Jan. 24, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University Director of Athletics Jim Fiore announced today that head football coach Chuck Priore has been given a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the Seawolf program through the 2012 season. Priore has an 11-11 record over his first two seasons at Stony Brook and will guide the team into its first season as an Associate member of the Big South Conference in 2008.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity I've been afforded to continue to lead the Stony Brook University football program and build upon my relationship with the staff in the athletics department and university," said Priore. "There's much work to be done in order to reach our goals and we are working tirelessly with our efforts to reach those goals as we get ready for play in the Big South Conference."

In 2007 Priore led Stony Brook to a 6-5 record against the toughest schedule in program history, one that included four games against nationally ranked opponents. Unaffiliated with a conference and playing as an independent, the Seawolves won all five of their home games, including a 30-23 double overtime thriller against the University of Maine that marked SBU's first victory over a full-scholarship Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) football squad.

In his first year at Stony Brook, Priore led the Seawolves to a 5-6 record, winning five of their final seven games to finish 5-2 in the Northeast Conference. Priore is guiding the program through a growth phase that will result in Stony Brook reaching the full-scholarship level for the Football Championship Subdivision, becoming a member of the Big South Conference in 2008, and competing against Bowl Championship Series (formerly 1-A) programs beginning in 2010.

"Coach Priore has been a tremendous leader of our football program and valued representative of our University since his arrival two years ago," remarked Fiore. "He's the right person to lead our program during the transition into the Big South Conference. This agreement underscores our appreciation to Coach Priore for the outstanding job he has already done, as well as, our sincere confidence that he is best positioned to lead the evolution, growth and success of Stony Brook University Football."

Priore, who has 25 years of coaching experience, came to Stony Brook from Trinity College (CT) where he led the Bantams to four consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) titles and a 30-game winning streak. Priore compiled an impressive 39-9 record in six seasons at Trinity and was named the NESCAC Coach of the Year three times as he guided Trinity to a No. 1 ranking in New England, four straight conference titles and three consecutive undefeated seasons. He was also named the America Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Region I Coach of the Year twice.

Prior to his position at Trinity College, Priore held assistant positions on the staffs at University of Pennsylvania, Union College and University at Albany.