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 second season back at UD in 2009.
Perry, 55, 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.
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.
The Gregg Perry File
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: Offenisve Line, University of Delaware 2006-07: Offensive Line, Princeton 2008-Present: Tight Ends, University of Delaware Family: Wife, Joyce; 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, Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Susquehanna, Wayne, and York counties); New Jersey (Hunterdon & Warren counties); Georgia (Atlanta)
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 and posted a 4-6 mark in 2007.
Perry’s wife, Joyce, 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.
She works as an instructional technology specialist with the Avon Grove (Pa.) School District after teaching four years in the UD College of Health and Exercise Science.
Gregg and Joyce live in Lincoln University, Pa. with their sons Rhett and Trey. Rhett is currently a student at Delaware.
Assistant Coach Gregg Perry