Villarreal

LORETTO — Saint Francis University athletic director Jim Brazill announced on Tuesday that head football coach Chris Villarreal has signed a contract extension to lead the program through its transition from NCAA Division I to Division III.

Villarrial is the program’s winningest head coach with 68 wins and has led Saint Francis to a pair of Northeast Conference titles, in 2016 and 2022. He also guided the Red Flash to a landmark victory over Kent State in 2023 — the program’s first-ever win against a Football Bowl Subdivision team.

“With his unmatched experience and deep understanding of the game, Coach Villarrial’s vision will be instrumental as we build a strong foundation for future success,” Brazill said. “To secure his continued leadership for our program was a priority for us.”

The 2022 team went 9-3 overall, the second most wins in program history, only to the 1912 team that finished 10-3. The Red Flash also finished 7-0 in NEC play to become the ninth team in NEC history to register an undefeated season in league play.

“I am honored to continue leading the Red Flash football program” Villarrial said. “My commitment remains to developing well-rounded student-athletes who achieve excellence both in the classroom and on the field, and I’m excited to build on the tradition of success that we’ve established. I’m confident in our direction and look forward to seeing the Red Flash football program continue its forward momentum.”

Villarrial has had a player named an All-American 27 times (eight first, eight-second, and 11 third teams) and had a player placed on a National Watch List Finalist 42 times. In the NEC, he had a player earn a significant award 15 times (four Offensive Players of the Year, one Defensive Player of the Year, five Offensive Rookies of the Year, and five Defensive Players of the Year) along with 104 All-NEC selections (60 first team, 44-second team).

He was named an Eddie Robinson Finalist in 2022, an annual award recognizing the top head coach in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. He earned NEC Coach of the Year honors in 2015, 2016 and 2022.

Two former Red Flash players have played a game in the NFL with another signed as an undrafted free agent and seven players earning an NFL training camp invite. Three players have also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Villarrial enjoyed an 11-year career in the NFL as an offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears (1996-03) and Buffalo Bills (2004-06). He was named an All-Pro twice in his career.

Villarriarl, a three-year All-American and three-year all-conference player at IUP, played in the 1993 Division II national championship game and received the Jim Langer Award for Best Lineman in Division II in 1996. Villarrial had his college jersey No. 75 retired.