Montclair State University Athletics

He was a quarterback’s nightmare and an offensive coordinator’s one too. Every week when he stepped onto the field, the opposing offense always had to ask the question: Where is No. 90? The player in that jersey number was Paul Cioffi and for four seasons Cioffi wrecked havoc on Montclair State’s opponents week in and week out.  In his first year Cioffi had 68 tackles and 11 sacks yet it was in the first game of the 1988 season that made him a household name. Against Mansfield College, Cioffi put together one of the outstanding games by any Montclair football player as he registered five sacks, setting the single-game record. It was the start of an incredible season for Cioffi, who went on to set a single-season record with 16 sacks along with 108 tackles earning him All-NJAC, ECAC and All-America honors. The following year he was even better helping Montclair State to the NJAC Championship and NCAA Division III Playoffs as he racked up a record 158 tackles, breaking the season mark held by Sam Mills. Cioffi posted 15 sacks and picked up just about every award imaginable including NJAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as All-America accolades from five different organizations including the American Football Coaches Association.  Cioffi capped his career in 1990 with 85 tackles (22 for loss) and 14 sacks to raise his total to 56, the best sack total in school history. Included in those totals was a truly amazing effort against Kean in a mid-October contest. The Red Hawks trailed 10-7 in the fourth quarter when Cioffi single-handedly took the game over. He blocked a punt that was recovered for a score giving Montclair the lead. On the Cougars’ next possession, Cioffi intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown as Montclair pulled out a 21-10 victory. He would be named All-NJAC again and landed on every All-America Team while becoming the lone Division III player in the nation to earn a spot in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game in Palo Alto, California.