Dermot McDonough

Stony Brook University Athletics

Stony Brook Seawolves

Title

Defensive Quality Control - Linebackers
Email

dermot.mcdonough@stonybrook.edu

Dermot McDonough, a four-year member of the Richmond Spiders football team from 2019–2022, joined Coach Cosh’s staff as a defensive graduate assistant ahead of the 2024 season after spending the 2023 season as a defensive graduate assistant on Russ Huesman’s staff, where he primarily worked with the linebackers. During his playing career at Richmond, he appeared in 14 games, recording five tackles and seeing action in all 12 games during the 2022 season.

In his first season as a graduate assistant at Stony Brook in 2024, McDonough helped lead one of the biggest turnarounds in the FCS as the Seawolves improved from 0–10 in 2023 to 8–4 in 2024. The season marked the program’s first winning record since 2018 and its highest national ranking in six years. The defense made major strides, lowering opponents’ scoring from 39.2 points per game to 24.0, while total yards allowed dropped from 470.7 to 373.5 per game. The unit also produced its most turnovers since 2014 and allowed its fewest points per game since 2021. McDonough helped develop cornerback Rudy Silvera into an All-CAA Second Team selection, linebacker AJ Roberts into an All-CAA Third Team selection, and Anthony Ferrelli into a Phil Steele All-CAA honoree.

Ahead of the 2025 season, McDonough was named Defensive Quality Coach for the linebackers, and the Seawolves continued their upward trajectory, finishing 6–6 overall with a 5–1 mark at LaValle Stadium to secure their second consecutive .500-or-better season for the first time since the 2017–18 campaign. Several defensive players earned postseason recognition, highlighted by First Team All-CAA selection Dyshier Clary, Second Team All-CAA honoree Anthony Ferrelli, and All-CAA honorable mention selection Miles McGoy.