Image courtesy of UMass Athletics

By Andrew Guindon
NEFJ Staff

AMHERST – Recently hired University of Massachusetts Amherst football head coach Joe Harasymiak was officially introduced at a news conference Friday morning.

One aspect of the football program was continuously visited throughout the press conference: the beginning of a new era for football in Amherst.

UMass Athletics Director Ryan Bamford was adamant that the athletic department is “very serious” about taking a step forward when it comes to the investment in the football program.

Bamford mentioned a five-year strategic plan that will be shared with stakeholders when the transfer portal opens next week.

“We set out a number of strategic investments,” said Bamford in his opening speech. “What you’ll see is that we’re ready to meet the moment of going into the Mid-American Conference. We’re ready to meet the moment of creating additional benefits for our student-athletes. We’re ready to meet the moment to give Joe Harasymiak the resources to win.”

Additionally, when mentioning ownership as an expectation that Harasymiak addressed to the team on Wednesday, Bamford took note of the football program’s recent struggles, owning up to the current product.

“There’s nobody that owns where we’ve been more than me. I own where we’ve been, and I also own where we’re going and how we’re going to set this program up for success. Our lack of success doesn’t mean that I don’t believe. Because I do. I believe in what we can be.”

Harasymiak supported Bamford’s statement, arguing that organizations that see success work together and never work alone, trusting everyone in the athletic department and football program to believe in each other.

“You need people to have your back,” said Harasymiak in his opening statement. “We promise to fight together. From the top, all of the way from Chancellor Reyes, and all of the way down to me. That’s what we’re going to do here.”

Shifting focus toward the current state of the football roster, when asked about the uniqueness of recruiting in the Northeast, Harasymiak noted that you have to get everyone on the same page. From the athletic department to the roster as a whole.

“I think it starts where you are,” said Harasymiak. “The first part about recruiting is you have to get people that believe what you believe in. I think that gets lost in the current wave of college football. We’re going to make sure that the people that are here believe in what we believe in… We’re going to make sure that we do everything we can to get the best players from this area.”

The UMass athletic department has increased investment in the football program for the coming years, as they enter the Mid-American Conference.

Coach Harasymiak reflected on the importance of joining the conference and how it impacts the football program going forward.

“It’s gigantic,” said Harasymiak. “The work the [athletic department] has done to put ourselves now in a position to have a vision to win a league championship, to win a conference championship—that’s where it starts. You have to be a champion in your own conference, and then you move forward… We’re proud to be in the MAC.”

Per reports, UMass will have about $2 million in NIL/revenue share in 2025 and $3 million in 2026. An increase from years past. Additionally, Harasymiak will have a staff pool of more than $2.7 million, the largest in the MAC.

The UMass athletic department announced the 5-year signing of the former Rutgers defensive coordinator Wednesday morning. UMass Chancellor Javier A. Reyes spoke highly of Harasymiak in a statement following the hire.

“For many reasons that became apparent in the search process, Coach Harasymiak is the ideal candidate to lead the football program at our flagship campus,” said Reyes. “Joe’s leadership qualities, vision for program-building in this new NCAA environment and his authentic care for the growth of his players, on and off the field, became evident in our search.”

Harasymiak has seen considerable success in his young coaching career, most notably being named the 2018 FCS Coach of the Year, leading the Maine Black Bears to a 10-4 record and its first FCS national semifinal game in program history.

Following his head coaching tenure (2016-2018) at Maine, Harasymiak served as a defensive assistant at the University of Minnesota (2018-2021). In 2021, as a co-defensive coordinator, Minnesota had one of the best defenses in the country, ranking third in the FBS in total defense. The Golden Gophers finished the season 9-4 with a victory in the Rate Bowl over West Virginia.

Harasymiak will certainly help alleviate some of UMass’ recent defensive struggles. In 2024, the Minutemen allowed the 10th most points per game in the nation, with opposing offenses averaging 35.5 points per game. In 2023, they led the nation in that stat, allowing 37.8 points per game.

Serving as the Rutgers defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024, Harasymiak helped lead the program to a bowl game in 2023 and is poised to play in another this season. In 2022 and 2023, Harasymiak was also a finalist for the Broyles Award, an annual award given to the best assistant coach in college football.

Harasymiak will look to carry over his coaching success to a program that has largely struggled since its move to the FBS in 2012, posting a 26-122 record since the transition. Increased investment in UMass’ football program as they join the MAC is a step in the right direction.

“It’s a scary thought what we can do,” said Coach Harasymiak. “I’m very excited to be a part of this process.”