Duquesne University head football coach Jerry Schmitt has announced the hiring of Bill Nesselt as the Dukes' next defensive coordinator.
Nesselt, who will also coach the safeties, arrives on the Bluff after nine seasons at Albany. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Great Danes in 2023 under then-head coach Greg Gattuso, who returned to Duquesne this spring as associate head coach – defense.
"Bill brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of building successful defensive units," said Schmitt. "His familiarity working with Greg and what they accomplished together at Albany made him a natural fit for our staff. We're excited to welcome him to Duquesne."
A 2023 finalist for FootballScoop's FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year award, Nesselt helped guide Albany to one of the top defensive units in the FCS that season. The Great Danes captured the Colonial Athletic Association title for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA FCS semifinals.
Nesselt coached CAA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American Dylan Kelly and guided two defenders to top-five finishes in the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award voting, which honors the nation's top FCS defensive player. Over his three seasons, 12 Great Danes earned All-CAA defensive honors under his direction.
Prior to his appointment as defensive coordinator, Nesselt served as Albany's special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2022. From 2018 to 2021, he coached the defensive line while also serving as the program's director of football operations (2017–18) and chief of staff (2021). In 2025, he added the title of associate head coach.
Nesselt joined the Great Danes as a defensive assistant in 2017 after one season as outside linebackers coach at Holy Cross. He previously served as a defensive quality control coach at the Maryland in 2015.
Earlier in his career, Nesselt worked at Ferrum (Va.) College during the 2014 season as linebackers coach, strength and conditioning coach and interim defensive coordinator. He also spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
A 2013 graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in sociology, Nesselt played defensive line for the Minutemen in 2009 and 2010 before suffering a career-ending injury. He later served as a volunteer assistant coach with the team during his junior and senior years.
THE ASYLUM
Nesselt named defensive coordinator
Duquesne University head football coach Jerry Schmitt has announced the hiring of Bill Nesselt as the Dukes' next defensive coordinator.
Nesselt, who will also coach the safeties, arrives on the Bluff after nine seasons at Albany. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Great Danes in 2023 under then-head coach Greg Gattuso, who returned to Duquesne this spring as associate head coach – defense.
"Bill brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of building successful defensive units," said Schmitt. "His familiarity working with Greg and what they accomplished together at Albany made him a natural fit for our staff. We're excited to welcome him to Duquesne."
A 2023 finalist for FootballScoop's FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year award, Nesselt helped guide Albany to one of the top defensive units in the FCS that season. The Great Danes captured the Colonial Athletic Association title for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA FCS semifinals.
Nesselt coached CAA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American Dylan Kelly and guided two defenders to top-five finishes in the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award voting, which honors the nation's top FCS defensive player. Over his three seasons, 12 Great Danes earned All-CAA defensive honors under his direction.
Prior to his appointment as defensive coordinator, Nesselt served as Albany's special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2022. From 2018 to 2021, he coached the defensive line while also serving as the program's director of football operations (2017–18) and chief of staff (2021). In 2025, he added the title of associate head coach.
Nesselt joined the Great Danes as a defensive assistant in 2017 after one season as outside linebackers coach at Holy Cross. He previously served as a defensive quality control coach at the Maryland in 2015.
Earlier in his career, Nesselt worked at Ferrum (Va.) College during the 2014 season as linebackers coach, strength and conditioning coach and interim defensive coordinator. He also spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
A 2013 graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in sociology, Nesselt played defensive line for the Minutemen in 2009 and 2010 before suffering a career-ending injury. He later served as a volunteer assistant coach with the team during his junior and senior years.
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