Posted: Feb 05, 2013

Gilmartin promoted to head coach for Salve Regina football

Kevin Gilmartin becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the Salve Regina University football program

NEWPORT, R.I. - With over 15 years of experience coaching football at the collegiate level, Kevin Gilmartin (Franklin Square, N.Y.) takes the reins as the next head coach for the Salve Regina University football program, as announced by director of athletics Colin Sullivan on Tuesday afternoon. Gilmartin succeeds Bob Chesney who a day earlier announced that he is taking over as head coach at Division II Assumption College.

Armed with a degree in political science from Williams College, Gilmartin joined the Seahawk football coaching staff in 2012 and helped lead the squad to a divisional title. Salve Regina reached the New England Football Conference (NEFC) championship game for only the second time in its history (first since 2000). This past season the Gilmartin offense broke school records for total points scored (356), total all-purpose yardage (5,770), and passing touchdowns (19).

Within the special teams game, Gilmartin was directly involved with coaching the return specialists which led to All-American honors for second-year player Phil Terio (Trumbull, Conn.).

As an assistant coach at Mount Ida College, Gilmartin worked five seasons handling the responsibilities of offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach, and admissions liaison. He helped lead the team to three consecutive postseason appearances, advancing to the ECFC title game in 2009, as well as the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl in both 2010 and 2011. The Mustangs set program records for both points and total yards in a season, and Gilmartin was selected to coach in the 2010 All-American Bowl.

Gilmartin gained further collegiate coaching experience as a special teams/assistant running backs coach at Hofstra (Division I-AA) and a quarterbacks/defensive backs coach at Hamilton (Division III) for five years. Coach Gilmartin also spent two seasons at Nipmuc Regional High School where he became the school's all-time winningest head coach.

"We're very different from where we were three years ago," said the departing Chesney to the assembled Seahawk squad on Monday. "The reason why this opportunity is being afforded to me is because of those guys (Salve Regina players and coaches) in the room. It's not something that one guy does, or something that's done overnight. They understand what they did to get the program here, and I know that they will continue to move in that direction."

"I thank Bob for all that he has done for our football program during his time at Salve," said Sullivan. "He will be sorely missed by our football family and the university, but I am excited to have a coach with Kevin's talent and intelligence prepared to lead our program. I look forward to Kevin's continued leadership and I'm confident he, our staff, and our players will continue to build a championship football program at Salve Regina."

"I am honored to be given this opportunity to be the head football coach at Salve Regina University," said Gilmartin. "Winning the division was one step. Players who are champions in the classroom, on the field, and in the community will continue our direction for this program on the national scene."