Marcus Gurdineer was promoted to offensive line coach/recruiting coordinator in the Summer of 2013. Gurdineer joined the Utica College football coaching staff in the Summer of 2010 as a graduate assistant and has coached the defensive line, while taking on duties as an assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for the student-athletes. During his coaching tenure at UC he has also spent time as the program's academic coordinator.
Head Coach Blaise Faggiano spoke about the promotion of Marcus Gudineer, "It's with great pride that I talk to you about Marcus Gurdineer. One of the greatest pleasures in coaching is when someone that you have coached decides to get into the profession. Marcus really bleeds blue and orange and he has done a great job for us, not only as a captain and a player, but also as a coach over the course of the last three years."
Gurdineer was a three year starter at left guard on the offensive line at UC. He played all four years and was a two-time recipient of the Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. He was named a captain in his senior season and anchored an offensive line that helped the Pioneer offensive unit break several single-season school records. He graduated from Utica College in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in English.
Gurdineer will help lead the Pioneers' offensive unit that broke 19 different team-records in 2012 including: pass attempts (414), pass completions (274), passing yards (3,404), passing touchdowns (33), pass completion % (66.2), total offensive yards (4,650), touchdowns responsible for (79), total offense per game (465.0), total offense per play (6.30), all purpose yards (5,600), all purpose yards per game (560.0), pass reception yards (3,404), pass receptions (274), pass reception touchdowns (33), receptions per game (27.40), pass efficiency (156.2), average yards per pass (8.2), and average yards per game (340.4).
Gurdineer is excited to be back on the offensive side of the ball again after spending his first three years with the Pioneers' defensive line.
"Being an alum and a former offensive lineman, I'm really looking forward to getting back on that side of the ball and working with the offensive line. I always look at the offensive line as being half of the offense and that's a big responsibility."
After tying the school-record with a 6-4 season in 2012, the common theme among the coaching staff seems to be that the Pioneers are prepared to make the next step.
"It's exciting to be around a great staff and a great group of student-athletes. Having been around the program for eight years I've had the fortune of watching it really grow," said Gurdineer. "Seeing the progress of the program makes me really proud and moving forward I'm hoping to help us make the next step."
Gurdineer attended Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, N.Y. where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams.
Originally from Westtown, N.Y., Marcus currently resides in New Hartford.
