Salisbury University Football

Program Highlights

  • 13 NCAA Tournament Appearances
  • 17 AFCA All-Americans
  • 18 D3football.com All-Americans
  • 284 All-Conference Selections
  • 9 Conference Championships
  • 4 consecutive NJAC Championships, 2019-22
  • 6 ECAC Bowl Championships
  • 4 Undefeated Regular Seasons
  • 1986 National Finalist
  • 1983 National Semifinalist

Salisbury was crowned the 2019 new jersey athletic conference (NJAC) champions after an undefeated regular season to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament

Salisbury ended the Spring 2021 season undefeated as NJAC South Champions to complete back-to-back seasons as conference champions

SALISBURY CONTINUED ITS RUN OF DOMINANCE IN THE NJAC IN THE 2021 SEASON WITH A 6-0 conference record, earning a THIRD CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ANd SECOND STRAIGHT BERTH IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

THE BEASTS OF THE EAST MADE IT FOUR NJAC CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW IN 2022 WITH A PERFECT 6-0 RECORD IN NJAC PLAY AND A TRIP TO ITS THIRD CONSECUTIVE NCAA TOURNAMENT

Providing a steady left leg that set the tone for the entire special teams, kicker/punter Kollin Samaha captured NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024. Samaha went a perfect 36-for-36 on extra points and 6-for-9 on field goal attempts with a long of 36 yards. He totaled 3,223 yards on 53 kickoffs, averaging 60.8 per kickoff with 23 touchbacks, and was recognized as NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting a pair of field goals and four PATs in a win over William Paterson on Oct. 7.

Samaha headlined a Sea Gull special teams unit that ranked third in the country in blocked kicks (8) and 19th in punt return average (14.53 YPR).

Led up front by First-Team All-NJAC nose guard Frank Giannetti, the Sea Gull defense ranked in the top half of the league in total defense (320.9), rushing defense (111.0), and scoring defense (23.7). Salisbury showed off its ball-hawking ways by recovering 14 fumbles, good for second in the nation, including four from national co-leader Casey Counts. Counts, Giannetti, and Charles Barley each slotted top-25 nationally in forced fumbles.

Led by First-Team All-NJAC tackle Tre Price and two-time All-NJAC guard Tony Mason, the Sea Gulls' offensive line maintained its reputation as one of the best rushing teams in the country. Salisbury finished the regular season with an NJAC-leading 209.8 rushing yards per game, good for 24th in Division III, and also led the conference in scoring at 28.5 points per game. SU ran the ball for 200-plus rushing yards in six straight games to close out the season, including a season-high 387 yards at Rowan on Oct. 21.

Head Coach Sherman Wood was selected as the NJAC Coach of the Year in 2019 and in 2021. Since 2019, Coach Wood has led the Sea Gulls to an impressive 36-10 record with four NJAC Championships and three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Sea Gulls also tallied 21 straight NJAC wins during their four-year run as the NJAC Champions.

On Oct. 21, 2023, Wood earned his 200th career victory as a head coach as the Sea Gulls defeated Rowan 35-20. Wood is one of just 11 active head coaches across all three levels of NCAA football to win 200 games in his career.

POSTSEASON SUCCESS

Salisbury University qualified for 18 consecutive postseason appearances from 2004 to 2022, the longest streak in the East Region.

  1. Salisbury University Sea Gulls - 18- (2004-2022)
  2. Wesley College Wolverines - 15 - (2005-2019)
  3. Delaware Valley University Aggies - 15 - (2008-present)

The Sea Gulls nest

meet coach wood

Sherman Wood enters his 26th season as the head coach of the Salisbury University football team in 2024. Wood has coached football since 1984 and led the Salisbury football team since 1999.

Coaching Highlights

  • All-time winningest coach in SU history (181 wins)
  • 20 postseason appearances
  • 10 NCAA Championship Tournament Appearances
  • 9 Conference Championships
  • 6 Conference Coach of the Year awards
  • 2011 AFCA Region Coach of the Year
  • 1 of 11 active NCAA football head coaches with 200+ wins

su athletics: A Tradition of excellence

For over 80 years, Salisbury University athletics have played an integral part in campus life. The University's exemplary student-athletes and outstanding coaches have created a legacy of excellence that places SU's 21 NCAA Division III teams among the top programs in the nation.

The Sea Gulls have been ranked among the top 10 percent of the LEARFIELD Division III Directors' Cup standings in 22 of the past 26 seasons with a rankings release. SU has also won 197 conference championships, 12 conference all-sport awards, 23 NCAA Division III team national championships and 24 NCAA individual national championships.