Published: 1/18/2017 11:30:49 PM
AMHERST — The UMass football team is searching for a new defensive coordinator.
Multiple sources inside the athletic department confirmed on the condition of anonymity that Tom Masella has been fired. The school is expected to make an announcement shortly.
UMass coach Mark Whipple was on the road recruiting and did not return a phone call. Masella was also unavailable. Athletic director Ryan Bamford declined comment.
Masella was in his second stint working for Whipple at UMass. The 57-year-old was the school’s defensive coordinator in 2002 and 2003 before Whipple left to coach in the NFL. After leaving Amherst the first time, Masella was the head coach at Central Connecticut (2004-05) and Fordham (2006-2011). He was the offensive coordinator at Wagner, his alma mater, in 2012-13 before returning to UMass when Whipple was hired in 2014.
UMass allowed an average of 35.5 points and 452.7 yards per game in 2016. It’s given up progressively more yards per game each of the past three seasons.
The Minutemen have gone 8-28 over the past three seasons with Whipple and Masella in charge.
It’s unclear whether other staff changes will be made or if a new defensive coordinator will be hired prior to Feb. 1, which is National Letter of Intent signing day.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage