Joe Villapiano is in his fifth season as a member of the Crimson coaching staff in 2009. He will work with Harvard's wide receivers for a third season after spending two years as the team's defensive backs coach. Villapiano recruits the New England section of the United States as well as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada.

All four of Harvard's defensive backs were named All-Ivy League in 2007 with three of them - Steven Williams '08, Andrew Berry '09 and Doug Hewlett '08 - earning first team status. Last season, three Crimson earned all-league accolades while cornerback Matthew Hanson earned Rookie of the Year honors.

Williams would set his name apart as Harvard's all-time interceptions leader. His eight picks in 2007 tied a single season record for the Crimson and gave him sole possession for first place on the all-time list with 16. Named first team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, Williams went on to represent his home state in the Texas versus The Nation All-Star game in El Paso, Texas.

Berry meanwhile, capped an All-America career by twice being named an Academic All-American while also earned the FCS Scholar-Athlete of the Year award as a senior and graduating with two degrees in just four years.

Villapiano came to Cambridge in 2005 after spending two years on the staff at the University of Connecticut, where he coordinated the offensive scout team and analyzed game video of opponents' offenses.

Villapiano joined the staff at Connecticut following his four-year playing career in Storrs. He caught five passes for 47 yards in his career and holds the distinction of having scored the final Connecticut touchdown in Memorial Stadium, the team's former home facility.

He earned the team's Student-Athlete Award as a senior.

Villapiano earned a bachelor's degree in math education from Connecticut in 2002 and added a master's degree in education in 2005. His uncle, Phil, was a four-time All-Pro linebacker with the Oakland Raiders and was a member of Oakland's Super Bowl XI championship team.

In addition to his work with the Crimson football program, Villapiano and his former high school teammates are active in the formation of a company called iB-LIEVE, which is designed to empower individuals and teams using belief, positive attitude and positive action.