Football
Bottiglieri, Joe
Joe Bottiglieri
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach
- Email:
- jab413@lehigh.edu
- Phone:
- 610-758-6071
- Alma Mater:
- Fifth season
Recruiting Areas: Northeast Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio, Michigan
Joe Bottiglieri enters his fifth season in his second stint on the Mountain Hawks’ coaching staff. A coaching veteran with more than 40 years of experience, Bottiglieri returned to Lehigh in April 2013 to coach Lehigh’s inside linebackers. He spent three seasons as Lehigh’s defensive coordinator, a position he also held at Lehigh in 1998 and 1999, and now holds the title of Senior Advisor to the Defensive Staff.
In his previous stint at Lehigh, Bottiglieri worked alongside Coen, who was the Mountain Hawks’ offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the time.
As coordinator, Bottiglieri led Lehigh’s defensive resurgence in 2016 as an improved defensive unit played a key role in the Mountain Hawks’ Patriot League championship campaign. Lehigh allowed just 23.5 points per game during the 11-game regular season and shut out opponents in the second half of three victories. The Mountain Hawks allowed just 418 yards of offense per game, highlighted by limiting Georgetown to just 177 in a 35-3 victory. Lehigh increased its big play productivity with 27 sacks, 17 interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
An experienced trio of senior linebackers helped lead Lehigh’s defensive improvement. The Mountain Hawks’ three starting linebackers were also the teams’ top three tacklers with Evan Harvey and Colton Caslow both recording 72 and Pierce Ripanti adding 70. Caslow led the Mountain Hawks with a team-high 10 tackles for loss and also added 3.5 sacks and an interception as he earned his third All-Patriot League honor. Ripanti came on late in the season with three sacks and an interception, while Harvey tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Four of Lehigh’s top six tacklers in 2015 were linebackers, with Colton Caslow leading the way with 95. Caslow garnered first team All-Patriot League honors for his efforts. Seniors Cody Kondas and Noah Robb also emerged with strong final seasons on the field.
In 2014, Bottiglieri mentored Caslow to second team All-Patriot League honors while Pierce Ripanti successfully transitioned from outside linebacker to inside and led the team in tackles.
In his first year back at Lehigh, Bottiglieri helped mold a young linebacking corps into an area of strength on the Mountain Hawks’ defense. Four players saw their first significant action at the position, highlighted by Caslow, who emerged as a force on the inside with 64 tackles, and Robb, who successfully transitioned to the inside where he finished with 55 tackles, three sacks and an interception.
Bottiglieri spent the previous 12 seasons as a high school football coach in the Lehigh Valley, beginning with one season at Allentown Central Catholic before moving to Emmaus High School, where he amassed a 70-51 record and led the Green Hornets to seven postseason appearances in 11 years. Among Bottiglieri’s best seasons at Emmaus were a 9-2 campaign in 2004 and a 10-2 season in 2008 both of which included appearances in the district playoffs.
In his first stint on South Mountain, Bottiglieri was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Lehigh’s Patriot League Championship teams in 1998 and 1999. The Mountain Hawks were 22-3 in those two seasons and made a pair of NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances.
In 1999, Lehigh boasted the Patriot League’s top defense in terms of points allowed, while the Mountain Hawks ranked 16th nationally in both scoring defense and rushing defense. Lehigh’s defense featured four All-Patriot League selections, including linebacker Ian Eason who was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
Lehigh finished fifth in the country in scoring defense in 1998, yielding just 12.6 points per game en route to an 11-0 regular season. The Mountain Hawks allowed 17 fewer points and nearly 125 fewer yards per game in 1998 than in 1997. Six defensive players earned All-League honors, including defensive lineman Nick Martucci, who was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a Division I-AA All-American. Lehigh advanced to the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs, winning at Richmond before falling to eventual national champion Massachusetts.
Prior to his first stint at Lehigh, Bottiglieri spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Rhode Island. From 1990-95 Bottiglieri coached at William & Mary, spending one year as linebackers coach and the next four as the defensive coordinator for the Tribe. Bottiglieri also served as the head coach at Shippensburg University from 1986-89 before moving on to William & Mary.
Bottiglieri held his first head coaching position at Mansfield University, where he served from 1978-83. His first college coaching experience came at Lafayette where he served as linebackers coach and freshman offensive line coach from 1973-78.
A native of Easton, Pa., Bottiglieri received his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University in 1971 and added a master’s degree from Indiana State in 1974. He resides in Emmaus with his wife Debi. He has two adult children, three step children and five grandchildren.
Joe Bottiglieri enters his fifth season in his second stint on the Mountain Hawks’ coaching staff. A coaching veteran with more than 40 years of experience, Bottiglieri returned to Lehigh in April 2013 to coach Lehigh’s inside linebackers. He spent three seasons as Lehigh’s defensive coordinator, a position he also held at Lehigh in 1998 and 1999, and now holds the title of Senior Advisor to the Defensive Staff.
In his previous stint at Lehigh, Bottiglieri worked alongside Coen, who was the Mountain Hawks’ offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the time.
As coordinator, Bottiglieri led Lehigh’s defensive resurgence in 2016 as an improved defensive unit played a key role in the Mountain Hawks’ Patriot League championship campaign. Lehigh allowed just 23.5 points per game during the 11-game regular season and shut out opponents in the second half of three victories. The Mountain Hawks allowed just 418 yards of offense per game, highlighted by limiting Georgetown to just 177 in a 35-3 victory. Lehigh increased its big play productivity with 27 sacks, 17 interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
An experienced trio of senior linebackers helped lead Lehigh’s defensive improvement. The Mountain Hawks’ three starting linebackers were also the teams’ top three tacklers with Evan Harvey and Colton Caslow both recording 72 and Pierce Ripanti adding 70. Caslow led the Mountain Hawks with a team-high 10 tackles for loss and also added 3.5 sacks and an interception as he earned his third All-Patriot League honor. Ripanti came on late in the season with three sacks and an interception, while Harvey tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Four of Lehigh’s top six tacklers in 2015 were linebackers, with Colton Caslow leading the way with 95. Caslow garnered first team All-Patriot League honors for his efforts. Seniors Cody Kondas and Noah Robb also emerged with strong final seasons on the field.
In 2014, Bottiglieri mentored Caslow to second team All-Patriot League honors while Pierce Ripanti successfully transitioned from outside linebacker to inside and led the team in tackles.
In his first year back at Lehigh, Bottiglieri helped mold a young linebacking corps into an area of strength on the Mountain Hawks’ defense. Four players saw their first significant action at the position, highlighted by Caslow, who emerged as a force on the inside with 64 tackles, and Robb, who successfully transitioned to the inside where he finished with 55 tackles, three sacks and an interception.
Bottiglieri spent the previous 12 seasons as a high school football coach in the Lehigh Valley, beginning with one season at Allentown Central Catholic before moving to Emmaus High School, where he amassed a 70-51 record and led the Green Hornets to seven postseason appearances in 11 years. Among Bottiglieri’s best seasons at Emmaus were a 9-2 campaign in 2004 and a 10-2 season in 2008 both of which included appearances in the district playoffs.
In his first stint on South Mountain, Bottiglieri was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Lehigh’s Patriot League Championship teams in 1998 and 1999. The Mountain Hawks were 22-3 in those two seasons and made a pair of NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances.
In 1999, Lehigh boasted the Patriot League’s top defense in terms of points allowed, while the Mountain Hawks ranked 16th nationally in both scoring defense and rushing defense. Lehigh’s defense featured four All-Patriot League selections, including linebacker Ian Eason who was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
Lehigh finished fifth in the country in scoring defense in 1998, yielding just 12.6 points per game en route to an 11-0 regular season. The Mountain Hawks allowed 17 fewer points and nearly 125 fewer yards per game in 1998 than in 1997. Six defensive players earned All-League honors, including defensive lineman Nick Martucci, who was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a Division I-AA All-American. Lehigh advanced to the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs, winning at Richmond before falling to eventual national champion Massachusetts.
Prior to his first stint at Lehigh, Bottiglieri spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Rhode Island. From 1990-95 Bottiglieri coached at William & Mary, spending one year as linebackers coach and the next four as the defensive coordinator for the Tribe. Bottiglieri also served as the head coach at Shippensburg University from 1986-89 before moving on to William & Mary.
Bottiglieri held his first head coaching position at Mansfield University, where he served from 1978-83. His first college coaching experience came at Lafayette where he served as linebackers coach and freshman offensive line coach from 1973-78.
A native of Easton, Pa., Bottiglieri received his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University in 1971 and added a master’s degree from Indiana State in 1974. He resides in Emmaus with his wife Debi. He has two adult children, three step children and five grandchildren.
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