Article Originally Published on JCUsports.com
Following a national search and comprehensive interview process, the 20th head coach in John Carroll Football history has been selected.
Jeff Behrman ‘95 (pronounced BEAR-man) is the next leader of the JCU Football program.
A former Blue Streak quarterback, Behrman returns to University Heights after 27 seasons in the collegiate ranks, including the past seven years as the head coach at Union College (NY).
This is a dream come true, my family and I are ecstatic. I’m thrilled to come back home to lead a program near and dear to my heart, at a University that aligns with my mission to form Men for Others. I’d like to thank the search committee, Michelle Morgan, and Al Miciak for their dedication to this process.
Behrman has established a strong reputation as an excellent program builder during his lengthy collegiate coaching career. At Union, Behrman turned an 0-10 team into a 10-0 team in the span of four seasons, guiding the Dutchmen to the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament. Behrman tallied a 42-20 (.677) record during his six seasons.
During his tenure at Union, Behrman proved himself as an excellent recruiter, winning the 2019 AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year award and the 2019 Liberty League Coach of the Year award. The Dutchmen won a school-record 21 straight regular season games from 2018-21. Additionally, he serves as a board member for the Capital District Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
“Jeff is a proven winner and Man of Carroll,” said Senior Director of Athletics Michelle Morgan. “Jeff is an elite communicator with high football acumen, as well as a humble and transformative leader. His track record at Union is impressive, as he knows how to lead a successful Division III program.
“We have a great foundation in place, and would like to thank Drew Nystrom for serving as interim coach during a time of transition. I’m excited for the bright future of John Carroll Football.”
Behrman is thrilled to return home to John Carroll and recruit the talent-rich state of Ohio and bring some of the nation’s best talent to University Heights.
Jeff Behrman '95 During his Playing Days at JCU
“I am excited to engage with high school coaches and programs from across the state of Ohio and beyond,” said Behrman. “We have tremendous talent and a great foundation in place. We’ll look to find men of character who fit our culture. We’ll be diving right into recruiting to find student-athletes who work hard and want to be successful in the classroom and on the field.”
Behrman brings a wealth of experience to the role. Before getting the head job at Union, the seasoned veteran spent 10 seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Stony Brook University from 2006-15. The Seawolves won four Big South titles and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2011 and 2012. Behrman helped to mentor tight end Will Tye, who became the first Stony Brook alum to play in an NFL game. All the while, Behrman learned under the tutelage of longtime head coach Chuck Priore.
Sandwiched in between a pair of 2-season stints at Trinity College (the latter as the offensive coordinator), Behrman worked as the wide receivers coach at Hofstra for two seasons. During his second stint at Trinity, the Bantams went undefeated in back-to-back seasons. He enjoyed his first stint as an offensive coordinator at Blackburn College for the 1999 season.
His coaching career started at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he was the graduate assistant during the 1996 season. Behrman then headed to Glenville State for the 1997 and 1998 seasons, where he worked as a wide receivers and tight ends coach.
Over the span of his career, Behrman has coached 10 players who have gone on to play in the NFL or CFL (including Marques Colston), along with 12 All-Americans, 130 All-Conference selections, and 7 Players of the Year. He’s won 9 championships during his coaching career.
Behrman’s roots at John Carroll date back to his days as a backup quarterback for the Blue Streaks. Following a prolific basketball and football career at Stow High School, Behrman competed as a freshman for the starting quarterback job in 1991. Behrman appeared in 4 games, throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to Craig Frabotta on his first collegiate throw. Behrman also started in a 17-7 win over Ohio Northern. Future Hall of Famer P.J. Insana won the starting role, but Behrman threw for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns in 1992. After taking the 1993 season off, Behrman threw for 211 yards and 3 TDs in 1994.
Behrman battled adversity as a redshirt senior in 1995. He was elected captain before the season, and started the opener vs. Ohio Wesleyan. However, he suffered a broken ankle during the 28-13 win. But Behrman spent eight weeks in rehab with eight screws and a metal plate in his ankle, and managed to return. He played for a series in a 33-7 win in Week 9, and started the opening series of the season finale vs. Baldwin Wallace before giving way to the starter, Nick Caserio. Behrman’s comeback earned him recognition as a 1995 NSCA All-American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year.
Behrman won a number of accolades, including the team’s Leadership Award and Loyalty Award following the 1995 campaign. Behrman notched Academic All-OAC honors and won the Jerry D. Keller Award for Outstanding Community Service while playing for the legendary, late Tony DeCarlo ‘66G and Joe Perella.
Behrman is excited to give back to student-athletes after enjoying a special experience at JCU. “I owe a lot of gratitude to my JCU coaches, teammates, and professors for making an impact on my life,” said Behrman. “I know first-hand how life-changing John Carroll can be for students. I don’t remember the plays or the schemes from my playing days, but I remember Coach Perella’s attention to detail and how he impacted me. Coach DeCarlo was such a strong person in my life, too. His ability to impact lives was special, and his priorities and values were always right. Over my 27 years in college coaching, I’ve often reflected on what I learned from them. I hope to emulate them here at John Carroll.”
Behrman has lofty goals for John Carroll Football. But his first focus is building upon the culture in place.
First and foremost, we want to mold Men of Carroll, men of integrity and character who serve others. We want to win, but winning is a byproduct of your preparation and consistency. We will compete day in and day out, so we can create an environment where student-athletes are engaged, inspired, and empowered to be the best version of themselves. Actions speak louder than words: Well Done is better than Well Said.
