Wednesday, December 11, 2013
by Valparaiso Athletic Media Relations

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Valparaiso director of athletics Mark LaBarbera announced Wednesday Dave Cecchini has been hired as the 17th head football coach in school history.

"We made up a list of all the attributes that would be important for our next head coach, and Dave met every one of them. Everyone we've talked to about Dave indicated that he was not only an outstanding football coach, but an outstanding leader of young men," LaBarbera said.

Cecchini most recently served as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Lehigh University for four seasons. It was his second stint with the Mountain Hawks. Cecchini also worked in the same capacity at The Citadel and Harvard, having coached Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Arizona Cardinals receiver Andre Roberts.

"I'm beyond excited about the opportunity that has been provided to me by Mark LaBarbera and President Heckler. It's humbling to be brought in and shown the vision for this University, and to then be included in it," Cecchini said.

He rejoined the Lehigh staff as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach following the 2010 season. Upon his return, the Mountain Hawks enjoyed one of the strongest offensive seasons in program history. Thanks to an offense that averaged over 26 points per game, Lehigh secured its ninth Patriot League Championship in school history. Cecchini coached quarterback Chris Lum, the national runner-up in voting for the Walter Payton Award. Lum, an All-American, broke the Patriot League's single-season record for passing yards (4,378) and touchdown passes (32). Four Mountain Hawks achieved All-American status on Cecchini's watch.

Cecchini took over as offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach at The Citadel in 2007. In his first season with the Bulldogs, the squad set 16 offensive records including points in a season (39.5 PPG) and total offense (437.6 YPG). The 2007 Citadel team finished with the school's best record in 15 years. While in Charleston, Cecchini coached and mentored star receiver Andre Roberts. Under Cecchini's tutelage, Roberts was a First Team All-American who set program records for receptions in a season (95), receiving yards (1,334), and touchdown catches (15). Roberts was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2010 National Football League Draft.

Cecchini assumed the role of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Harvard in 2003, where his offensive aptitude yielded immediate dividends. Harvard's 2003 offense averaged 461 yards per game, good for 4th in the nation in total offense that year. The 2004 Crimson team crafted a perfect 10-0 record en route to an Ivy League Championship. Harvard set 14 team or individual offensive records with Cecchini at the controls (2003-2006). In 2005, he was bestowed the American Football Coaches Association's Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award after Harvard produced the top offense in 2005.

He is a 1995 graduate of Lehigh. An All-American wide receiver in his playing days, Cecchini established numerous single-season school and Patriot League records including receptions (88), receiving yards (1,318), and touchdown receptions (15) in addition to leading the country in receptions and receiving yards per game.

Cecchini joined the Mountain Hawk coaching staff the fall following his graduation from Lehigh. For the next several seasons he worked his way up, holding the position of quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, running backs coach, and tight ends coach before ultimately being named assistant head coach in 2001.

Cecchini and his wife, Tammy, have two sons, Evan and Will.