St. Anselm adds staff

By rbrown
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Updated: July 3, 2018

MANCHESTER – The St. Anselm College football program announced Monday that Cody Cruzen, James Willette and John Scargle have joined the team’s coaching staff.

Cruzen will serve as the squad’s defensive backs coach, Willette will direct the team’s tight ends and Scargle will serve as the assistant special teams and assistant defensive backs coach.

Cruzen comes to the Hilltop from Muskingum University, where he served as the secondary coach and the special teams coordinator for the Muskies. Prior to his stint in New Concord, Ohio, Cruzen was a graduate assistant for Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

Willette joins the Hawks from Northeast-10 Conference-rival Franklin Pierce University where he served as an assistant for the Ravens sprint football team. A member of the first graduating class from the program, which began play in 2012, Willette was responsible for the team’s defensive line upon graduating from FPU in 2016.

Scargle heads to New Hampshire from Palm Harbor, Fla., where he served as the head coach for Palm Harbor University High School. In his first season as head coach of the Hurricanes after 15 seasons as a defensive coordinator at Clearwater Central Catholic HS, he posted a 4-5 overall record.

“We are excited to add these three men to our coaching staff,” St. Anselm coach Joe Adam. “Many individuals from across campus have aided us in filling our vacant coaching positions this summer. I feel strongly that Cody, James and John are perfect fits for what we are trying to do with this program. I look forward to working with them heading into the upcoming season and beyond.”

Cruzen spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons coaching the secondary at the University of Dayton. He helped the Flyers compile 18 wins in 23 games and earn an appearance in the FCS postseason. He coached two First Team All-Pioneer Football League selections in addition to the PFL Special Teams Player of the Year.

At Tiffin University during the 2013 season, Cruzen assisted a defensive unit that ranked second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He also coached the secondary at his alma mater, Ohio Northern University, for two seasons while having recruiting responsibilities in Southeast Ohio, Michigan, South Florida and Texas.

A 2011 graduate from Ohio Northern, Cruzen was a four-year student-athlete at safety and was a part of the nationally-ranked squad as a senior, ranking eighth in the national polls. He helped the team allow only 156.5 passing yards per game in 2010 en route to a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Cruzen earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education.

A four-year member of the program at Franklin Pierce, Willette did not miss a game in his career and finished off his tenure in Rindge with All-Collegiate Sprint Football League Second Team honors as a senior. In his final season with the team, Willette racked up 55 tackles, including 6.5 for a combined loss of 18 yards. Across a 26-game career, Willette posted 205 tackles and led the team in takedowns each season.

As an assistant for the Ravens sprint football program, Willette coordinated the team’s academic endeavors, including study hall and the completion of graduation requirements. In addition to recruiting the majority of New England, Willette was responsible for the program’s social media and video operations.

He received a master’s degree from Franklin Pierce this past May in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management. His undergraduate degree from Franklin Pierce, received in May 2016, was in Mathematics.

Scargle joined Palm Harbor University HS in January 2017 as the program’s head varsity football coach.

He had a lengthy career as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach at Clearwater Central Catholic High School. In the latter position, Scargle coordinated the defensive game plans and practice schedules while developing current National Football League and NCAA Division II college players.

After beginning his playing career at Fullerton College, Scargle played three seasons of football at the University of Central Florida as a defensive back. The native of Yorba Linda, Calif. led the team in punt returns in 1981, averaging 14.6 yards per return (sixth-most in team history) in his team’s 17-0 shutout of Hampden-Sydney in UCF’s homecoming game on Nov. 7 of that season.

He is a graduate of UCF with a degree in business administration and management.