The Rise of the Falcons: A History of Bentley University Football
Bentley University's football program has a rich history, evolving from its humble beginnings as a club team to becoming a competitive force in NCAA Division II. This article explores the key milestones, coaches, players, and achievements that have shaped the Bentley Falcons football program over the decades.
Early Years and Transition to Varsity Status
While there are reports of a football game against MIT when the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance was just a couple of years old, organized sports were limited in the school's early years. Candlepin bowling on Wednesday afternoons was the primary athletic activity for the first half-century of Bentley's history. However, things began to change in the early 1960s when Al Shields was hired as Bentley’s first athletics director and basketball coach.
The origins of the Bentley Falcons football program are rooted in the broader expansion of athletics at Bentley College. In 1963, the institution established its first varsity teams in basketball, skiing, tennis, golf, and cross country. This period laid the groundwork for intercollegiate competition at the institution, then located in Boston, amid a growing emphasis on student life and physical education.
Hockey debuted in the late 1960s, and more club sports were added in the next few years, including track and field, soccer and football.
The football program officially began as a club team in 1972. Prior to the establishment of a dedicated conference structure for football, Bentley maintained affiliations with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the New England College Athletic Conference (NECAC) for various sports, including football scheduling and postseason opportunities. It wasn't until 1988 that football achieved varsity status, marking a significant step forward for the program.
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The Peter Yetten Era: Building a Legacy
Peter Yetten, a Bentley alumnus from the class of 1973 and former player, led the program from 1979 to 2008, the longest tenure in school history. He guided the Falcons through the remaining club years (1979-1987) and the transition to NCAA Division II varsity status in 1988, building a sustained contender, amassing an overall record of 225-81-2 (including club years) or 154-60-2 in varsity play, for a .718 win percentage. His era included multiple conference titles and playoff appearances, and he was honored with a lifetime contribution award in 2025.
The pinnacle of Yetten's era came in 2003 when the Falcons posted a perfect 10-0 regular-season record, clinching the Northeast-10 Conference title and earning the program's first NCAA Division II playoff berth as the No. 19 seed. Led by quarterback Matt Murry's precise passing and running back Mike Stone's ground dominance, Bentley advanced to the postseason but fell 36-34 in a thrilling first-round loss to No. 4 Grand Valley State. The following year, 2004, saw a repeat performance with another NE10 championship and playoff appearance, underscoring the sustained excellence Yetten instilled.
Conference Championships and NCAA Playoff Appearances
Bentley University became a founding member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10), originally the Northeast-7, in 1980, alongside institutions such as American International College, Assumption, Bryant, Hartford, Springfield, and Stonehill.
The Bentley Falcons football program has secured five Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference championships since joining the league in 2000, with titles in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2019, and 2025.
In 2003, under head coach Peter Yetten, Bentley claimed its first NE10 title with an undefeated 7-0 regular-season conference record, culminating in an outright championship. The Falcons finished the regular season 10-1 overall, showcasing a dominant rushing attack that averaged over 300 yards per game and earned them the league's automatic playoff bid.
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The 2004 season saw Bentley, again led by Yetten, share the NE10 crown with C.W. Post after both teams finished 7-0 in conference play. The Falcons went 8-2 overall, clinching at least a tie for the title with a 42-0 shutout victory over Bryant on Senior Night, where MVP Marc Eddy threw for a school-record 456 yards and five touchdowns.
Under new head coach Thom Boerman in 2009, Bentley earned a share of the NE10 title as tri-champions alongside Merrimack and Southern Connecticut State, posting a 6-2 conference mark and 8-2 overall record. The Falcons' balanced offense and stout defense secured key wins, including a 17-14 victory over Southern Connecticut, contributing to a three-way tie atop the standings decided by tiebreakers.
Bentley captured its fourth NE10 championship in 2019 as outright winners under head coach Bill Kavanaugh, finishing 6-2 in conference and 6-4 overall. Most recently, in 2025, Bentley won the outright NE10 regular-season title with a 6-1 conference record, defeating No. 24 Assumption 20-17 in a dramatic upset to secure the championship and automatic NCAA playoff berth. Finishing 7-3 overall after a midseason turnaround from an 0-3 start, the Falcons' victory highlighted their resilience and propelled them into national contention.
The Bentley Falcons football program has qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs four times, all in the first round, resulting in an overall postseason record of 0-4.
Bentley's inaugural playoff berth occurred in 2003 under head coach Peter Yetten, marking the program's first postseason appearance after a 10-1 regular season and NE10 championship. As hosts at Bentley University Football Stadium in Waltham, Massachusetts, the Falcons faced Grand Valley State on November 22, losing 36-65 to the No. 5 seed in Super Region 1.
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The Falcons returned to the playoffs in 2004, again as NE10 co-champions under Yetten, earning a home first-round matchup against Edinboro on November 13 at Waltham. Bentley mounted a late comeback but fell 44-47 in a thriller decided by a final defensive stand from the visitors, ending the season with quarterback Marc Eddy's record-setting performance unable to secure the win.
In 2021, Bentley made its third playoff appearance as an at-large selection after a 9-2 regular season and runner-up NE10 finish, traveling to face New Haven on November 20 under head coach Bob Kavanaugh. The No. 4 seed Chargers dominated with a 38-13 victory at Ralph F.
Bentley earned its fourth playoff berth in 2025 as NE10 champions under head coach CJ Scarpa, receiving an automatic bid after a 7-3 regular season. The Falcons traveled to face No. 3 Kutztown on November 22, suffering a 0-52 shutout loss at Andre Reed Stadium in a game where the Golden Bears' defense held Bentley to 112 total yards.
Coaching Staff and Key Players
The Bentley Falcons football program has been led by eight head coaches since its inception as a club team in 1972, transitioning to varsity status in 1988.
Hal Kopp served as the inaugural head coach from 1972 to 1975, establishing the program's foundation during its club era. A veteran coach with prior experience at institutions like Brown University and the University of Rhode Island, Kopp compiled a record of 9-15-1, yielding a win percentage of .360. His tenure focused on building the team's infrastructure amid early challenges in recruiting and facilities.
Jack Regan took over from 1976 to 1978, continuing the club's growth with a record of 11-16-1 and a .393 win percentage. Regan, who had coaching experience in local high school programs, emphasized player development and competitive scheduling, helping stabilize the team post-Kopp.
Thom Boerman coached from 2009 to 2013, bringing experience as a longtime Yetten assistant. Boerman posted a 33-17 record with a .660 win percentage, including two 8-2 seasons and a share of the Northeast-10 title in 2012.
Bill Kavanaugh, a 2004 Bentley alumnus and former defensive lineman under Yetten, was appointed head coach in 2014 following Boerman's exit. Kavanaugh, who had worked in college football operations including at Penn State, achieved a 40-34 record over eight seasons (2014-2021, with no 2020 season due to COVID-19) with a .541 win percentage. His tenure featured a 9-2 campaign and NCAA playoff berth in 2021, alongside developing All-Conference talent.
Alvin Reynolds held the position in 2022, promoted from defensive coordinator with a background as an NFL assistant for teams like the Chicago Bears and New York Giants. Reynolds recorded a 7-3 overall record, focusing on defensive improvements that ranked among the Northeast-10's best.
Saj Thakkar served as head coach from 2023 to 2024. Named the seventh head coach on June 16, 2023, Thakkar posted records of 6-4 in 2023 and 8-2 in 2024, for an overall 14-6 with a .700 win percentage. His tenure emphasized offensive innovation and team culture.
CJ Scarpa, a 2017 Bentley graduate and former quarterback for the Falcons, became the eighth head coach in 2025 after serving as associate head coach and offensive coordinator. In his debut season, Scarpa led the team to a 7-4 record, a Northeast-10 Conference championship, and an NCAA Division II playoff berth, earning Northeast Football Writers Coach of the Year honors.
Alvin Reynolds, appointed head coach in 2022 as the program's first African-American leader, built on prior success as defensive coordinator, where his units ranked fourth nationally in defensive touchdowns (7) and 20th in turnovers forced (20) during the 2021 playoff season.
The Bentley Falcons football program has produced several standout players who earned All-Conference, All-Region, and All-America honors during their collegiate careers.
Mackenzy Bernadeau, a guard who played from 2004 to 2007, anchored the Falcons' offensive line as a two-year team captain in 2006 and 2007, starting all 37 games in his career. He was named NE10 Offensive Lineman of the Year in both 2006 and 2007, earning three-time first-team All-NE10 selections (2005-2007), three-time first-team ECAC Division II All-Star honors (2005-2007), and two-time first-team Daktronics Division II All-Region accolades (2006-2007). In 2007, despite missing the final four games due to a knee injury, Bernadeau received American Football Coaches Association Division II All-America first-team honors, along with first-team Associated Press Little All-America and d2football.com All-America selections. Offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau ’08 became the first Falcon to play a regular professional season in one of the four major sports, spending four years with the Carolina Panthers and another four with the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Marc Eddy, active from 2000 to 2003, led the Falcons to their first two NE10 championships in 2003 and 2004, while guiding the team to NCAA Division II playoff appearances those same years. Eddy set an NCAA Division II record with 121 career touchdown passes and amassed 11,035 passing yards, breaking Doug Flutie's New England college football record at the time. As a senior captain in 2003, he threw for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, earning All-NE10 honors and contributing to a 10-2 season.
Wide receiver and placekicker Dallas Mall, who played from 2001 to 2004, was instrumental in the 2003 and 2004 championship teams, serving as a senior co-captain in 2004. Mall set a New England college football record with 478 career points, primarily through field goals and extra points, while also recording over 1,500 receiving yards and multiple touchdowns as a versatile offensive threat. He was named NE10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2004, earned ECAC Division II All-East honors, and received the New England Division II-III Gold Helmet Award for his scoring prowess.
During the Yetten era (1979-2008), quarterback Mike Rymsha '96 emerged as a key leader from 1993 to 1995, helping the Falcons achieve a 31-1 record and a 30-game winning streak-a New England record. Rymsha threw for 4,516 yards and 46 touchdowns in 28 regular-season games, earning GTE Academic All-America second-team honors as a senior in 1995.
In more recent years, the program has continued to develop award-winning talent, particularly during playoff runs like the 2021 NCAA Division II appearance. Linebacker Salvatore Lupoli Jr., a 2023 standout, was named NE10 Most Valuable Player after leading the conference with 123 tackles, including 14.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks, while earning first-team All-NE10 honors. Similarly, wide receiver Rashon Bradford claimed the 2024 NE10 MVP award, topping the conference with 74 receptions for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Facilities and Game Day Experience
The Bentley Falcons football program plays its home games at the Bentley University Football & Men's Lacrosse Field, located on the university's South Campus adjacent to the Dana Center. This venue, which opened in 1989 as part of an expansion of Bentley's outdoor athletic facilities, features a FieldTurf synthetic surface installed in 2004, permanent lighting for night games, and a seating capacity of 4,800.
Prior to the 1989 construction of the dedicated on-campus football field, the club's football team-established in 1972-relied on rented off-campus venues and local facilities, consistent with Bentley's broader use of external sites for athletics during its early years before the development of permanent infrastructure. The 1989 project introduced an initial synthetic turf surface alongside the new field, marking a significant upgrade for NCAA compliance and year-round usability.
The stadium is shared with the men's lacrosse team, which necessitates coordinated scheduling for games and practices, affecting game-day operations such as parking availability and tailgating setups in designated South Campus areas. Limited on-site parking-approximately 500 spaces for athletic events-often directs spectators to overflow lots or shuttle services from central campus.
Supporting infrastructure includes the adjacent Dana Center, Bentley's primary indoor athletic facility opened in 1973, which provides essential training resources for the football program. The center houses a gymnasium for indoor practices during inclement weather, locker rooms, and athletic training areas. A major 2006 expansion added a 10,000-square-foot fitness and weight room, equipped with modern strength-training equipment to aid player conditioning and injury rehabilitation. That changed in 1973 when the Dana Athletic Center was constructed; the first game was a victory of 105-63 over Lowell Tech on December 1 of that year. Four months later, the new building was the focal point of Division II basketball in the region, as the Falcons hosted the NCAA New England regional tournament. The Dana Center was Bentley’s second on-campus facility, the first coming three years earlier when a baseball field was built at what is now the location of Fenway Hall.
Alumni in Professional Football
Several former Bentley Falcons football players and coaches have transitioned into professional roles in football, contributing at various levels beyond their collegiate careers. While Bentley has produced only one NFL draftee, other alumni have pursued paths in professional coaching.
Beyond playing and coaching, some Bentley football alumni have entered non-playing professional roles tied to the sport, though opportunities remain limited for a Division II program.
Overall Record and Program Success
The Bentley Falcons football program has compiled an all-time record of 351-173-5 (.669) through the 2025 season, encompassing 529 games since its inception in 1972. This includes a strong home record against key rivals and a conference mark of 145-64 (.694) in the Northeast-10 (NE10). The program's success has been uneven across eras, with notable strength in non-conference play against teams like M.I.T. Single-season highs underscore the team's peak performances, including undefeated regular seasons in 1993 and 1994, both achieving a 1.000 winning percentage with point differentials of +211 and +389, respectively. The 2003 campaign stands out with a 10-1 record (.909) and a +291 point differential, marking one of the highest-scoring and dominant efforts in program history. Other milestones include the 1982 near-perfect season at 10-0-1 (.955, +195 differential) and the 1986 team's 9…
A Commitment to Excellence Beyond the Field
Bentley student athletes have a history of excelling in the classroom as well as on the playing fields. Over the years, 72 have earned Academic All-America recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America, one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate athletics. Included on that list is former Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Year Lauren Battista ’14, who was named the Division II Academic All-America of the Year for all sports in 2014, months after leading the Falcons to the national championship. During the 2015-2016 academic year, all of Bentley’s 21 athletic teams posted a grade point average exceeding 3.0. More than half of the university’s 500-plus student athletes earned President’s or Dean’s List recognition.
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