Randolph returns to coach feld hockey
In a year where so many stayed at home, Mercyhurst Field Hockey brought home an alumna to take over as head coach. Brittney Randolph ‘14 was named in September as the fourth head coach in Laker feld hockey history. Randolph played four seasons in Laker green and blue, appearing in 39 games. She spent the 2019 season as an assistant coach at Division III Smith College, where she helped guide a pair of All-NEWMAC players and a National Field Hockey Coaches Association Second Team All- Region selection. Randolph previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach with perennial Division II powerhouse Shippensburg, during which the Raiders won back-to-back National
Championships. She was part of the back- to-back NFHCA Coaching Staf of the Year recipients and tutored the 2018 NFHCA National Player of the Year. Three Raiders were named NFHCA All-Americans during her tenure. She has also served in the coaching ranks for USA Field Hockey. Most recently she was appointed head coach for the 2020 USA Futures New England Regional Tournament. She also served as head coach at the 2018 & 2019 USA Futures Regional Tournament in Pennsylvania. “I am thrilled to join the Mercyhurst University Field Hockey family in my new role as the head coach,” said Randolph. “Looking back on my experience as a student-athlete, my choice to continue my athletic and academic career at
Mercyhurst was one of my best decisions. Being aforded this opportunity to start my head coaching career at Mercyhurst is just as exciting and I am so grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to being able to provide a meaningful student-athlete experience for all members of the feld hockey program. Hurst truly is home, and I am beyond excited to be a part of the athletic department and campus community again!”
Former Laker QB Staley named NFL head coach
The journey to become a head coach in the National Football League is often a long and arduous one. But for former Laker Brandon Staley, the fnal leg of that journey was a short trip. Staley, named head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers in January, only had to move from one side of SoFi Stadium to the other. During the 2020 season, he served as defensive coordinator for the LA Rams, SoFi’s other home team. Brandon played only one season at Mercyhurst after transferring as a graduate student from the University of Dayton. The move allowed him to play alongside his twin brother – Jason Staley ‘05 – who’d been at Mercyhurst for four years. Head coach Marty Schaetzle quickly recognized that Brandon had everything it takes to succeed in the coaching profession. “The greatest thing he did in his year here was ft seamlessly with a group of fourth year seniors,” said Schaetzle. “They already had a rapport and he ft in immediately. He understood the big picture. That’s when I knew he could go far as a coach.”
After graduation, Brandon served as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois before spending a season as the defensive line coach at DIII powerhouse St. Thomas. After two seasons as defensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College, Staley spent a season each at Tennessee, John Carroll, and James Madison before returning to John Carroll for two seasons as a defensive coordinator. He broke into the NFL with the Chicago Bears as an outside linebackers coach. After two seasons with the Bears, he took the same position with the Broncos before joining the LA Rams for the last season. Brandon has never forgotten his Mercyhurst roots. He even spoke with the 2020 Laker squad last May to help the team understand the challenges of installing his defense with the Rams. “He not only spoke about installing a defense virtually,” Schaetzle said, “but also about the value of team and the positive relationships he built at Mercyhurst.”
One of those Mercyhurst relationships will continue. Former Laker play caller Joe Lombardi will be the Chargers’ ofensive coordinator, so the man who called plays for Brandon Staley, Mercyhurst quarterback, will now call plays for Brandon Staley, NFL head coach. Lombardi came to Mercyhurst with Coach Schaetzle from Bucknell after a short stint in the XFL. He joins the Chargers’ staf after serving as quarterbacks coach with the New Orleans Saints. “Brandon and Joe had a great player-coach relationship,” said Schaetzle. “Brandon brought a great maturity for Joe to coach.” If Mercyhurst fans need another reason to watch the NFL next season, two former Lakers leading the LA Chargers is a great excuse.
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