Rhody defeat in-staterival Brown 27-24 in overtime as the Rams re-claimed theGovernor's Cup Trophy. Senior Matt Hansen went on to sign with theNFL's Atlanta Falcons, where he ended the 2011 season on the team'spractice squad. In his first season as head coach, Trainer and his staff laidthe ground work for future success. In 2009, he oversaw a defensiveunit that ranked second in the CAA in turnover margin and gained aleague-best 15 fumbles and picked off 11 passes. Offensively, theRhody made tremendous strides down the stretch as it averaged 352.3total yards of offense per game in its final three contests.Following the year, Rhody had three individuals earn CAAall-conference honors, including linebacker Rob Damon, who alsoearned SportsNetwork All-America accolades.
Upon his arrival at the University of Rhode Island campuson February 27,2009 Trainer promised Rhodyfootball fans that he would make his players accountable in everyphase of the game and not cut corners.
"I cannot tell you how honoredand humbled I am to be the head coach at the University of RhodeIsland," Trainer said at his introductory press conference. "It istruly an honor that I am going to embrace and I am going to makeeveryone associated with this program proud of the way we conductourselves from the head coach all the way down to the teammanager.
"Coming back here in a different capacity as a head coach Ibelieve we are going to do great things on the field and above allelse we are going to do it the right way," Trainer explained. "Weare not going to cut corners and we are going to make our kidsaccountable in every phase."
In the community, Trainer hasplayed an instrumental role in the team's involvement with theNational Marrow Society. Since his first season as head coach in2009, Trainer and the RhodyFootball team have played host to an annual Bone MarrowDrive. The event, which takesplace every spring on the URI campus, has not only raised awarenesson the importance of donating Bone Marrow, but it has also seen theaddition of more than 1,100 individuals to the national registery.Prior to the Third Annual Rhody Football Bone Marrow Drive, juniorcenter and Rhode Island native MattGreenhalgh donated his bone marrow to an individual in need in an effort to savehis life. A second URI student-athlete, rower GraceRignanese, donatedmarrow in January of 2012 tosave the life of an 18-year-old girl. Like Greenhalgh, Rignanesewas discovered as a match through the football team's drive. Duringthe 2012 season, sophomore John Greenhalgh and assistant coach Ryan Mattison each donated marrow tosave the lives of strangers. in all, nine University communitymembers have been marrow matches found through the football team'sannual effort.
Trainer returned to Rhode Island after he joined the coachingstaff at Bowling Green in December 2008 where he served as theAssistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator under two-time FootballChampionship Subdivision (FCS) Coach of the Year Dave Clawson.
During the 2008 season, Trainer was Rhode Island's defensivecoordinator. His unit forced URI opponents into 11 fumbles, whichranked in the top five of CAA Football. His defensive scheme alsoallowed linebacker Matt Hansen to finish second in the league intotal tackles with 111, as he went on to earn All-CAA FootballSecond Team and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-NewEngland honors.
Prior to his stint at Rhode Island, Trainer spent three seasonsas head coach of Millersville University, a member of thepowerhouse Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), from2005-2007. Before heading to Millersville, Trainer spent eightseasons at CAA-rival Villanova, starting out as linebackers coachbefore being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005. During histenure at Villanova, Trainer helped the Wildcats to two conferencechampionships, two NCAA Playoff appearances (1997 and 2004) -including the national semifinals - two Lambert Cups, two wins overI-A schools (Rutgers and Temple), and five top 20 rankings in thefinal poll. Additionally, the Wildcats were nationally ranked for aleague-record 35 consecutive weeks and posted a then school-record12 wins in 1997.
Trainer's defensive scheme put the Wildcats as No. 1 in theAtlantic 10 in total defense in 2003 and 2004. Villanova finishedseventh amongst NCAA Division I-AA schools in scoring defense (16.2ppg) and 14th nationally in total defense (302 ypg allowed) in2003. The following year in 2004, Trainer's defense yielded lessthan 300 yards per game and was second in the A-10 in scoringdefense (22.5 ppg). Trainer was also instrumental in helping BrianHulea earn First Team Atlantic 10 honors in 2003 and 2004.
Trainer spent the 1995 and 1996 season at the University of NewHaven, where he worked as both linebackers coach and defensivecoordinator. In his two seasons at New Haven, Trainer helped theChargers win 17 games and earn a berth in the NCAA Division IIplayoffs. Under his tutelage New Haven finished ranked in the Top20 in both seasons and his defense also established school recordsfor fewest points allowed, points per game allowed, and turnovermargin. Off the field, Trainer served as the academiccoordinator.
The Roslyn, Pa., native began his coaching career as a graduateassistant at Temple University in 1990. Two years later, Trainertook over as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator atFrostburg State University, where he also developed and oversaw theteams in-season strength and conditioning program. Following the1992 season, he joined the coaching staff at Colgate University.While in Hamilton, he coached the outside linebackers and punt andkickoff teams.
Trainer received his undergraduate degree in English fromDickinson College in 1990. He then went on to earn his mastersdegree from Temple University in 1992 and his M.S. in counselingand human relations from Villanova in 2004. Trainer and his wifeMoreen are the proud parents of Liam (11), Dillon (9) and Keira(7). The Trainers reside in Saunderstown.
Updated June 14, 2013
