Michael Lichten enters his first season as the head coach at Becker College in 2011 with a sense of optimism and determination to lead the football program to success both on and off the field.  "It is a great honor to be given the opportunity to lead the Becker College Football program.  It will be my focus to develop our players not only into great athletes, but into tremendous students and young adults as well.  Our program will be built on accountability, hard work and leadership; through which we will compete both on the field and in the classroom” writes Lichten in his response to being named head coach. 

Coach Lichten believes that a program that is successful in athletics is one that brings pride to the community both in the school and in the environment it effects.  Through accountability, leadership and community service Lichten plans to build Becker into a football program that leaves a positive last impression on anyone who its actions touch.  Those who are lucky enough to play for Becker will gain valuable skills both in life, the classroom and on the field, as Lichten and his coaching staff ask more of each student-athlete and push each student athlete harder and further than ever before. 

In 2010, Lichten joined the Becker staff as the defensive coordinator. The defense was markedly improved from the previous season as the “Black Hawk Defense” was able to improve in every single statistical category including, rush defense (375 yards per game to 275 yards per game) pass efficiency defense (177 to 137) total defense (509 yards per game to 419 yards per game) and scoring defense (52 points per game to 43 points per game) .  Individual recognitions also rose as Jake Bateman (DB) became the first Hawk to be voted as a 1^st team all conference in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC).  Jake was not alone in receiving post-season honors, as Chris Williams(DL), Melvin Booker(LB), Joe Thomas(OL) all were elected to 2^nd team all conference, along with Eric Glynn(P) and Mike McCarthy(OL) whom received honorable mention.   Lichten will maintain his role of play calling on the defensive side of the ball for the 2011 season.

In addition to calling plays on defense, Lichten will also have a large hand in the offense. Prior to joining the Becker staff, Lichten spent two years on the 1-AA Northeastern University staff, under head coach Rocky Hager. While at Northeastern, Lichten coached the Defensive Backs in 2008 and the Wide Receivers in 2009.  Each year Northeastern players were recognized with post-season awards under coach Lichten’s tutelage.  Nate Thellen(DB) was recognized as a 2^nd team all CAA player; as well as Greg Abelli(WR).  Lichten also coached Jordan Batts (WR) who set the Northeastern record for receptions in a game(14) as a true freshman.   During his time at Northeastern, Lichten also worked as the assistant video coordinator, where he learned to diligently break down film to help prepare for the upcoming opponents.

While a student at the University of New Hampshire, Lichten worked as an intern for the football team, learning under head coach Sean McDonnell. It was at UNH that Lichten learned the ropes of college football coaching and ultimately when he decided it was the path he wanted to take.

Coaching Experience

• 2010- Becker College Defensive Coordinator
• 2009- Northeastern University Wide Receivers Coach
• 2008- Northeastern University Secondary Coach
• 2007- University of New Hampshire Assistant to Outside Linebackers Coach

2011 marks Coach Veloso’s second year at Becker College, his first as the Associate Head Coach.  Few coaches are more intense, dedicated, or possess a better work ethic in helping build their program than Coach Veloso.

Coach Veloso has coached at various levels of collegiate and professional football. In 2005, he coached the Peoria Rough Riders of the UIF, serving as the FB/LBs coach. He then went on to assist the Indiana State University Sycamores while completing his master’s degree in Sport Management. After completing his degree, he moved on to Curry College as the Outside Linebackers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for 2 seasons helping amass a 2 year record of 23-2.

As a collegiate athlete, Coach Veloso played Tight End at Denison University. A four year letterman, he graduated with his BA in Physical Education. A three sport athlete in high school, Coach Veloso received the American Legion Sportsmanship Award in Baseball as a senior and was also his class President.

Coach Veloso trained as an amateur boxer in 2002, worked on a WTC cleanup crew, led a feasibility study that was a catalyst in bringing minor league baseball back to Terre Haute, Indiana, organized a campus wide “Rally for Respect” at Becker as part of the national Enough is Enough campaign to stem societal violence, and hates talking about himself in the third person.

Coaching Experience

• Outside Linebackers Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator- Curry College- 2006-2008
• Video and Recruiting Coordinator- Indiana State University- 2005
• Fullback and Linebackers Coach- UIF Peoria Roughriders- 2004

Playing Experience

• 4 Year Varsity Letterman at Tight End for Denison University- 1995- 1998

Education

• M.S.- Sports Management- Indiana State University- 2006
• B.S.- Physical Education- Denison University- 1999

Miscellaneous

High School Class President

1 of 2 Students on Academic Integrity Committee at ISU

Sports Management representative on Graduate Student Associate

Led student conducted feasibility study to bring minor league baseball to Terre Haute Indiana. 

Coach Gerardi is the most experienced coach on the Becker staff, with 13 total years of knowledge.

Coach Gerardi's career started as an defensive end for the University of New Haven.  After playing and starting four years and being awarded the team’s most improved player award his junior year, he became an assistant coach at New Haven, where he served until 1986.  After focusing on a thriving business career throughout the 90's, he re-entered the coaching ranks in 2009 as the linebackers coach here at Becker.

Coach Gerardi graduated from the University of New Haven in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and continued his education at that institution and receiving his MBA-Finance in 1986.  In his business career he has worked in construction management and currently is employed in the power generation industry.

In 2010, Coach Gerardi helped Chris Williams earn second team ECFC honors with 2 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Chris was the first freshman at Becker to achieve that honor. While Williams garnered most of the attention, the entire defensive line showed vast development.

Coach Gerardi’s on and off the field football philosophy consists of effort, toughness, knowledge, sacrifice and dealing with adversity to attain goal of graduating self-sufficient young men that impact society.

Coaching Experience

• Defensive Line Coach – Becker College - 2010
• Linebackers Coach – Becker College - 2009
• Assistant Coach – University of New Haven – 1979-1986

Playing Experience

• 4 Year Varsity Letterman at Defensive End for University of New Haven – 1974-1977

Education

• M.B.A. - Finance- University of New Haven- 1986
• B.S.C.E - University of New Haven- 1979

Miscellaneous

Married – Jamie (Blair) Gerardi – 1990 – Art Teacher, East Hartford High School, East Hartford, CT

Two Children:

Christian Gerardi – (DOB 9/12/1991) sophomore attending at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana; studying mechanical engineering

Willie Gerardi – (DOB 6/8/1993) senior attending RHAM High School in Hebron, CT; studying college prep; captain of wrestling team junior and senior year

Playing Experience

• College
  • Played 4 Season as Outside Linebacker at Hartwick College
  • Played in 32 Games
  • 2008 Empire 8 Conference Sportsman of the Year
  • 2007 Member of Empire 8 Conference Championship Team
• High School
  • 3 year starter at Fullback/ Linebacker for Catholic High School
  • 1^st Team All- Conference Linebacker for Section 2
  • Recipient of Steve Scarchilli Award

Miscellaneous

Born September 23, 1988 to Mark and Joann Theophel

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration 2010

Becker College is very excited to welcome Matt Reingold back to its staff for his second year as our Defensive Backs Coach.  Coach Reingold comes to Becker following a stellar college career at Northeastern University in Boston where he played four years and saw significant action in 36 games.  Considered by all his coaches to have a very high football IQ, Matt played safety and all special teams and was the placekicking holder as the team converted 100% of all kicks attempted.  Before bringing his talents to Northeastern, Matt posted a 44-4 high school record as the starting quarterback for Nyack High School in New York.  During Matt’s high school career he was an All-State Quarterback and a three time All-Section selection in both football and baseball, a member of the Super 11 team and was the driving force behind his team’s 2003 State Football Championship. 

I believe strongly that “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog” says Reingold, and I will bring that same enthusiasm, energy, and dedication to my coaching career. I expect nothing less than maximum effort from every player because anything less in unacceptable.  During Matt’s first year at Becker, he coached Jake Bateman to a First team All ECFC selection at safety.

Odds and Ends: Earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree with a dual concentration in Marketing and Management from Northeastern University in 2011.  Matt is the son of Bruce and Ellen Reingold and has an older sister Elizabeth.

 Charles Lindsey is entering his first season at Becker College, where he will serve as the Running Backs and Tight Ends coach.

 Coach Lindsey began his playing career at East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, Florida. During his time there he played inside linebacker and defensive end for the Eagles for four seasons. During this time Coach Lindsey was three time letter man.  After graduating from East Lake High School, Coach Lindsey attended the University of South Florida. While at the University of South Florida, Coach Lindsey worked as member of the equipment staff and was an intern with the defensive line.  After graduating with a degree in Inter-Social Disciplinary Sciences in 2009, Coach Lindsey began his high school coaching career at Middleton High School (FL). During the 2009 season Coach Lindsey served as the Recruiting Coordinator and Defensive Line coach at Middleton, where he helped the Tigers reach the program's first winning season in three years. Serving as the Recruiting Coordinator at Middleton he helped the program reach one of its biggest signing classes ever, as 12 players moved on to play college football. Coach Lindsey's Defensive Line finished in the top 5 in the state in sacks (43), tackles (237) and forced fumbles (23) during the 2009 season.  In 2010 Coach Lindsey accepted a position at North Carolina Technical Prep Academy where he served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Running Back's Coach. In his time with the program, Coach Lindsey helped the NC Tech Tigers to a 9-1 record while racking up 17 blocked kicks and 10 special teams scores. Coach Lindsey was born in Fayette, Alabama and resides in Tampa, Florida.

Brice Carlson will be joining the Hawks staff for his first season, after finishing up a four year playing career at Guilford College (Greensboro, NC).  He graduated from Guilford in May of 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management, with a minor in Education.

While playing at Guilford College, Coach Carlson started 30 games in a row at both the center and tackle positions.  Carlson was able to help Guilford’s offense become one of the top passing offenses in the country.  After his senior season he was voted to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s All Conference Team. Coach Carlson was also awarded Academic All Conference honors twice.

Brice Carlson is the son of Terry Carlson and Renee Prencipe, who both reside in Newnan, Georgia.  He has one sister who works and lives in Greensboro, NC.

  As a coach he believes:

As a coach I believe that maximum effort and dedication is needed by both players and coaches to be successful; whether in football, or in other aspects of life.  Striving for excellence will always be a goal of mine; as well as one that I will be instilling in the players that I work with.  My goal is to help the men involved in the Becker College football program become successful individuals in both football and academics.

David LaPlaca begins his first year an assistant coach for Becker College football, after a standout collegiate career playing at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. He graduated from Guilford in May of 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sports Management and a minor in Business Management.

During his playing career at Guilford College, Coach LaPlaca spent one season as the team captain.  Playing outside linebacker, LaPlaca recorded 106 career tackles and 37 solo tackles in 2010 (seventh in the conference) with 6.5 tackles for loss, seven deflected passes, two interceptions, and two fumble returns, including one for a touchdown.  LaPlaca made the Dean's List multiple times, and was on the Student-Athlete Honor Roll. After his playing career, he was elected to the National Football Foundation 2011 Hampshire National Honor Society.

David LaPlaca is the son of Peter and Anne LaPlaca. His brother is a sophomore goalkeeper for the University of Notre Dame's men's soccer team.