Coming off a share of a sixth straight Patriot League title – the first league title of his career – Dan Curran has made a few adjustments to his coaching staff for 2025.
The Crusaders announced a handful of promotions and one addition on Saturday. Bo Alexander is the new defensive line coach. Westin Elliott is now the running backs coach. Matt Schell is the new passing game coordinator on top of still being the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. Rich Gunnell is now the assistant head coach. The Crusaders have also announced Nicole Vuncanon as the assistant recruiting coordinator.
Alexander is the new face in the group, coming over from Wheeling University in Pennsylvania. Alexander was the D-line coach and director of operations out in Wheeling after a stint at Eastern Michigan University in 2023. Alexander also had a GA run with Pitt in 2021 and 2022. He played linebacker at Kent State and seems like he’s just a football guy.
“Coach Alexander is a rising star in the profession and has worked under some great coaches over the past five years,” Curran said in the official release put out by the program. “He also has a proven track record in player development and as a recruiter, and will be a great addition to our defensive line room.”
Elliott was on staff as an offensive quality control coach last year and will now be leading the running backs. Elliott played quarterback for Curran only four years ago and initially started coaching in 2023 at St. Thomas More in Connecticut as the OC.
“He did a great job in the offensive quality control role last year, and I have no doubt he will do a fantastic job with the running backs room,” said Curran.
Schell is adding even more to his plate in 2025. He and Curran have been together for a while now as Schell was the Merrimack wide receiver’s coach. Before that, Schell was part of a Pitt team that made a run to the 2021 ACC title game as an offensive quality control coach. Before a GA stint at Arkansas State in 2019 and 2020, Schell got started coaching at UMass (2016-2018) and even has some experience as a Patriots video assistant.
“His enhanced role in our game planning as an offense has been well-earned and I fully expect that role to continue to be enhanced over the next few years,” Curran said.
Gunnell has been a familiar face for quite a while now around New England college football whether it was his time at BC as a player or coach or his more recent stint with Holy Cross. If you know or have interacted with Gunnell, it feels like it’s only a matter of time until he’s a head coach at this or the FBS level, which makes the elevation to assistant head coach under Curran an easy one to understand. Gunnell is one of the best receivers in BC history and has over a decade of coaching experience now.
“Coach Gunnell is one of the most respected coaches in the department,” Curran said. “He is a natural leader and does an excellent job connecting with every player, coach and staff member that is part of the program.”
Vuncanon was the director of on-campus recruiting last year after serving as UNH’s social media and recruiting intern before graduating in May of 2024.
“We have been able to put together two highly decorated recruiting classes the past two years, and Nicole has played a huge role in that process,” Curran added. “She has an extremely bright future in the business and her promotion is well-deserved.”