From IUP Sports information
IUP head football coach Paul Tortorella officially announced the addition of Nick Dubowski to the coaching staff for the upcoming 2020 season.
A 2017 graduate of IUP, Dubowski will coach the linebackers for the Crimson Hawks.
“I am extremely excited to be coming back to my alma mater to continue coaching linebackers,” said Dubowski. “For me it was a no-brainer to join Coach Tortorella, the staff and the student-athletes we have at IUP. IUP is a great place to further your education while competing at a high level in athletics and I am thankful for the opportunity to come back here.”
Dubowski comes back to the Hawks after spending the 2019 season as the special teams intern at Cornell University. In his only season with the Big Red, he saw Nichkolas Null earn All-Ivy honors and lead the league in punting average. Dubowski also helped Cornell rank 20th nationally in kick return defense and finish third in the Ivy in net punting and punt return defense.
“Nick is a perfect fit to fill our opening on our defensive staff,” said Tortorella. “He has coached at Mercyhurst and Cornell since graduating from IUP and played linebacker in our system. He was a very smart player and a great teammate that was part of some great teams here at IUP.
“We are happy to bring back another ‘IUP guy’ to our program!”
A native of Erie, Dubowski started his coaching career at Mercyhurst University, working as a graduate assistant with the tight ends, fullbacks and tackles for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. During his time with the Lakers he coached an All-American fullback in Theophilus Blackston III and an all-league tight end in Bryce Mostoller. Dubowski also served as the video coordinator.
As a player at IUP, Dubowski played fullback during his freshman and sophomore seasons before moving to linebacker for his final two years. He made nine starts at fullback, catching five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown, and had 41 total tackles with two interceptions and three pass breakups on defense.
He graduated from IUP in 2017 with a bachelor’s in operations management and minor in economics.
Dubowski was a two-time all-state linebacker at Erie’s Cathredral Preparatory High School, helping his team win the state title in 2012 while grabbing a No. 17 national ranking by USA Today.
Change coming for Smith
With the addition of Dubowski as linebackers coach, defensive coordinator Jim Smith will head up the defensive backs. He replaces Smith replaces Jake Nulph, who left to become the head coach at Edinboro.
Smith enters his fourth year as the defensive play caller in 2020 and coached the linebackers for the last nine seasons.
No spring practice
With the cancellation of all spring sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IUP football program will not hold spring practice or play a spring game.
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