Brian Capriola '15 rejoined the William Paterson football staff in July of 2024 as the Pioneers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Capriola, a 2015 William Paterson graduate and former assistant football coach for the Pioneers, rejoins the program after spending the last six seasons at the high school ranks in various coaching and teaching positions.
Capriola most recently served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Somerville High School from 2021-2023, where he helped lead the program to a 2023 Big Central title.
Prior to his stint at Somerville, Capriola spent one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Irvington High School. Under his guidance, the Blue Knights ranked inside the top 10 in the state in total yards, yards per game and rushing yards.
Before Irvington, Capriola was the director of football research and analytics at Saint Peter's Prep in Jersey City, N.J., from 2017-20. He began his tenure with the Marauders as the defensive backs and assistant wide receivers coach in 2017 before adding the responsibilities of a postseason consultant and gameday assistant. During the 2019 campaign, he helped coach the No. 1 ranked team in the state, that finished as the top-ranked pass defense in the Big North Conference, to an NJSIAA Non-Public Group IV State title.
Capriola additionally spent one season as the head football coach at Harrison High School in 2019. Under his tutelage, the Blue Tide's offense ranked inside the top 10 in the state in total yards and finished first in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC) in total yards and passing yards. The 2019 team set school records in total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, passing touchdowns and defensive interceptions. He mentored the Blue Tide quarterback, Mateo Desosa, to Group 2 All-State First Team honors.
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at Harrison, Capriola was the wide receivers and slot receivers coach at William Paterson during the 2018 campaign. Two wideouts ranked inside the top 20 in the NJAC in yards per catch with seven receivers reaching double-digit receptions.
Capriola arrived at William Paterson for the first time as a coach after he served as the defensive backs and assistant wide receivers coach at Saint Peter's Prep for the 2017 season. Under his watch, the Marauders' pass defense ranked first in the highly competitive Big North Conference. In addition, Capriola oversaw film breakdown for one of the nation's premier high school football programs.
Before Saint Peter's Prep, Capriola spent the 2016 season as the spread offense coordinator, and quarterbacks and linebackers coach at Bayonne High School. He helped the Bees reach the NJSIAA State Playoffs for the first time in three years.
From 2013-14, Capriola was the assistant defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Mountain Lakes High School. Under his guidance, the Lakers compiled a perfect 24-0 record and back-to-back NJSIAA state championships, while the 2013 squad was voted "Team of the Year" by the Daily Record.
Capriola completed his bachelor's degree in communication at William Paterson in 2015.