AVE MARIA, Fla. --- When Joe Patterson took the reigns of the Ave Maria football program in February, his priority was to assemble a top-notch football staff.  "Ave Maria is a special place," said Patterson.  "I really believed it could attract some great coaching talent."
 
Headlining the new staff are the new line coaches.  John Palermo has accepted the position of defensive line coach and associate head coach.  He has coached Division I football for 36 years, including stints at Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Miami, Tennessee, and Minnesota, among others. He also coached the defensive line for the Washington Redskins for two seasons.  "Coach Palermo is regarded as one of the best defensive line coaches in the country," said Patterson.  "It's awesome to see him working with our players.  He will get the very best out of them, both on and off the field."
 
Tom Brattan will coach the offensive line.  Patterson first got to know Coach Brattan during Coach Brattan's 13-year tenure as the offensive line coach at the University of Maryland.  Coach Brattan has also coached the offensive line at Stanford, Northwestern, Illinois, and William and Mary.  "Coach Brattan's knowledge of the position is unparalleled," said Patterson.  "His knowledge of the game is matched only by his tremendous energy."
 
Mike Hiestand will serve as the defensive coordinator for Ave Maria.  Most recently, he spent two years on the Notre Dame staff.  Prior to that, he spent one season each at Florida International and Miami of Ohio.
 
Eric VanHeusen brings 18 years of coaching experience to Ave Maria, including a six-year stint at Princeton.  He also served as offensive coordinator under Jim Fassel for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.  Coach VanHeusen will serve as the quarterbacks coach at Ave Maria.
 
Mike Lawrence, who earned fame setting the rushing yardage mark at Kansas State, will serve as Ave Maria's special teams coordinator and running back coach.  Most recently he served as an assistant coach at Tennessee State.
 
Three of the coaches on the Ave Maria staff were here for the 2015 season:  Travis Makauskas (performance training and wide receivers), Mike Armstrong (football operations and recruiting coordinator), and Pat Parrilli (defensive assistant).
 
Antwon Bailey (offensive assistant), Ted Elsasser (kicking coach), and Noel Garcia (defensive intern) round out the staff.
 
"I'm thrilled with the coaching staff that has come together," said Patterson.  "They all share a passion for the game that is exhilarating."