Raymond Monica became the 14th head football coach at Kutztown University in March 2006.
In 2011, the Kutztown football program reached new heights. It won its first ever PSAC Championship in the 96-year history of the program, and won its first NCAA playoff game. Kutztown earned the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Division II Super Region One playoffs and had 10 players named to the All-PSAC team including Monica's second-straight Coach of the Year award and two-time Offensive Player of the Year in Kevin Morton.
Monica also won his second AFCA Super Region I Coach of the Year award.
Kutztown earned its highest ranking in school-history in 2011, peaking at No. 6 in the AFCA top poll. KU set a school-record for wins in a season (11), points (487), touchdowns (68), interceptions (25) and sacks (35).
In 2010, Monica led the Golden Bear football team to its greatest year in the 95-season history of the program and first playoff appearance in school history. Kutztown set a school record for wins (10), conference victories (six), points scored (466) and consecutive wins to start a season (nine). The Golden Bears also earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II Super region One playoffs.
Monica was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year and AFCA Region I Coach of the Year. The Golden Bears also appeared in the final seven AFCA top 25 polls, peaking at No. 13, the highest in school history.
The Golden Bears also had 10 players selected to the all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) including quarterback Kevin Morton, who was named the East Offensive Player of the Year.
In his first season at KU, Monica’s squad doubled the win totals from 2005, as the Golden Bears finished 4-6 overall. KU was 2-4 in the PSAC East. In 2007, Kutztown improved to 5-6 overall, tying for third in the division with a 2-3 record. In 2008, Kutztown was 5-6 overall, improving to 4-3 in the PSAC East.
Monica has a 38-29 overall record, 21-18 in the PSAC East. He ended the 2011 season tied for the third winningest coach in KU history.
Monica came to Kutztown after serving as defensive coordinator at Division I-A Temple University for eight seasons, including the final seven as assistant head coach. During his tenure at Temple, Monica also guided the inside linebackers and defensive line.
Prior to Temple, Monica coached for nine seasons at the University of North Alabama, during which time the Lions won three NCAA Division II national championships from 1993-95.
A native of Garyville, La., Monica is a graduate of East St. John’s High School in Reserve, La. He enrolled at Nicholls State University in 1985. After one season with the Colonels, he transferred to Northeast Mississippi Junior College, where he played quarterback and earned all-state honors for two seasons. He signed with Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) and went through spring drills, before a back injury ended his playing career.
Monica began his coaching career as a student assistant coach, guiding the running backs at Northeast Mississippi Junior College in 1988. He moved on to North Alabama in 1989. There, he coached the running backs while completing his bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation, which he received in 1990.
Monica served as defensive line coach at the University of North Alabama (UNA) from 1992-97. In 1993, UNA’s defense ranked in the top four nationally in pass defense, total defense, rush defense and scoring defense. North Alabama won its first Division II national championship that season. The 1994 season brought the second-straight national championship, and the Lion defense finished second nationally in all four defensive categories. In 1995, the Lions won their third straight NCAA title. The UNA defensive front produced three All-Americans and two National Football League draft choices, while leading Division II in both rushing defense and scoring defense. During the three-year championship run, North Alabama posted a remarkable record of 41-1.
At Temple, Monica was hailed as one of the top assistant coaches in college football. In Sports Illustrated’s 2003 College Football Preview, Monica was cited as one of college football’s seven "Wise Guides." The article praised him as "the best in the nation at getting ordinary players to do extraordinary things." The accolade came after the Owl defense was recognized as one of only eight in the country to finish in the top 20 in total defense in both 2001 and 2002. Temple’s defense ranked 19th nationally, allowing just 312.6 total yards per game in 2001. The success was recognized in the post-season, when Monica and then-Temple head coach Bobby Wallace directed the Blue defense in the 2001 Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic. In 2002, the Owl defense ranked 18th nationally, allowing 315.7 total yards per contest.
Monica mentored several future NFL players while at Temple, including 2002 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-America DT Dan Klecko, All-America LB Rian Wallace, as well as DE Raheem Brock, DT Russell Newman and DE Calvin Wilkinson.
Monica and his wife, Linda, are the parents of Ray (16), Lindsey (13) and Austin (5).
