Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Cole Cloonan
Bucknell Football Announces Staffing Additions, Changes
6/8/2022 4:35:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Head coach Dave Cecchini announced the additions of Marco Butler and Greg Parker to the Bucknell football team's coaching staff.
In addition, Colin Schaeffer has been promoted to special teams coordinator. Schaeffer, who will continue to serve as defensive line coach, is entering his second season on the Bison staff.
"Colin has done an excellent job from the moment he joined our staff," Cecchini said. "I am excited to see the direction he takes our special teams this upcoming season."
The Bison are entering their fourth season under Cecchini's watch. During the 2021 spring campaign, he was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for leading them to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game. Bucknell placed 11 on that season's All-Patriot League Team, headlined by a school-record seven First Team selections. The Bison return All-Patriot League performers Gavin Pringle and Eric Holsinger, as well as Brent Jackson, their 2021 Team MVP. They also bring back all but four of their starters from a season ago.
Bucknell will host five games, all on Saturdays, during its 137th season of competition. The Bison's home opener will be against Towson (Sept. 3). They will also host Lafayette on Homecoming (Oct. 1), Colgate (Oct. 29), Fordham (Nov. 5), and Marist (Nov. 19). Season tickets are currently on sale. For more information, visit this link.
Marco Butler
Defensive Backs Coach
Butler, who has over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, will serve as the Bucknell football team's defensive backs coach.
"Marco has been a successful college football coach for a long time," Cecchini said. "He knows the game, and his wealth of experience will help our defensive backs tremendously."
Butler joins the Bison staff from Catawba College, where he was the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2020 to 2021. It was his second stint with the Indians, who he helped finish third in the NCAA Division II ranks in passing touchdowns allowed (6) as a cornerbacks coach in 2017.
Butler spent the 2018 and 2019 campaigns at Gardner-Webb University, where he mentored first the outside linebackers and then the cornerbacks while also serving as a specialist coach.
From 2005 to 2013, Butler was on the staff at Norfolk State University as a defensive backs coach; he took on special teams coordinator duties ahead of the 2009 campaign. In 2011, the Spartans won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and earned the program's first FCS playoff berth with a defense that ranked second nationally in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Butler's 2013 secondary was slotted seventh in pass defense; overall, that season's Norfolk State defense ranked second with 19 interceptions and third with 33 total takeaways.Â
In 2016, Butler was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Independence High School. He was the defensive backs coach and interim defensive coordinator at Hampton University in 2014.
Butler broke into the coaching ranks at Fayetteville State University, where he was the linebackers coach from 2001 to 2002 and the safeties and rovers coach from 2003 to 2005. The Broncos won back-to-back conference titles in 2002 and 2003.
Butler has served NFL Coaching Fellowships with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. He also attended the 2011 NCAA-NFL Coaching Academy.
Butler has mentored five players who have reached the NFL, including Don Carey, a 2009 NFL pick of the Cleveland Browns.Â
Butler graduated from Western Carolina University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in sports management with a minor in marketing. He played both wide receiver and defensive back for the Catamount football team.
Butler and his wife, Shauna, have two children: Eva and Marco.
Greg Parker
Outside Linebackers Coach
Parker, who entered the collegiate football profession following a decorated military career, will serve as the Bucknell football team's outside linebackers coach.
"Coach Parker brings numerous intangibles to coaching football that only someone who has served their country in combat can," Cecchini said. "It is an honor to have him join our staff."
Parker enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on February 5, 1992. Following his graduation, he was assigned to be a radio operator. He deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. He served primarily in communications systems planning & operations, going on to direct what was the the largest communications infrastructure in the history of the United States Marine Corps at the time. Over his 20-year career, he also served as a drill instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina and at UC Berkeley. He ultimately retired as a Master Sergeant.
Parker's awards include a Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a Korean Defense Service Medal. Â
Parker broke into collegiate coaching at San Jacinto College, where he served as a linebackers and special teams coach from 2014 to 2016. Eight of his linebackers went on to compete in the NCAA, with two reaching the FBS level, two competing in the FCS ranks and four playing at the Division II level. He returned to San Jacinto College as a defensive line coach for the 2018 campaign.
In 2017, Parker worked in defensive quality control at Arkansas State University. He was the defensive line coach at Black Hills State University in 2019 and spent the 2021 campaign as a special teams and linebackers coach at Southern Arkansas University.
Parker earned a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in global business management from the University of Phoenix.
In addition, Colin Schaeffer has been promoted to special teams coordinator. Schaeffer, who will continue to serve as defensive line coach, is entering his second season on the Bison staff.
"Colin has done an excellent job from the moment he joined our staff," Cecchini said. "I am excited to see the direction he takes our special teams this upcoming season."
The Bison are entering their fourth season under Cecchini's watch. During the 2021 spring campaign, he was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for leading them to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game. Bucknell placed 11 on that season's All-Patriot League Team, headlined by a school-record seven First Team selections. The Bison return All-Patriot League performers Gavin Pringle and Eric Holsinger, as well as Brent Jackson, their 2021 Team MVP. They also bring back all but four of their starters from a season ago.
Bucknell will host five games, all on Saturdays, during its 137th season of competition. The Bison's home opener will be against Towson (Sept. 3). They will also host Lafayette on Homecoming (Oct. 1), Colgate (Oct. 29), Fordham (Nov. 5), and Marist (Nov. 19). Season tickets are currently on sale. For more information, visit this link.
Marco Butler
Defensive Backs Coach
Butler, who has over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, will serve as the Bucknell football team's defensive backs coach.
"Marco has been a successful college football coach for a long time," Cecchini said. "He knows the game, and his wealth of experience will help our defensive backs tremendously."
Butler joins the Bison staff from Catawba College, where he was the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach from 2020 to 2021. It was his second stint with the Indians, who he helped finish third in the NCAA Division II ranks in passing touchdowns allowed (6) as a cornerbacks coach in 2017.
Butler spent the 2018 and 2019 campaigns at Gardner-Webb University, where he mentored first the outside linebackers and then the cornerbacks while also serving as a specialist coach.
From 2005 to 2013, Butler was on the staff at Norfolk State University as a defensive backs coach; he took on special teams coordinator duties ahead of the 2009 campaign. In 2011, the Spartans won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and earned the program's first FCS playoff berth with a defense that ranked second nationally in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Butler's 2013 secondary was slotted seventh in pass defense; overall, that season's Norfolk State defense ranked second with 19 interceptions and third with 33 total takeaways.Â
In 2016, Butler was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Independence High School. He was the defensive backs coach and interim defensive coordinator at Hampton University in 2014.
Butler broke into the coaching ranks at Fayetteville State University, where he was the linebackers coach from 2001 to 2002 and the safeties and rovers coach from 2003 to 2005. The Broncos won back-to-back conference titles in 2002 and 2003.
Butler has served NFL Coaching Fellowships with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. He also attended the 2011 NCAA-NFL Coaching Academy.
Butler has mentored five players who have reached the NFL, including Don Carey, a 2009 NFL pick of the Cleveland Browns.Â
Butler graduated from Western Carolina University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in sports management with a minor in marketing. He played both wide receiver and defensive back for the Catamount football team.
Butler and his wife, Shauna, have two children: Eva and Marco.
Greg Parker
Outside Linebackers Coach
Parker, who entered the collegiate football profession following a decorated military career, will serve as the Bucknell football team's outside linebackers coach.
"Coach Parker brings numerous intangibles to coaching football that only someone who has served their country in combat can," Cecchini said. "It is an honor to have him join our staff."
Parker enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on February 5, 1992. Following his graduation, he was assigned to be a radio operator. He deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. He served primarily in communications systems planning & operations, going on to direct what was the the largest communications infrastructure in the history of the United States Marine Corps at the time. Over his 20-year career, he also served as a drill instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina and at UC Berkeley. He ultimately retired as a Master Sergeant.
Parker's awards include a Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a Korean Defense Service Medal. Â
Parker broke into collegiate coaching at San Jacinto College, where he served as a linebackers and special teams coach from 2014 to 2016. Eight of his linebackers went on to compete in the NCAA, with two reaching the FBS level, two competing in the FCS ranks and four playing at the Division II level. He returned to San Jacinto College as a defensive line coach for the 2018 campaign.
In 2017, Parker worked in defensive quality control at Arkansas State University. He was the defensive line coach at Black Hills State University in 2019 and spent the 2021 campaign as a special teams and linebackers coach at Southern Arkansas University.
Parker earned a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in global business management from the University of Phoenix.
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