Staten Island, NY – Jason Houghtaling, who served as Wagner's offensive coordinator during the Seahawks' run to the 2012 Northeast Conference (NEC) title and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoff appearance, before spending the 2013 season as offensive coordinator at Cornell, will return to Grymes Hill in the capacity of Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Walt Hameline has announced.
 
This will mark Houghtaling's third stint at Wagner. Houghtaling, known as 'Hoss' around the Grymes Hill campus, was a Seahawks assistant coach from 2006-2009, before becoming head coach at Hudson Valley Community College in 2010. Following one season as head coach of the Vikings, he returned to Wagner as offensive coordinator in 2011, where he spent two seasons, including the 2012 championship campaign.
 
"I am thrilled that Jason has agreed to accept this important position," said Hameline. "His work ethic, passion, football knowledge, recruiting contacts and familiarity with Wagner College are all major assets that will pay huge dividends for our program in 2014 and beyond.
 
"With Hoss, we have an individual who has the respect of everyone that he comes into contact with. He is someone who is highly-regarded by high school coaches both within our region, and on a national scale," Hameline added.
 
Under Houghtaling's tutelage, the 2012 Seahawks, led by record-setting standout quarterback Nick Dosher, and star running back Dominique Williams, were one of the nation's most balanced units, ranking No. 1 nationally with the fewest turnovers (6) in all of FCS football.
 
With Houghtaling's guidance, Doscher evolved into one of the all-time great quarterbacks in both Wagner and NEC history, finishing his career ranked No. 1 in Seahawk history, and No. 2 in NEC history, with 8,404 yards of total offense. He was also Wagner's all-time passing yardage leader (6,100), which ranks No. 9 on the all-time NEC list. As a senior in 2012, Doscher fashioned a passer rating of 133.9, with 13 touchdown passes and just one interception and ended his career with a remarkable 221 consecutive pass attempts without an interception.
 
During his first season as offensive coordinator (2011), Houghtaling directed the talented Williams to impressive numbers. Williams ranked among the national leaders by rushing for 121.6 yards per game and 14 total touchdowns, while posting eight 100-yard games in 11 contests. The following season, Williams went on to be tabbed as a 2012 College Sports Journal All-American, in addition to earning First-Team All-NEC honors.
 
"Wagner is a special place for both my family and I, so it's truly an honor to return here to continue to build this program," said Houghtaling. "I thank Coach Hameline and [Wagner College President] Dr. Guarasci for welcoming me back and entrusting me with added responsibilities.
 
"The way the entire Staten Island community embraced our team during our championship run was quite unique, and it demonstrates their tremendous passion for Seahawk football," Houghtaling added. "I'm looking forward to coaching our current team, and attracting even more elite student-athletes in the coming years."
 
When he first arrived at Wagner in 2006, Houghtaling served as running backs coach, before heading the Seahawk offensive lines from 2007-2009. In 2010, his one season as head coach at Troy, NY-based Hudson Valley, he tutored two All-Conference performers.
 
Houghtaling began his collegiate coaching career at prep powerhouse Milford Academy in Berlin, NY, where he helped lead the Falcons to a 20-3 mark as defensive coordinator, while also serving as defensive line and strength and conditioning coach.
 
A 2004 graduate of Binghamton with a degree in History, Houghtaling earned a Masters in Education from Wagner in 2009. He originally attended Lafayette, where he was a defensive lineman for the Leopards, before injuries cut short his playing career and he transferred to Binghamton.
 
A native of Windsor, NY, Houghtaling and his wife Mary are the proud parents of two daughters, Abbie and Emma.
 
Houghtaling replaces Tom Masella, who recently accepted the defensive coordinator position at UMass.

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