Gregg Perry, who led the University of Delaware football team to national success as a player and then as a long-time assistant coach, returned to the Blue Hen staff as tight ends coach in 2008 and begins his third season back at UD in 2011.
He enters his 29th season overall as an assistant coach at Delaware and his second leading the Blue Hen running backs.
Perry, 57, served as offensive line coach at Princeton University during the 2006 and 2007 seasons after working in private business for four years.
In his first season back at Delaware, Perry was instrumental in the development of tight end Robbie Agnone, who earned third team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors in 2008 and earned a free agent tryout with the Washington Redskins.
Born: January 26, 1954
College: Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education, University of Delaware, 1977; Master's Degree in Education, University of Delaware, 1979
College Coaching Career:
1977-78: Graduate Assistant, University of Delaware
1979-80: Head Freshman Coach, University of Delaware
1981-2001: Offensive Line, University of Delaware
2006-07: Offensive Line, Princeton
2008-Present: Tight Ends (2008-09); Running Backs (2010), University of Delaware
Family: Late wife, Joyce (died April, 17, 2010); Sons, Rhett, Trey. Joyce was a former UD three-sport standout, head women's basketball coach at UD in 1978-96, and member of UD Athletics Hall of Fame (2004).
Recruiting Areas: Eastern Pennsylvania (Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Center, Clearfield, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Huntington, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, McKean, Mifflin, North Umberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Somerset, York, Union counties); Georgia (Floyd, Bartow, Cherokee, Forsyth, Polk, Paulding, Cobb, Fulton, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Spalding counties)
With the addition of David Boler to the Blue Hen coaching staff in August, 2010, Perry moved over to coach the Delaware running backs in 2011 and found great success. His work with the offense, and specifically All-American and Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year Andrew Pierce, helped Delaware post a 12-3 record, share the Colonial Athletic Association title, and advance to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game.
The Hens ranked second in the CAA in scoring offense (27.9), total offense (401.8/19th in NCAA), and rushing offense (184.4). Pierce led the CAA in rushing with 1,655 yards and 14 touchdowns as a true freshman. Sophomore David Hayes was also impressive, piling up 528 yards in a backup role.
A native of Washington, N.J., Perry was a three-year standout as a running back and tight end at Delaware under Hall of Fame head coach Tubby Raymond from 1974-76, helping the Blue Hens win 28 games, two Lambert Cup trophies, and make two appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The 1974 squad went 12-2 and advanced to the national championship game.
Perry earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Delaware in 1977 and went on to earn his master's degree in education from UD while working as a graduate assistant.
He served as an assistant coach for the Blue Hens for 25 seasons, working as a graduate assistant coach under Raymond in 1977-78, serving as head coach of the freshman team in 1979-80, and moving into a full-time position as offensive line coach in 1981, a duty he held for 21 seasons until the 2001 season when Raymond retired.
During his tenure as offensive line coach, Perry gained a national reputation for his team's success and played a big part in shaping a Blue Hen offense that annually ranked among the nations' elite. During his 21 years on the varsity staff, Delaware teams posted a record of 172-79-1 (.684), advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, won the Lambert Cup trophy as the top team in the East five times, was named the ECAC Team of the Year four times, and captured six league titles.
The Hens advanced to the national semifinals four times, including a trip to the NCAA I-AA title game during the 1982 campaign. The Hens led the conference in rushing four straight years in 1991-94 and annually ranked among the national leaders in that category. In addition, Perry coached nine All-American offensive linemen.
He left the coaching ranks following the 2001 to enter private business but returned to college athletics in 2006 and coached the offensive line at Princeton University for two seasons under head coach Roger Hughes. The Tigers went 9-1 and captured the Ivy League title in 2006.
Perry's late wife, Joyce, who passed away on April 17, 2010 after a courageous fight with ovarian cancer, was a three-sport athlete at Delaware and served as UD's women's basketball head coach for 18 seasons, winning 266 games and three conference titles between 1978-96. She was inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.
Gregg lives in Lincoln University, Pa. with their sons, Rhett and Trey. Rhett is currently a senior at Delaware.
Updated 7/21/11
Head Coach K.C. Keeler
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Jim Hofher
Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Nick Rapone
Passing Game Coordinator/Receivers Coach Brian Ginn
Defensive Line Coach Phil Petitte
Running Backs Coach Gregg Perry
Linebackers Coach Brad Sherrod
Tight Ends Coach David Boler
Cornerbacks Coach Henry Baker
Defensive Assistant Frank Law
Graduate Assistant Brian Brown
Graduate Assistant Andy Marino
Head Athletic Trainer John Smith
Assistant Athletic Trainer Dan Watson
Director of Football Operations Jerry Oravitz
Personal Development Coach David Baylor
Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine Dr. Andrew Reisman
Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Geoffrey Gustavsen
