Mike Cragg begins his 13th season at the helm of the Hobart football program with an exceptional list of career accomplishments. He has led the Statesmen to more wins than any of his predecessors and to all six of the program’s postseason appearances, including three straight NCAA bids.

Cragg, who also serves as Hobart’s special teams coordinator, boasts an impressive 81-39 career record (.675) and a school record 10 consecutive winning seasons. He has guided Hobart to the top of the Liberty League six times, reaching the conference’s summit in four of the past five seasons.

In 2006, Hobart notched an 8-2 overall record and tied for the Liberty League lead. The Statesmen came within 10 seconds of upsetting Rowan in the NCAA Playoffs and earning a third consecutive regional semifinal appearance. The success was rewarded by the coaches of the Liberty League, who put 12 Hobart players on the all-conference teams.

In 2005, the Statesmen posted a 9-2 record. The nine wins matched the program record for wins in a season established by Hobart’s 1896 and 2004 squads.

That year, Hobart led the Liberty League in turnover margin, scoring defense, rushing defense, punt returns, pass efficiency, and pass efficiency defense, while raking in the top 30 in the nation in turnover margin (21st) and scoring defense (16.5 ppg). Cragg’s charges cleaned up in the postseason accolades, collecting 14 All-Liberty League honors and the Defensive Player of the Year Award (Tony Clemente ’06).

Cragg, who served as the team’s defensive coordinator from 1991 to 2006, directed the 2000 Statesmen into the NCAA records book. The Hobart secondary, aided by a relentless pass rush, broke the NCAA Division III record for lowest pass completion percentage allowed. Hobart opponents were successful on just 31.3 percent (79-of-252) of their pass attempts, eclipsing the old mark, 33.5, set by Plymouth State in 1987. At the close of the regular season, Cragg’s defense ranked first in the nation in pass efficiency defense, sixth in scoring defense, eighth in turnover margin, and 12th in total defense.

Cragg has mentored several All-Americans, including consensus All-Americans Dave Russell ’98 and Alex Bell ’05. Several Statesmen have gone on to play football professionally, including Bell who signed with the New York Giants as a free agent.

In additional to the team’s on-field success, Cragg’s Statesmen have received a great deal of recognition for their efforts in the classroom as well. During his tenure, four Hobart players have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America teams, while dozens of Statesmen have earned Liberty League All-Academic accolades.

Named the 23rd head coach of the Hobart football program in January of 1995, Cragg is one of the veteran members of the Statesmen family, joining the football staff in 1986. He also served as the head coach of the tennis team for three seasons, compiling an overall record of 36-10 and three conference championships.

Cragg came to Hobart after serving as the head coach of the varsity football program at Corry High School in Corry, Pa. He led Corry to a third-place finish in the Erie County League in his first year, a first-ever appearance in the District X Playoffs in 1986, and was named Coach of the Year.

A 1983 graduate of Slippery Rock University with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, Cragg was a two-year letterwinner for the Rock at free safety and linebacker. He still owns a share of the school’s single game interception record (3 vs. Edinboro, 1980). His senior season was short-circuited by a knee injury, so he got an early jump on his coaching career, assisting the Slippery Rock staff with the defensive backs.

Cragg and his wife, Holley, live in Geneva with their two children, Michael and Kristen Alexandria.

Offensive Coordinator Kevin DeWall '00

Now in his eighth season on the Hobart sideline, Kevin DeWall is entering his fifth season as the offensive coordinator. Traditionally a program that relied heavily on its defense, he has transformed Hobart into an offensive juggernaut.

Over the past four seasons, DeWall has directed the Statesmen offense to new heights in rushing, passing, and scoring. In the four seasons prior to his promotion to offensive coordinator, Hobart averaged 140.7 yards rushing per game, 185.6 yards passing, and 24.9 points. Under his leadership, those numbers have grown to 173.0 rushing, 200.6 passing, and 27.6 points.

In 2005, DeWall’s charges set team records for passing yards (2,420) and yards per pass (8.26) in a season. The Statesmen also produced the second highest numbers in total offense (4,421), points (314), touchdowns (43), and extra points (37), while leading the Liberty League passing efficiency (141.3).

During his first three seasons on the football coaching staff, DeWall coached the defensive backs.

While earning a bachelor’s degree in biology (pre-med) and education, DeWall was an attackman on Hobart’s Division I lacrosse team and led the defense at free safety for the football team. He helped the lacrosse program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2000 Patriot League title and aided the football program’s assent towards the pinnacle of Division III.

A native of nearby Waterloo, DeWall was the 2000 Patriot League Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was named to the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach Scott Yoder '01

Scott Yoder is back for his seventh season as an assistant coach and his first since being promoted to defensive coordinator over the summer. The 2001 graduate of Hobart has previously coached the defensive backs and receivers.

Over the past two seasons, Yoder’s secondary has been one of the best in the Liberty League. The team’s three starters have earned five All-Liberty League awards, including returning starters James Alexander ’08 and Mike Kaplun ’08.

In 2005, Yoder’s coverage unit led the Liberty League and ranked 47th in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

A year earlier, Yoder mentored a talented and deep corps of receivers, including two All-Liberty League selections. Under his direction, Dan Suozzi ’05 broke the Hobart career records for receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns.

A reliable target himself, Yoder finished his career with 108 receptions for 1,361 yards. Following the 2000 season, he earned first-team accolades from the ECAC and the Liberty League.

The economics major was also a member of the Division I Hobart lacrosse team. Yoder helped guide the Statesmen to the 2000 Patriot League Championship and the program’s 23rd NCAA postseason appearance.

Yoder lives in Geneva with his wife, Alyson WS’03.

Inside Linebackers Coach Aaron Backhaus '00

Assistant Coach Aaron Backhaus Aaron Backhaus ’00 returns for his fourth season on the Hobart sidelines as the linebackers coach.

During his three previous seasons, nine of his Statesmen have earned All-Liberty League recognition, including 2005 Defensive Player of the Year Tony Clemente ’06.

Last season, Hobart’s top two tacklers were Backhaus’ charges. All-conference selections Evan Hoffman ’07 and Nolan Robinson ’07 shared the team lead with 79 stops apiece. Additionally, Hoffman was second in the nation in forced fumbles, finishing the year with six.

As a player, Backhaus was a four-year starter at inside linebacker. The four-time All-Liberty League pick left the gridiron with 279 career tackles and six interceptions. He led the Statesmen with a career-high 98 tackles as a first-year.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from Hobart in psychology in 2000, Backhaus went on to complete a master’s degree in education at Alfred University.

In addition to his coaching duties, Backhaus is a counselor at the Geneva Middle School.

Receivers Coach Matt Cutaia

The 2007 season will mark Matt Cutaia’s first with the Statesmen. The former UConn wide receiver will work with Hobart’s wide receivers.

With the Huskies, Cutaia accumulated 80 receptions for 1,047 yards and three touchdowns. A starter in all four of his seasons in Storrs, Conn., his career was hampered by season-ending injuries in 2002 and 2003. Cutaia was healthy throughout his senior season and put together the most productive season of his career. He finished the campaign with 44 catches for 545 yards and a touchdown as the Huskies earned their first bowl bid, a 39-10 win over Toledo in the Motor City Bowl.

Getting a jump-start on his coaching career, Cutaia spent the spring semester of his senior year serving as an assistant wide receiver coach for UConn’s spring practices. He graduated from Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science.

At Webster High School, Cutaia helped lead the Warriors to the 1999 New York State Class AA Championship. He was named to several all-star teams that season, including All-Greater Rochester and All-New York State.

In addition to coaching the Statesmen, Cutaia is pursuing a master’s degree in adolescent education from St. John Fisher.

Quarterbacks Coach Jon Drach

Jon Drach joined the Hobart coaching staff in April 2007. The former starting quarterback at Western Michigan University will mentor the Statesmen signal callers during the upcoming season.

A native of St. Charles, Ill., Drach played for his father, Roger “Buck” Drach, at St. Charles High School. The younger Drach was an All-State quarterback before heading to college. For the Broncos, he was a member of the 2000 squad that won the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). A three-year starter, Drach enjoyed his finest season as a senior, completing a single season record 67 percent of his passes (176-118-6) for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. That season he sported a 156.2 pass efficiency rating, the highest of his career.

Drach threw for a career-high 391 yards at Connecticut on Nov. 1, 2003, and tossed a career best five touchdowns against Central Michigan two weeks later. He also set a WSU single game record for longest completion on a 94-yard touchdown strike against the Chippewas.

A 2004 graduate of Western Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in business finance and economics, Drach earned a spot on the Dean’s List six times during his undergraduate career, was a two-time MAC All-Academic Team selection, and received Western Michigan’s 2003 John Gill Scholar-Athlete Award.

Following graduation, Drach spent three years as a trader for a proprietary trading company near Chicago. He broke into coaching last season as the offensive coordinator for his father at West Aurora (Ill.) High School.

Running Backs Coach John Manley

John Manley enters his eighth season as running backs coach. He joined the Statesmen after 14 seasons as the head football coach at Penn Yan Academy.

Over the past four seasons, Manley directed the development of two-time All-American Doug Blakowski '07. In his first season as a starter, he became just the third Statesman to rush for more than 1,300 yards in a season. His 1,364 yards on the ground rank third on the single season list, while his 5.8 yards per carry led the Liberty League.

In 2006, Blakowski ran for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns. Manley’s apprentice ranked in the top 25 in the nation in each of the past two seasons in scoring.

At Penn Yan Academy, Manley guided the Mustangs to 13 Section V tournament appearances, including back-to-back championship game appearances in 1994 and 1995. A physical education instructor in the Penn Yan School System since 1973, he has coached the Eddie Meath All-Star Football Game three times.

Accomplished and multifaceted, Manley has coached basketball, baseball, hockey, lacrosse, track, and softball.

Manley graduated from SUNY-Brockport with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He lives with his wife, Rita, and their four children in Keuka Park.

Defensive Line Coach Terry Muffley

Assistant Coach Terry Muffley Terry Muffley is entering his ninth season as Hobart’s defensive line coach. Over the past eight seasons, he has overseen the development of 14 all-conference linemen.

Last season, Muffley oversaw the strong pass rushing of end Andy Purdie ’07 (7.5 sacks, 4th in LL) and the emergence of tackle Ryan Aruck ’09. Aruck, a team captain this season, finished third on the squad in tackles, despite drawing frequent double teams.

In 2005, Muffley’s charges made life miserable for running backs, limiting opponent’s to a Liberty League low 111.9 rushing yards per game.

In addition to his responsibilities with the football team, Muffley also serves as a volunteer assistant coach for Hobart’s Division I lacrosse team.

A former scholastic coach, Muffley was a fixture on the Geneva High School sidelines for more than two decades, assisting the Panthers’ football team to two league titles and the lacrosse team to three Section V crowns.

Muffley earned a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University.

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps with service in Vietnam, Muffley lives in Geneva with his wife, Cindy. They have two grown children, Patrick and Bess.

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