WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) has announced its year-end honors in football and UMass Dartmouth head coach Josh Sylvester was named the BSN Sports Coach of the Year for 2024.
Sylvester is assisted by
Steve Faniel,
Ryan Struthers '09 M'19,
Ryan McCormack,
Bryan McCann,
Andrew Brown '22,
Andrew Gacioch,
Justin Borden '16,
Jamy Chappell and
Najib Barros.
Sylvester – who is in his second season as head coach – has guided the Corsairs a perfect 10-0 mark, having won their third straight conference title. It marks just the second time in program history a UMass Dartmouth football squad has finished the regular season 10-0.
They rank among Division III's best in a number of categories, including first overall as one of 11 teams with a perfect winning percentage. The Corsairs are second overall in team passing efficiency defense (90.92) and are third overall in scoring offense (54.2). Additionally, UMass Dartmouth ranks sixth in total offense (515.3) and turnover margin (1.60), while ranking eighth in rushing offense (251.8).
Among the MASCAC leaders, the Corsairs are first overall in 23 different categories, including total offense, total defense (256.7), team tackles for loss (7.5), team passing efficiency (175.60), team passing efficiency defense, scoring offense, scoring defense (15.4), defensive touchdowns (3) and completion percentage (.656).
This season, 14 of his student-athletes were tabbed to the MASCAC All-Conference Teams, including a combined 11 on First Team (Offense and Defense) with three on the Second Team. Additionally, graduate student quarterback and captain
Dante Aviles-Santos became the first player in conference history to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors in three consecutive years, while senior offensive lineman
Tyler Gmyr was selected as the conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year.
In his first season as head coach in 2023, Sylvester and his staff guided the Corsairs to a 9-2 overall record, including a 7-1 mark in the MASCAC standings. UMass Dartmouth claimed a share of the conference regular season title – its second straight – as the squad advanced to the postseason for the 2023 New England Bowl.
Sylvester's squad ranked first in Division III in passing yards allowed, surrendering just 102.0 on the season, while also ranking second in team passing efficiency defense (82.8) and ninth in punt returns. The Corsairs led the MASCAC in nine difference categories, including team passing efficiency defense, passing yards allowed, red zone defense (59.3), scoring defense (15.2) and first downs offense (235).
At season's end, 13 players where named to the All-Conference Teams, while Aviles-Santos was the Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Saturday, November 30 at 12pm in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Corsairs travel to Springfield College, facing the 10-0 Pride in their first-ever appearance in the Second Round and third overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
