CASTINE--A veteran coach of all three NCAA divisions, Bill Mottola has been announced as the interim head football coach at the Maine Maritime Academy. Mottola, whose family surname is synonymous with Mariners Athletics, has nearly a quarter-century of experience as a collegiate football coach after beginning that vocation at Maine Maritime in 1990 when he worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.

Mottola is the son of the former MMA football coach and athletic director of the same name, which also bears the name of the Maine Maritime Athletics Hall of Fame. Mottola's nephew, Jack Mottola, is a starting linebacker who is a transfer from NCAA Division I program Albany.

"I am excited to welcome Bill onto our staff and have him lead us through this portion of our rebuild," said Director of Athletics Steve Peed. "His deep ties to the program and full understanding of our academic and athletic missions will be a tremendous asset as we point our bow towards the full restoration of the program."

Recently, Mottola served as the Lely High School athletics director in Naples, Fla., from 2014-23. In this capacity, he directly managed all coaching, officiating and event staff. He facilitated the daily scheduling and transportation for 34 athletic teams, and ongoing management and outreach regarding athlete eligibility. He also was on the Collier County Schools Committee to open a new regional competitive pool that opened in June 2018.

"I am both honored and excited to step into the role of interim head football coach at Maine Maritime Academy. My wife, Joni, and I are overjoyed to return to Castine - the town where I grew up, where we fell in love, and a community that has always held a special place in our hearts," Mottola stated.

"I am fortunate to have an outstanding group of assistant coaches alongside me, ready to foster a culture built on energy, hard work, and a winning attitude.

"I'd be remiss not to thank my father, whose influence has been with me every step of the way. Who would have thought that the coach's kid showing up at every practice, pregame meal, and game back in the 70's and 80's would one day follow in his father's footsteps? It's a privilege to serve in the same role my father once held."

Mottola also is a lieutenant on the commandant's staff in the Regiment of Midshipmen at the Academy.

Besides MMA, Mottola also has NCAA Division III coaching experience at the University of the South, where he worked the quarterbacks and was a Professor in the Physical Education Department in 1994.

Mottola coached the offensive line for two Mid-American Conference schools: Kent State University (2001-05) and Miami (Ohio) University (2010-11). He helped the 2001 Golden Flashes to their first winning season in 15 years. With the RedHawks, he saw Miami become the first team in NCAA history to go from double digit losses (1-11) to double-digit wins (10-4) and capture the 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl crown.

He also has Division I experience at the United States Military Academy West Point (1995-99) as the offensive line coach, Western Kentucky University (2000) as the offensive coordinator, offensive line and tight ends coach, and The Citadel (2012-13) as the running backs coach. He helped Western Kentucky to a conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA I-AA (now known as the Football Championship Series, FCS) playoff appearance. At ARMY, the program achieved a first in its storied history with a 10-win season (10-2) in 1996, winning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, earning an invitation to the Independence Bowl and rising as high as No. 22 in the national rankings during the process.

Mottola also coached in NCAA Division II with the University of Findlay for two seasons as the offensive coordinator in 2008-09.

A 1989 Springfield College graduate in physical education, Coach Mottola was a graduate assistant with the Vanderbilt University program from 1991 to 1993. A year later, he earned his master's degree in health promotion and education there.