Mike Discenza begins his fourth season on the Cortland football coach staff in 2019. He enters his third year as defensive coordinator and he also coaches outside linebackers.
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In 2018, the Red Dragons’ defense ranked in the top 35 nationally in Division III in interceptions (17), defensive touchdowns (3), turnovers gained (25) and team passing efficiency defense (103.8 opponent rating). Cortland ranked second in the Empire 8 in scoring defense (18.1 points per game) and third down conversion defense (32.5 percent) and third in total defense (345.4 yards per game), sacks (2.3 per game), defensive touchdowns and pass efficiency defense.
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Discenza previously coached defensive backs in other seasons and was the Red Dragons’ co-special teams coordinator in 2016. His special teams units combined to finish second nationally in Division III with nine blocked kicks that season.
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. Discenza also was an assistant football coach at Cortland High School during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Discenza and his wife, Lara - a former softball pitcher at Cortland - reside in Homer with their son, John.
