BANGOR, Maine — Husson University football head coach Gabby Price has announced five coaching staff changes effective immediately for the Eagles.
Grant Caserta has been hired as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. Ed Mestieri has been named linebackers coach. Don Farnham has been tabbed as the rovers coach for the Eagles 4-2-5 defensive scheme. Taylor Ewen will coach the defensive line, and P.J. Dowe has been tasked to coach inside receivers.
Caserta joins the Eagles after spending the 2014 season as a linebackers coach at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. He spent the 2013 season at his alma mater and NCAA Division II member Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) as a graduate assistant linebackers coach and video coordinator. Caserta was a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain as a linebacker for the Cardinals from 2007 to 2010. He was voted all-conference for three seasons from 2008 to 2010.
Mestieri enters his 40th season of coaching at the collegiate level and most recently served as director of football operations and defensive assistant for two seasons from 2012 to 2013 at Maine, helping lead the Black Bears to the CAA Championship in 2013 and a berth in the FCS playoffs.
Mestieri was the head coach at Colby College in Waterville from 2004 to 2011 and totaled 23 years from 1989 to 2011 with the Mules in earlier roles as the offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.
Mestieri also previously coached at Norwich (Vt.), Dartmouth and Kent State.
Mestieri was a four-year letterwinner at Springfield (Mass.) from 1972 to 1975.
Farnham joins the staff after spending 13 years (1993-97/2006-13) as the head football coach at Brewer High School. He spent two seasons as a student assistant at Maine from 1985 to 1986 and was an assistant coach for four seasons at Dartmouth from 1987 to 1990, helping the Big Green win two Ivy League championships.
Ewen comes to Husson from NCAA Division II Lindenwood (Mo.) where he was a graduate assistant offensive line coach in 2014. He was a student assistant at his alma mater, Anna Maria (Mass.), in 2013. Ewen was a three-year letterwinner at offensive guard for Anna Maria from 2010 to 2012.
Dowe was a four-year letterwinner at tight end for the Eagles from 2006 to 2009, playing in 34 career games and totaling 29 receptions for 334 yards and seven touchdowns.
Dowe was also a member of the Husson baseball team in 2007.
Husson kicks off the year by hosting Alfred (N.Y.) on Saturday, Sept. 5.