EASTON, Pa. -- Mike Saint Germain was introduced as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Lafayette College, Wednesday, by new head coach John Troxell.

Saint Germain was in position to return home to the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Leopards after three successful years in the same role on Jim Clements' staff at Kutztown University. He will be reunited with Troxell, a 1994 Lafayette alum, who gave Saint Germain his collegiate coaching start as a defensive line coach at Franklin & Marshall College from 2009-11.

During a 2021 season that saw the Golden Bears go 11-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Eastern Division, Saint Germain presided over one of NCAA Division II's top defenses.

Kutztown's 78.3 rushing yards allowed per game and 15 interceptions were both PSAC bests, while Saint Germain's unit ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 14.6 points per game, and total defense, yielding 266.3 yards per game. Nationally, KU was seventh in rushing defense, 10th in scoring defense, 14th in total defense, 17th in third down conversion defense (29.8%) and 19th in interceptions among DII schools.

Kutztown's 266.3 yards allowed per game were its fewest since 1995 (261.2) and the Bears produced 34 team sacks, tied for fifth most in a season in program history.

The Golden Bears successfully defended their PSAC East title in 2021 after their 2020 season was wiped out due to COVID. Kutztown avenged a heartbreaking defeat to Slippery Rock in the 2019 PSAC Championship game by outlasting The Rock, 38-32, at Andre Reed Stadium, Nov. 13, for its second PSAC crown in program history and first since 2011. KU earned Super Region I's top seed in the NCAA DII Championship and advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time before falling to Shepherd, 30-28, on a Hail Mary as time expired.

In 2019, Saint Germain's first season with the Bears, Kutztown led the PSAC with 13 fumble recoveries, ranked second in interceptions (19) and second in turnover margin (1.08). The team tied a school record with 11 victories, went unbeaten in conference play, won the PSAC East title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII Championship. KU's 19 interceptions were tied for the eighth most in school history and its 29 sacks tied for 10th.

The former Lafayette All-American and 2007 alum joined the Golden Bears following four seasons at Virginia Military Institute, where he coached outside linebackers and served as special teams coordinator. He was a defensive assistant coach at Lafayette in 2014, offensive assistant at the University of Virginia in 2012 and 2013.

A three-year letterman at Lafayette, Saint Germain broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore 2004, clearing the way as the Leopards amassed over 200 yards per game on the ground. As a junior, he was the only Leopard on the o-line to start all 12 games when Lafayette quarterbacks threw for a league-best 244.3 yards per game and earned All-Patriot League First Team accolades.

Lafayette won the Patriot League championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs in 2006, Saint Germain's senior year. He once again started all 12 games and repeated as an All-Patriot League First Team pick. The postseason awards continued to roll in for Saint Germain, as he garnered All-America First Team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and CollegeSportingNews.com, All-America Third Team honors from the Associated Press and Football Gazette and an All-ECAC First Team nod.

Saint Germain was college teammates with current Kutztown offensive coordinator Marcel Quarterman.

Saint Germain completed his playing career in 2008 with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League's developmental AF2 league.