Joe Gambardella returns for his overall eighth season at Montclair State University. The former Linebacker coach will work this season assisting the wide receivers and tutoring the punt and kick returners. Gambardella holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin, in Military History, and was a 4 year letterman for the Badgers, starting at Linebacker and later switching to Fullback. Joe went on to play running back for the Denver Gold of the United States Football League in its inaugural season, when an injury ended his playing career.
Gambardella brings over three decades of coaching experience to Montclair, most notably at Fordham University, as Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach, and as Head Coach at River Dell and Westwood High School, where his teams captured the League and State Championship. Among his former players were BJ Raji (Boston College, Green Bay Packers), and Ramel Meekins (Rutgers, and Indianapolis Colts). Joe was honored as Coach of the Year by the Bergen County Coaches Association and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. He also holds a Masters Degree in Administration & Supervision from Saint Peters University, and is a recently retired teacher and administrator in the Bergen County Public School system. He and his family reside in Alpine, New Jersey.
