Tony Marciano has joined the Incarnate Word football staff as the Cardinals’ new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
UIW head Coach Mike Santiago said Marciano is on campus and helping prepare for spring drills which begin March 25.
“I have known Tony since 1980,” Santiago said. “He comes to UIW with a wealth of experience at every level of football. He has worked extensively in college football as well as in professional football. We are happy to have Tony with us as we prepare for the Lone Star Conference.”
The Cardinals have one year of play behind them having competed in the NCAA Division II in 2009 as an independent. UIW finished the inaugural season at 5-5. On July 1, 2010, Incarnate Word becomes a member of the Lone Star Conference, perhaps the nation’s most competitive league at the Division II level.
Meanwhile Marciano brings an impressive resume to the Cardinals. He worked as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator in the Canadian Football League with both the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders. After that he moved to the National Football League as the tight ends coach for the Indianapolis Colts. He also was the tight ends coach and offensive line coach for the Houston Texans.
Most recently he was the director of football operations at Florida’s All-Star Sports Training which develops athletes through scientifically advanced training methods.
A graduate of Indiana University in Pennsylvania, Marciano coached tight ends at that school before working at TCU, SMU, Brown University, University of Richmond and Kent State University.
Recently, Marciano talked about his work with offensive linemen. "I've always worked with offensive linemen or tight ends. I believe offensive linemen are typically the best citizens. They're not worried about catching the ball, but are in an unheralded position. They have to be a highly trained individual to play that position.
“No player is born wanting to be an offensive lineman, as they get very little credit. They have to love to play the game. Those five guys must work as ONE in concert to make it happen. Furthermore, you can't substitute offense players like you can defense, so they have to have great technique and a lot of stamina and 'stick-to-it', and must have a counter-action for everything the defense does."
Athletics and football run in the Marciano family. Tony’s brother Joe currently is the special teams coordinator with the Houston Texans of the NFL and a distant cousin was Rocky Marciano.