UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University football program has hired Adam Gonzaga to be its new defensive coordinator.

Gonzaga joins the Cardinals from Ohio Northern University, where he spent four seasons as the team's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Prior to his time at Ohio Northern, Gonzaga served as the defensive backs coach at Bowling Green State University in 2007 and 2008.  The Falcons competed in the GMAC Bowl in the 2007 season.

Before his stint at BGSU, Adam spent five seasons (2002-06) at Northwood University as the defensive coordinator.  During his tenure with the Timberwolves, Gonzaga coached three players who received GLIAC "Defensive Back of the Year" awards and led a defense that helped Northwood to three NCAA Division II Playoff appearances (2004, 2005, 2006) and one Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship.

Gonzaga has had many other coaching stops along the way, including coaching stints at:  University of Texas-El Paso (2010), Navy (2001), Greenville College (Ill.) (1999-00), Connecticut (1998), Lafayette (1997-98), Montana State (1996), Pacific (1993-95) and one season as a volunteer recruiting assistant at Stanford in 1992.

"We are excited to have Coach Gonzaga joining our family," stated SVSU Head Football Coach Jim Collins, whose teams have won the past three GLIAC North Championships.  "Not only does Adam have a proven track record of success on and off the field and as a recruiter, but I know he truly cares about the young men he coaches."

"I am extremely excited to be joining the football staff here at SVSU and to have that Cardinal head stamped across my chest," said Gonzaga.  "It's a great feeling knowing that I will be back coaching in the GLIAC and living with my family in the Great Lakes Bay Region.  SVSU is a program with a great winning tradition and is in the perfect position to continue that tradition.  There are lofty expectations of myself to help shape student-athletes of great character and athletic ability, which I embrace with open arms.  I also have very high expectations of the student-athletes I will be working with, which will make for great success for all parties involved." 

Adam is a 1992 graduate of Azusa Pacific University with a B.A. in Education.

He is married to the former Heidi James and the couple has two children, Alexis (18) and Addison (13).