014, defeating No. 22 Sacred Heart 30-27. The Red Flash also defeated No. 22 Liberty 13-9 in 2017, two weeks after the Flames had defeated Baylor. Liberty transitioned to FBS the following season.

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, who has been active in the community with Special Olympics and cancer research funding, 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.

Chris Villarrial File
 

SAINT FRANCIS COACHING RECORD
Season	Record	NEC Record	NEC Finish
2010	1-10	1-7	9th
2011	2-9	1-7	9th
2012	5-6	4-4	4th
2013	5-6	3-3	T-3rd
2014	5-6	3-3	4th
2015	6-4*	4-2	2nd
2016 (NEC Champions)	7-5	5-1	1st
2017	5-6	3-3	4th
2018	4-7	2-4	6th
2019	6-6	3-4	5th
2020	0-0	0-0	COVID
2021	5-6	4-3	4th
2022 (NEC Champions)	9-3	7-0	1st
2023	4-6	4-3	4th
2024	4-7	2-4	5th
TOTALS (10 Years)	68-87	46-48