Alvernia names Steve Devlin head football coach
Steve Devlin, a long-time coach at Ursinus College who produced state championship teams at Archbishop Wood, has been named head football coach at Alvernia University.
Devlin spent the last eight seasons as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Ursinus. Prior to that he spent 11 years as head coach at Archbishop Wood High School in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
“We could not be more proud to announce Coach Devlin as our next head football coach,” Alvernia University Director of Athletics and Recreation Cory Beddick said in a statement.
“We recognize how important this hire is to the university,” Beddick said, “and we believe we have everything in place for Coach Devlin and his staff to turn our football team into a championship caliber program while developing our student-athletes on and off the field.”
Devlin replaces Steve Azzanesi, who coached the Golden Wolves for the past four seasons. Alvernia went 0-10 this season and 5-36 over his tenure.
Alvernia has never won more than three games in a season since kicking off the program in 2018 with Ralph Clark, the Wolves’ head coach for three seasons.
During Devlin’s time with Ursinus the Bears went 53-23 overall and 34-21 in Centennial Conference Play.
Ursinus received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2024 following a 9-1 regular season. That NCAA appearance marked Ursinus’ first in the NCAA Tournament since 1999.
Ursinus also made five MAC-Centennial Bowl appearances during Devlin’s time with the team, winning four of the five bowl matchups.
“My family and I are very excited to join the Alvernia community,” Devlin said in a statement. “I am really looking forward to building the program to compete at a high level and give our student-athletes a great experience at Alvernia.”
The Ursinus defense posted historic numbers under Devlin’s guidance. This season it finished second in the NCAA with 21 interceptions. In 2024 the Bears led the nation in third-down efficiency and in 2023 it finished No. 1 in the Centennial Conference.
During his tenure Devlin coached 31 All-Centennial honorees, including the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-American Ryan Bodolus.
“Coach Devlin’s passion for football, recruiting, and student-athlete development is exactly what we need at this time,” said Beddick. “His deep ties to eastern Pennsylvania and our region bring immediate credibility to our program. We believe that he is the right man to lead our program to competitiveness and success.”
Prior to joining the Ursinus staff in 2018 Devlin had an incredible run for 11 years as the head coach of Archbishop Wood, leading the Vikings to a 132-22 record. He led Archbishop Wood to PIAA titles in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. The Vikings were PIAA runners-up in 2008 and 2012.
Devlin led the Vikings to 10 straight Philadelphia Catholic League titles.
Devlin was named the 2014 USA Today Pennsylvania Coach of the Year, and was the 2013 Associated Press Pennsylvania Coach of the Year.
He was a six-time Philadelphia Catholic League Coach of the Year and coached three players currently in the NFL: Kyle Pitts, a tight end for the Atlanta Falcons; Ryan Bates, a center for the Chicago Bears; and Raheem Blackshear, a running back most recently with the Carolina Panthers.
“Coach Devlin has won everywhere he has been,” said Beddick. “We know he will put together a first-class coaching staff that will consist of high quality individuals, teachers and passionate coaches that will recruit and develop our football student-athletes.”
“I cannot wait to get started working with the current players on the team and recruiting the best and brightest to join our University and football program,” said Devlin. “I am looking forward to competing and developing a winning culture on and off the field.”
Devlin was a member of the Lycoming College Football team that made an appearance in the 1990 Stagg Bowl, the Division III National Championship.
