Princeton University Athletics
Thomas Cocuzza Named Head Coach Of Sprint Football
April 18, 2006 | Sprint Football
April 18, 2006
Thomas Cocuzza, who coached Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox in the Arena Football League, has been named the head coach of sprint football at Princeton University.
In addition, Gregory Paczkowski joins the Princeton Department of Athletics as the Coordinator of Aquatics.
Cocuzza inherits a team that snapped a long losing streak with a win over Virginia Military Institute last season. The Tigers compete along with Penn, Cornell, Army and Navy in the Collegiate Sprint Football League.
"I know it's football," Cocuzza says. "I suspect it will be a little more teaching, but it's nothing to be afraid of. I know what I'm up against, but I look at it as a challenge. I know the kids play to the end, which puts me at ease. I spoke with some of the coaches from last year, and they told me there's no quit in these kids. Hopefully, we can learn some lessons for life and win some games along the way."
Cocuzza comes to Princeton from Kean University, where he served as offensive coordinator under his father, Charles, while finishing his degree in computer science.
Cocuzza has also coached with the Atlantic City Cardsharks of the National Indoor Football League and the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League, where the roster included Maddox and another current NFL player, New Orleans returnman Michael Lewis. He has also been the head coach at Essex Catholic High School.
Paczkowski comes to Princeton from Embry-Riddle University, where he has spent the last six years working in event management and aquatics. He also has a bachelor's degree in air traffic management with a minor in meteorology from Embry-Riddle.