A pair of coaches with local ties are taking home awards after impressive seasons with their respective teams.
Brennan Marion, a Greensburg Salem alum and the offensive coordinator at UNLV, and Troy defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato, who has family in Jeannette, were selected as Light on College Sports assistant coaches of the year, Marion for offense and Gasparato for defense.
Marion, whose name is reportedly on the radar of several Division I programs with head coaching openings, recently was named the Mountain West Conference Coordinator of the Year.
Light On CFB Fall 2023 FBS (G5) Assistant Coaches of the Year ????:
— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports) December 5, 2023
Offensive Coordinator:
Brennan Marion (UNLV)
Director of Recruiting:
Randy Martinez (Texas State)
Defensive Coordinator:
Greg Gasparato (Troy)@BrennanMarion4 @CoachMart1nez @CoachGasparato pic.twitter.com/Nv9RgZ34dA
Marion’s “Go-Go” offense helped the Runnin Rebels (9-4) average 34 points per game and produce a red-zone scoring percentage of 92.1. UNLV set a school record this season with six 40-point games.
He also is one of 57 nominees for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant coach in the nation.
Troy (11-2) is allowing just 17.2 points a game under Gasparato’s watch, with 45 sacks and nine interceptions. Troy won the Sun Belt Conference last week with a win over Appalachian State, where Gasparato used to coach.
Gasparato’s late father, Nick, a Jeannette native, was a longtime assistant at Penn State, where he won a national championship in 1986.
Mike Gasparato, Greg’s brother, and a former Penn State running back, died of cancer in 2019 at age 37.
UNLV faces Kansas Dec. 26 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix.
Duke will play Troy in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23.
