ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany and head coach Jared Ambrose have announced updates for the 2025 football coaching staff. Changes include several positional changes and new hires.
 
With Ambrose taking over head coaching responsibilities, Bill Nesselt has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. In addition, Nesselt will continue to serve as the team's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Nesselt has spent eight years with UAlbany, joining in 2017 as a defensive assistant. He was named Defensive Coordinator ahead of the 2023 season, the same year his unit produced some of the best numbers in the FCS en route to the team winning its first ever CAA title and advancing to the NCAA FCS Semifinals.
 
"Since arriving at UAlbany in 2022, it was very clear that we had many assistant coaches that were tremendously talented, motivated and qualified to do great work," said Ambrose. "Bill Nesselt is a rising star in college football. His resolve and ability to process the game is as good as anyone I've ever coached with. The decision to name Bill the associate head coach was well deserved."
 
On the offensive side of the ball, former UAlbany quarterback Will Fiacchi has been promoted to Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. Fiacchi has been on the staff since 2017 when he joined as an offensive assistant. Moving through the ranks, Fiacchi most recently served as the team's Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator. In UAlbany's stellar 2023 season, wideouts Brevin Easton and Julian Hicks finished as two of the top targets in the entire nation in terms of receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
 
On special teams, Jordan Orlovsky has been promoted to Special Teams Coordinator. Additionally, Orlovsky will continue to serve as the team's running backs coach and chief of staff. Orlovsky originally joined the Great Danes in 2018, working with the program's offensive line. After spending the 2019 season at Muhlenberg College, he returned in 2020 as UAlbany's Director of Football Operations and Outside Linebackers Coach. Throughout his time in the Capital Region, he has played a critical role in developing, monitoring and managing all contracts and logistics associated with football activities.
 
"Will Fiacchi and Jordan Orlovsky have shown great versatility on our staff and their ability to efficiently coach in multiple ways at multiple positions demonstrates a trust that they've earned to become coordinators," Added Ambrose. "I have the utmost belief that they will both enhance our staff from their new leadership positions."
 
Five new coaches have also joined the staff for the 2025 season – Dave Bucar, Diamond Weaver, Mike Livingston and Jourdan Townsend. Bucar comes in as the new Offensive Line Coach, Weaver will serve as the new Safeties Coach, and Livingston will serve as the new Cornerbacks Coach and Defensive Pass Game Coordinator. Townsend will take over as the Wide Receivers Coach.
 
"Our new hires have either worked with a current member of the staff, worked with someone I've coached with, played for me at a previous school or coached against us in the past," said Ambrose. "On defense, Mike Livingston and Diamond Weaver have coached at multiple DI programs, showing a quality of work that should help enhance our defense. Livingston will coach our corners and a lot of the fundamentals and background he has syncs perfectly with Coach Nesselt's defense. Diamond Weaver has had top CAA defensive backs at every stop he's been at, his experience and resume is first class."
 
Ambrose added "On offense, Dave Bucar has been a coach at multiple 'Power Four' programs while working with a former offensive line coach that has worked with me, all of which produced at a high level. Jourdan Townsend played for at the University of Delaware and was an assistant there last year. Even as a player, Jourdan has always had a mind for the game and we're excited to get him here to mold our wide receivers."
 
For a list of the full 2025 football staff, see below.
 
2025 UAlbany Football Coaching Staff
Jared Ambrose – Interim Head Coach
Bill Nesselt – Associate Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Will Fiacchi – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Jordan Orlovsky – Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach/Chief of Staff
Brendan Smith – Tight Ends Coach/Community Service Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
Dave Bucar – Offensive Line Coach
Chris Calabrese – Outside Linebackers Coach/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator/Pro Liaison
Mikal Myers – Defensive Line Coach
Diamond Weaver – Safeties Coach
Mike Livingston – Cornerbacks Coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
Jourdan Townsend – Wide Receivers Coach
Jon Simmons – Director of Football Operations/Video Coordinator
 
The 2025 football season kicks off on Aug. 30 with a trip to Iowa of the Big Ten (FBS). For the full 2025 schedule, click here.
 
Season ticket deposits for the 2025 season are now being accepted. Returning season ticket holders can log into their Ticket Return accounts now to renew their packages for 2025. New season ticket holders can place their 2025 deposits by clicking here.
 
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