The Duquesne University football program has added three assistant coaches to its staff, Aamir Hall, Anton Juncaj and Gary Krol, head coach Jerry Schmitt announced Monday.
• Aamir Hall – Cornerbacks
Aamir Hall joins the Dukes as cornerbacks coach after spending the 2024 season at Albany as a defensive assistant under first-year Duquesne defensive coordinator Bill Nesselt. Hall previously played under both Nesselt and Duquesne associate head coach Greg Gattuso during a standout 2023 season at Albany.
Hall earned All-America honors from four publications, including first team by FCS Football Central and second team by the Associated Press. A first-team all-conference selection and FCS ADA Academic All-Star, he totaled 63 tackles, five interceptions and a forced fumble while helping lead Albany on its run to the FCS national semifinals.
He went on to play his final collegiate season at the University of Michigan in 2024, appearing in 12 games with six starts and recording 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Hall began his career at University of Richmond, where he was named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American during the spring 2021 season.
• Anton Juncaj – Defensive Line
Anton Juncaj (pronounced JUNE-kahj) joins the defensive staff after a decorated career that included All-America honors under both Gattuso and Nesselt at Albany. A native of Port Jervis, New York, Juncaj was a consensus first-team All-American in 2023, and finished fifth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting, presented annually to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Juncaj recorded 55 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and an FCS-leading 15 sacks in 2023, setting a single-season program record as Albany advanced to the national semifinals. He spent the 2024 season at the University of Arkansas, where he appeared in 11 games and totaled 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Over his collegiate career at Southern Connecticut State, Albany and Arkansas, Juncaj compiled 152 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks.
• Gary Krol – Senior Analyst, Offense
Gary Krol rejoins Schmitt's staff as Senior Analyst – Offense, returning to work alongside Schmitt for the first time in more than two decades after serving as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Westminster College in 2003-04.
Krol most recently served as offensive coordinator at the University of Rio Grande and brings extensive experience across the college and high school ranks. His most notable tenure came at West Liberty University (2005–13), where he helped build one of the most prolific offenses in NCAA Division II.
During his time with the Hilltoppers, West Liberty led the nation in both scoring and total offense in back-to-back seasons (2009-10), averaging more than 46 points and 540 yards per game. The 2009 team surpassed 7,000 yards of total offense and advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
Krol coached multiple All-Americans and record-setting performers, including quarterback Zach Amedro, who finished his career as Division II's all-time leader in passing yards (14,733) and completions (1,079). He also mentored tight end Ryan Travis, a two-time All-American who led the nation in receptions and receiving yards in 2010 before signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Renard Stevens, a two-time first-team All-WVIAC selection, signed with the New York Jets following his senior season in 2006.
A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Krol played football and baseball at the University of Dayton and began his coaching career with the Flyers in 1989. He later added stops at Western Connecticut State, Millersville, Wheeling, and several high school programs.
THE ASYLUM
Football: Schmitt adds three assistants
The Duquesne University football program has added three assistant coaches to its staff, Aamir Hall, Anton Juncaj and Gary Krol, head coach Jerry Schmitt announced Monday.
• Aamir Hall – Cornerbacks
Aamir Hall joins the Dukes as cornerbacks coach after spending the 2024 season at Albany as a defensive assistant under first-year Duquesne defensive coordinator Bill Nesselt. Hall previously played under both Nesselt and Duquesne associate head coach Greg Gattuso during a standout 2023 season at Albany.
Hall earned All-America honors from four publications, including first team by FCS Football Central and second team by the Associated Press. A first-team all-conference selection and FCS ADA Academic All-Star, he totaled 63 tackles, five interceptions and a forced fumble while helping lead Albany on its run to the FCS national semifinals.
He went on to play his final collegiate season at the University of Michigan in 2024, appearing in 12 games with six starts and recording 38 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Hall began his career at University of Richmond, where he was named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American during the spring 2021 season.
• Anton Juncaj – Defensive Line
Anton Juncaj (pronounced JUNE-kahj) joins the defensive staff after a decorated career that included All-America honors under both Gattuso and Nesselt at Albany. A native of Port Jervis, New York, Juncaj was a consensus first-team All-American in 2023, and finished fifth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting, presented annually to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Juncaj recorded 55 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and an FCS-leading 15 sacks in 2023, setting a single-season program record as Albany advanced to the national semifinals. He spent the 2024 season at the University of Arkansas, where he appeared in 11 games and totaled 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Over his collegiate career at Southern Connecticut State, Albany and Arkansas, Juncaj compiled 152 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks.
• Gary Krol – Senior Analyst, Offense
Gary Krol rejoins Schmitt's staff as Senior Analyst – Offense, returning to work alongside Schmitt for the first time in more than two decades after serving as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Westminster College in 2003-04.
Krol most recently served as offensive coordinator at the University of Rio Grande and brings extensive experience across the college and high school ranks. His most notable tenure came at West Liberty University (2005–13), where he helped build one of the most prolific offenses in NCAA Division II.
During his time with the Hilltoppers, West Liberty led the nation in both scoring and total offense in back-to-back seasons (2009-10), averaging more than 46 points and 540 yards per game. The 2009 team surpassed 7,000 yards of total offense and advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
Krol coached multiple All-Americans and record-setting performers, including quarterback Zach Amedro, who finished his career as Division II's all-time leader in passing yards (14,733) and completions (1,079). He also mentored tight end Ryan Travis, a two-time All-American who led the nation in receptions and receiving yards in 2010 before signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Renard Stevens, a two-time first-team All-WVIAC selection, signed with the New York Jets following his senior season in 2006.
A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Krol played football and baseball at the University of Dayton and began his coaching career with the Flyers in 1989. He later added stops at Western Connecticut State, Millersville, Wheeling, and several high school programs.
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