Mauro Monz

WEIRTON — Madonna High School announced on Tuesday evening it was naming Mauro Monz as the school’s new head football coach.

Monz has 25 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, high school, and youth levels, a release from the school said.

Monz replaces Dan Rovira, who resigned in February after coaching the Blue Dons the past two seasons. He was 13-7 overall.

A 1992 Seton LaSalle High School graduate, Monz attended Duquesne University, where he was twice named All-Metro Atlantic Conference defensive back (’94, ’95) and was Co-Captain of the 1995 AA Non-Scholarship National Championship Team as a player.

Monz finished the 1995 season as a First Team All-American defensive back and graduated as the Dukes’ all-time leader in interceptions.

In 1997, Monz began his coaching career at Robert Morris University under coach Joe Walton. During his time at RMU, Monz held several roles including quarterback coach, and was on the staff for five NEC Championships.

Monz’s college coaching experience includes:

≤ Offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for his alma mater Duquesne University from 2001-03

≤ Was the youngest head coach at any level in the country at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 2003.

≤ Coached five All-Conference selections as wide receivers coach at Akron (2007-09).

≤ Special offensive assistant at Robert Morris University in 2010.

≤ Tight ends coach at Youngstown State University from 2011-2013.

“I would like to thank Athletic Director Michael Arlia, Principal Jamie Lesho and the entire search committee at Madonna High School for the opportunity to be their next head football coach,” Monz said in a press release from the school. “It is truly an honor, and I am grateful for this opportunity. There is great tradition, history, and pride in the Madonna football program. I look forward to meeting all the kids and being immersed in the community. We have a lot of work to do between now and our opening game, but it is truly an exciting time to be at Madonna. I can’t wait to get to work! Go Dons!”

The press release said the school conducted a “brief but intense search and interview process among many talented and highly qualified candidates.”

“This is an exciting time for the entire Madonna Family,” said Jamie Lesho, Principal of Madonna High School. “The committee worked and let the process work through and in the end, we believe we have the best candidate for the job. Madonna Football is ready to move forward.”

Monz will hold a meeting for football parents and interested football players at 7 p.m. on April 20 at the Madonna football locker room behind the high school.