Coach Profile: Football Head Coach Joe Verria
The Bridgewater State football head coach Joseph Verria (he/him) has recently been promoted from part-time coach to full-time coach effective on November 1st. “
I’ve wanted to do this all my life, and I do the best I can to improve this program,” Verria said.
Before he was a coach here at BSU, he was a student who played on the Bears defensive line from 1976-1979. He graduated from BSU with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in the class of 1981. Before he started coaching, he tried out for four NFL teams including the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Cincinatti Bengals, and Green Bay Packers. While his career in professional football did not pan out, he turned to coaching, finding a home at East Bridgewater High School from 1985-87 .
Verria came to BSU shortly after, starting as defensive coordinator/defensive line coach under BSU winningest head coach Peter Mazzaferro. Verria was eventually promoted to associate head coach and became head coach in 2016.
Coach Verria took the Bears to win the MASCAC Championship in his first season in 2016 and won the New England Bowl Game in 2018.
Coach Verria has a 33-25 Bears head coaching record including a 3-3 record in the 2022 season so far. The Bears started 0-3 on the season, including the season opener against #17 Ithaca College. Currently, the Bears are on a three game winning streak, including two home blowout wins against Fitchburg State (Homecoming) and Worcester State.
“I like the direction we’re going in, which is where you want to be in the middle part of the season,” Coach said, as the Bears have four games left in the regular season.
Coach Verria also works at Bearce Insurance here in Bridgewater, where he started the first year he started coaching at BSU in 1988. He appreciates that the company allows him the flexibility to coach the football team.
Coach Verria also met his wife of 37 years here at BSU, and their son Ryan was a wide receiver on the Bears who graduated from the Class of 2022.
He would like to thank President Clark, Athletic Director Dr. Marybeth Lamb, Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Joe Oravecz, and Peter Mazzaferro for the opportunity to coach here at BSU and guiding him to success.
