Sgarlata named Georgetown head football coach

Feb 18, 2014 - 4:00 PM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - After conducting a national search for a new head football coach, Georgetown University promoted interim coach Rob Sgarlata to the permanent position on Tuesday.

Sgarlata, a 1994 Georgetown graduate, had been a Hoyas assistant coach the last 18 seasons. He was their assistant head coach and defensive coordinator the past eight seasons under head coach Kevin Kelly, who resigned on Jan. 30 to become the defensive coordinator at Ball State.

One of his alma mater's all-time rushing leaders, Sgarlata becomes just the fourth person to have played football and graduated from Georgetown before earning the head coach's title, joining Joe Reilly, Jack Hagerty and Maurice Dubofsky.

During Sgarlata's tenure as defensive coordinator, the Hoyas have had 20 selections to the All-Patriot League defense.

"When I was a student-athlete at Georgetown, our athletic director, Frank Rienzo, used to say that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us," Sgarlata said. "During my time on the Hilltop, I have witnessed this sentiment first-hand. I have been fortunate to play for Scotty Glacken and work under excellent former head coaches Bob Benson and Kevin Kelly. I look forward to the challenge of guiding this program forward. I am extremely excited to work with the group of football players we currently have on the Hilltop."

Georgetown was 2-9 overall and 1-4 in league games last season. It is the only Patriot League program that does not award football scholarships.

Georgetown is the 27th FCS program with a head coaching change since just before the 2013 season.