By Sophia Tozzi
Most of New England sat by their televisions on Sunday, Feb. 8, to watch Super Bowl LX. Springfield College football head coach Mike Cerasuolo was one of those individuals, surrounded by friends, family, a spread of buffalo chicken dip, pickle dip, stuffed bread, and other American favorites. Cerasuolo watched as the Patriots’ storybook season came to an end, falling to the Seattle Seahawks, 29-13.
Much like the Patriots’ coach, his namesake Mike Vrabel, Cerasuolo has been connected to New England football for a long time. Cerasuolo grew up attending Patriots practices at Bryant College (now Bryant University) in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Cerasuolo was also able to attend games since his father was a beat writer for the Patriots.
Cerasuolo had the opportunity to meet coaches such as Dick MacPherson, a Springfield College graduate. Traveling down to Smithfield allowed Cerasuolo to sit with MacPherson and learn the skills of being a good coach. Cerasuolo recognized that MacPherson gave up the time to mentor young coaches and those associated with Springfield College.
For Cerasuolo, the game has always been about three things: passion, pride, and purpose.
Cerasuolo has always been surrounded by football. Growing up, he and his father would drive down to Rhode Island to observe the Patriots in action. His mother, Mary, worked at Holy Cross, where Mike attended his first football camp under Coach Rick Carter.
During his college years, Cerasuolo played at Springfield College, serving as co-captain from 1992 to 1993 under former coach Mike DeLong, whom Cerasuolo still looks up to as one of his prime football mentors, along with Jack Cosgrove from the University of Maine.
“Those two guys, I just think, helped me build a philosophy that helped me grow as a coach [and a] person, and it hopefully carries over into our team as well,” Cerasuolo said.
“He’s a real Springfield guy,” said DeLong, who has been an influential part of Ceracuolo’s years at Springfield. DeLong coached the Pride for 32 seasons, spanning from 1984 to 2015. Cerasuolo’s football career began in 1989, with his first collegiate start as a center due to a player’s injury. DeLong recalls this start for Cerasuolo because he was impressed by the freshman’s skill.
As a member of “The Brotherhood,” DeLong described Cerasuolo as intelligent, trustworthy and a man of the game, and Cerasuolo has proven to be a man of DeLong’s word. During Cerasuolo’s playing career, he earned a host of accolades, including two Division II All New England selections, 1992 Associated Press and New England College Football Writers Association All Star, and in his senior year, being named the Most Valuable Offensive Player of Springfield College.
Cerasuolo has worked at his alma mater since 2000, starting as the offensive coordinator until 2016, when he was named the 14th head coach, taking over from DeLong. It has been history since. Cerasuolo’s teams have gone a staggering 75-26, the best winning percentage of any Springfield coach in history. After the 2024 season, he was named the Associated Press Division III National Coach of the Year. Interestingly, with all the success he’s had, Cerasuolo does not believe he has a specific coaching style.
“I guess, for me, I just want to make sure I’m always doing what’s best for these kids,” he said. “That’s important to me. So, I don’t know what style that is, but I know that I talk about it with our staff all the time.”
In practice, Cerasuolo is active. He travels up and down Stagg Field, talking to members of the Brotherhood who are stretching in formation and who are injured on the sidelines. In addition, he inserts himself into drills; you can often hear him over the sounds of OutKast, Kanye West, Morgan Wallen, and other artists.
While he walks around the field, he is accompanied by other coaches while paying attention to his athletes. When Cerasuolo blows the whistle, his players know where to go and what they are doing. The defense and offense split up, and Cerasuolo hones in on his offense.
The accomplishments of that offense–including eight national rushing titles–are generally downplayed by Cerasuolo.
“The trophies and things like that, that’s great,” he says, “but I think the relationships that you build and the impact you can have on others is what makes coaching special.”
When athletes and coaches describe Cerasuolo, they say he is consistent, loyal, gritty, and intelligent, but the word “passionate” has been repeated.
The passion he has for football has not only come from growing up around football or coaching here for a quarter-century. His passion stems from the camaraderie and connections that you make within the game.
Coaching is much more than a transactional thing for Cerasuolo; it is transformational. In the locker room, and as a coach, Cerasuolo wants his players to practice becoming better men, brothers, and players. As far as school work, personal life, or whatever a person is dealing with, Cerasuolo deems grit as important for his players.
Players see the grit that Cerasuolo has towards football and his beliefs. One lesson second-year offensive lineman Edwin Lora Jr. learned from Cerasuolo is that “nobody cares, work harder.” Lora interprets this as saying that “…you are not going to be given success just for being there; you have to work toward it and work harder.” Lora states that this ideology has helped him work toward being a better man.
His impact has given other players a real purpose. Third-year defensive lineman Christian Johnson-Hall values the Springfield College football program since it allowed Hall to continue playing the sport he loves with a great attitude and a better effort. In Hall’s eyes, his relationship with Cerasuolo is like a father-son more than a player-coach relationship, because Cerasuolo taught Hall how to be where his feet are and to enjoy the moment.
Other players, such as second-year fullback Jayden Aziz, view his relationship with Coach C as an employee-boss relationship, because Cerasuolo has earned everyone’s respect.
“He can fire me from the job I love at any moment with the knowledge that he is a prominent figure in my college life and in general,” Aziz said. “He is coaching me to be a better person and player with the best interest in me.”
Storm Jipson, a 2025 Springfield College graduate, was named the Co-Special Teams Coordinator and Halfbacks Coach. Jipson sees Cerasuolo as a mentor and a friend.
“He is someone who I have developed a great relationship with over the years and someone who I trust and believe in very deeply,” Jipson said. “He coaches with a passion. You can tell he loves football, but more importantly, you can tell how much he cares about his players.”
Cerasuolo takes the most pride in the relationships he’s built with those around him. From athletes to coworkers, and the Bradleys, whom he met several years ago through TEAM Impact, Cerasuolo reflects on those relationships, especially his relationship with the Bradleys, which he calls unbelievable.
Team IMPACT matches children who are battling serious illnesses and disabilities with college sports teams. This program helps develop a long-term and life-changing experience for the child. In addition, Team IMPACT works on empowering all kids and teams to grow individually and bond with one another through time spent and games won.
Cerasuolo met Ryan and Luke Bradley in 2013 through TEAM Impact due to Luke’s battle with leukemia. He especially values this relationship because he was able to coach with Ryan for a couple of years. This led them to become good friends.
“[This relationship has] grown so much more than just helping Luke through one of the hardest times in his young life to now, just a great friendship and relationship with his entire family.”
When thinking about connections with people, Coach C takes notice of the impressions others have. Cerasuolo recognizes Ryan Bradley not just because he coached with the Pride for a couple of years, but because of the culture he helped build.
Springfield finished its 2025 season at 9-3, with their final loss in the playoffs against powerhouse Johns Hopkins University, 34-14. The Pride will look to come back next season, raring and ready to go, to succeed in the NEWMAC – and nationally – once again.
In his office, which sits above Stagg Field in the Townhouses, Cerasuolo’s digs are decked out with memorabilia and maroon. The words “Passion, Pride, Purpose” are displayed prominently on the wall. Those three words reflect Cerasuolo’s coaching philosophy, and the foundation of the football team he coaches at Springfield College.
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics