PHILIPPI — Alderson Broaddus University Athletic Director Dennis Creehan has announced the hiring of Salvatore Dewalt as the head football coach on Monday.

“I’m really excited for Sal and I’m very pleased he has agreed to become our head football coach,” Creehan said. “I think he is a great coach and I think he is an even better person. He’s got a great family and he will be a great fit for AB.”

Dewalt has spent the last three seasons on the AB coaching staff as the offensive line coach and the director of football operations. In November, he was named the offensive coordinator for the 2017 season.

“This is a great opportunity and something I’m excited, eager and humbled about,” Dewalt said. “I’m really excited to get started and defend the G-MAC Championship we won here last season.”

During his three seasons on staff for the Battlers, Dewalt has helped coach an offense that scored over 30 points per game and saw running back Brandon Jones rush for more than 4,000 yards in his career. In 2016, three of AB’s five starting lineman under his direction were named to the G-MAC all-conference team.

Last season, AB won its final seven games of the regular season to win a program-best nine games. In the final game of the season, the Battlers erased a 28-14 deficit to come back and defeat Kentucky Wesleyan 31-28 to win the inaugural G-MAC Championship.

“I think anytime you get the opportunity to be a head coach, I think knowing the school and having the experience there is very valuable,” Dewalt said. “I understand the campus, the community, and the great town of Philippi. I understand what we are doing here and how the football program is.”

Prior to joining AB, Dewalt served as the Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator at Randolph-Macon College for three seasons. He also spent time at Lehigh University for two seasons as the assistant offensive line coach. In 2010, Lehigh won the Patriot League and advanced to round two of the NCAA Playoffs.

Dewalt began his coaching career at Moravian College where he spent three seasons at his alma mater. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2006 from Moravian.

During his playing days, Dewalt played in 43 games while making 32 starts. He was a two-time first team all-conference selection and received all-region honors two times and was an honorable mention All-American in 2005.

“I think the things I’ve learned while working under Denny (Creehan) and his football knowledge will give me a great outlook of the game,” Dewalt said. “The head coaches I have had the opportunity to work for have all been very successful every place that they have been in. I hope to take everything from each one of them and form it into my own philosophy and put my own stamp on the program.”

Former head coach Kirk Campbell, who was named head coach in December, has accepted a position at Penn State University.