Mike Discenza joins the Cortland football staff in 2016 as the program’s cornerbacks coach, and he shares the role of special teams coordinator with Greg Frantz. Discenza is no stranger to Red Dragon Athletics – he served as an assistant director of athletics from 2010-12 and the women’s golf head coach from 2007-12, and is currently the Red Dragons’ equipment room supervisor.
A native of Cortland, Discenza graduated from Ithaca College in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He earned a master’s degree in secondary education at Widener University (Pa.) in 2007. Discenza was a defensive back at Siena College in 2000 before transferring to Ithaca, where he also played defensive back. His Ithaca squad in 2001 finished 11-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.
Discenza served as an assistant football coach at Ithaca during both the 2004 and 2006 seasons and worked with defensive backs, including an All-American, at Widener in the fall of 2005. The 2004 Ithaca and 2005 Widener teams each won ECAC bowl games.
Discenza and his wife, Lara - a former softball pitcher at Cortland - reside in Homer with their son, John.
