2015 Schedule | Season Ticket Brochure

TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Director of Athletics Dr. Lee McElroy has announced the additions of Nick Marcella and Damik Scafe to the football staff of head coach Ralph Isernia. Marcella will coach the wide receivers, while Scafe will mentor the defensive linemen. 

A 2015 Saint Anselm College graduate with a degree in communications, Marcella has experience coaching wide receivers at various camps and clinics, including the Paul Pasqualoni Football Camp at the University of Connecticut as well as the Elite New England Football Camp in Massachusetts. He also participated in the NCAA's Career in Sports Forum, a four-day conference focused on cultivating careers in intercollegiate athletics, in June.

Marcella was a four-year wide receiver at Saint Anselm, playing 33 games for the Division II Hawks. He caught 69 passes for 624 yards and a touchdown from 2011-14 with his best statistical season coming last year when he had 42 receptions for 405 yards and a score. The North Bridgton, Maine, native received the "Hawk Award" - the team's highest honor. 

Scafe comes to Rensselaer as part of the NFLPA Coaching Internship, which provides transitioning and former NFL players with an opportunity to gain in-depth, foundational coaching experience. Built in collaboration with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Scafe and others are selected to spend an entire season coaching at NCAA Division II, Division III or NAIA institutions. 

Scafe was a defensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers for four seasons (2011-14), participating on the practice squad and the active roster in that time. He made is NFL debut in December 2012 against the New York Jets. 

A former standout at Boston College, Scafe played 49 career games with the Eagles, registering 87 tackles, including 59 unassisted. He had 19.5 tackles for lost yards (69), six sacks (37 yards lost), five pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. A native of Windsor, Conn., Scafe played in all 13 games as a senior, recording 30 tackles (21 solo), nine tackles for lost yards (30), three sacks (14 yards lost) and four pass breakups. He went on to play in the Eastham East-West College All-Star Game. 

Scafe, the team's Outstanding Scout Team Award recipient in 2006, earned a degree in communications and is currently enrolled in a masters of administrative studies program at Boston College.

Rensselaer begins the season on September 5 when it hosts Norwich University at noon at East Campus Stadium. The Engineers, who were 6-5 and played in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl a year ago, return 15 starters including nine on offense and six on defense.