Thiel College football team announces staff promotions, new hires for 2021 season

GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College head football coach Mike Winslow ’04 recently announced staff promotions and new hires in preparation for the 2021 season.

Andrew Geisler is also adding a new title. The Tomcats’ defensive backs coach since 2019, he will also be the team’s co-defensive coordinator this year. Geisler previously coached at Cornell University and California University (Pa.). Geisler played football at Saint Vincent College. He was a captain in 2015 and the team’s defensive player of the year in 2014.

Rob Trudo will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach this season. In his third year at Thiel, Trudo was the team’s defensive line coach in 2019. He brings a wealth of experience to the team’s offense. Trudo was the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Farrell High School from 2016–18, helping the Steelers win the PIAA Class 1A title in 2018. Trudo earned four letters as an offensive lineman at Syracuse University. He started 44 games with the Orange, who won two bowl games during his career. 

Jim Cessna, who returned to Winslow’s staff this spring, will coach Thiel’s defensive line while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. Cessna was an assistant coach at West Middlesex High School the last two years and helped the Big Reds twice reach the District 10 semifinals. 

Christian Pawola Jr., Austin Moore and Caleb Koval were added to Winslow’s staff.  

Pawola, who will coach the team's linebackers, served as a defensive student assistant at the University of Minnesota for two seasons under the guidance of defensive coordinator Joe Rossi. An Allegheny College alumnus, Rossi was Thiel's defensive coordinator from 2003-06.  

Moore will coach Thiel’s tight ends. Before arriving at Thiel, Moore was a front office and basketball operations intern with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and a guest relations staffer with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. 

Koval will coach Thiel’s wide receivers. Koval played quarterback at Widener University, where he also got his start in coaching as the team's offensive quality control and assistant quarterbacks coach during the 2019 season. 

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About Thiel College

Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.