Head Coach Pete Rossomando begins his fifth season as the head coach at Central Connecticut State University in 2018.  Rossomando was named the 13th head coach of the CCSU football program on January 22, 2014 after spending five seasons at the University of New Haven in the same position.

 

In just his fourth season at Central, Rossomando led the Blue Devils to their first NCAA FCS Playoffs appearance after winning the Northeast Conference title with a perfect 6-0 record. The season included an eight-game win streak, a program record for a single season. Rossomando’s defense led the country in defensive touchdowns and was among the leaders in turnover margin, helping CCSU to the NEC’s first unbeaten record since 2008. For his efforts, Rossomando was named the league’s Coach of the Year and he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year. 

 

In his second season with the Blue Devils in 2015 Rossomando led the Blue Devils to a third place tie in the Northeast Conference standings, posting a 3-3 league record and a 4-7 mark overall.  The Blue Devils posted league wins over Sacred Heart and Bryant, the other two teams that finished in a tie for third place.  The three wins in league play were the most since 2011 for CCSU.  

 

The Blue Devils started the Rossomando era in 2014 on a high note by traveling to Towson University and defeating the defending national runner-up Tigers 31-27 on the road.  Central posted a 3-9 season in Rossomando’s first year in New Britain, including a home win over CAA opponent Rhode Island, the second CAA win of the year for the Blue Devils, and a road victory in the final game of the year at St. Francis University.

 

Prior to his arrival in New Britain, Rossomando spent five seasons as the head coach at the University of New Haven. Over that time he led the Chargers to a 42-13 record, two NCAA Playoff appearances and coached numerous all-conference and All-America student-athletes. Rossomando was named head coach of the Chargers in December of 2007 as New Haven reinstated its Division II football program after a five-year hiatus. He rebuilt the Chargers into one of the best Division II programs in the country. In his last three seasons, 2011-13, the Chargers posted an overall record of 29-6 and a 20-2 mark in Northeast-10 action, including two consecutive 8-0 regular seasons in league play (2011, 2012). New Haven was ranked as high as No. 3 in the 2012 Division II national polls.

 

Rossomando was named Liberty Mutual NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year following the 2012 season. He also earned three Northeast-10 Coach of the Year awards as the head coach of the Chargers (2010-12).

 

Prior to being named head coach at New Haven, Rossomando was an assistant coach at the University at Albany for seven seasons, serving as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for his final three seasons with the Great Danes. Albany won three Northeast Conference Championships (2002, 2003, 2007) with Rossomando on the sidelines. The Great Danes posted a record of 46-32 in his seven seasons, including 36-12 in NEC play.

 

Rossomando has also served as an assistant at Northeastern (1999) and Cortland State (2000). His collegiate coaching career began in 1994 as an assistant at New Haven under head coach Tony Sparano. While an assistant at UNH the Chargers advanced to the NCAA Playoffs in 1995 and again in 1997 when the team reached the National Championship game.

 

As a student-athlete, Rossomando played at the FCS level (then I-AA) for Boston University, seeing action on the offensive and defensive lines for the Terriers from 1990-93. He helped the team to the 1993 Yankee Conference Championship and a trip to the NCAA Playoffs with an undefeated record.

 

A native of Staten Island, NY, Rossomando was a decorated student-athlete at Port Richmond High School being named the 1989 Staten Island Player of the Year.

 

Rossomando and his wife, Jessica, have three children, Reese, Gianna and Nicholas.