Lewis Acquarulo begins his 33rd season in college football, his 22nd season as an assistant coach with the Bantams and his 21st as defensive coordinator in 2026. Acquarulo coaches the inside linebackers and coordinates the Bantams kicking game.
Last season, the Bantams registered a 7-2 record on the season en route to their 12th NESCAC Championship, ranking third in the country in first-down defense and fourth-down conversion rate (.750), fifth in third-down defense (.276) and 14th in scoring defense, allowing 14.33 points to opponents.
Acquaralo has coached more than 90 All-NESCAC defensive players, including four NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year selections in Tyler Berry (2008), Walter Fallas (2009, 2010), Rae Haynes (2012), and Spencer Donahue (2016).
In his first year as defensive coordinator in 2006, the Bantams led the nation in scoring defense (6.8 points allowed per game) and total defense (160.0 yards allowed per game), and finished second nationally in pass efficiency defense (73.2 opponent efficiency rating). In 2007, the Trinity defense finished atop the league rankings in total defense, rushing defense, and sacks. Acquarulo’s rushing defense ranked 15th nationally in 2008 (86.88 yards/game) and Trinity allowed just 140 points to tie for first in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Trinity also finished sixth in the nation in rushing defense (68 ypg), fifth nationally in tackles for loss (9.38 per game), and second in the country in sacks (3.88 per game) that year.
In 2011, Acquarulo was named as the New England Division II/III Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, after the Bantams boasted the top defense in all of NCAA Division III football. Trinity led the nation statistically in three different defensive categories, having allowed just 63.5 rushing yards per game, 195.5 total yards per game, and 8.13 points per game. The Bantams ranked third in tackles for loss with 9.0 per contest, while posting shutouts in four of its eight games.
Acquarulo arrived at Trinity in 2005 after serving as the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator at the University of Rochester from 2001 to 2004. Prior to Rochester, Acquarulo coached the outside linebackers and special teams at the University of Pennsylvania for three years, linebackers and special teams at Southern Connecticut State University for two years, and the defensive line and linebackers at Union College. He was also the strength coach at both Southern Connecticut and Union.
Acquarulo coordinates the Trinity football academic program, and is an associate professor in the College’s athletic department. Acquarulo earned a bachelor’s degree from Union, where he helped the football team win an Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship, earn two NCAA championship bids, and post undefeated seasons in 1991 and 1993 as a starting defensive lineman. Acquarulo was recognized by Union for outstanding team leadership with the Ronald F. Plumb Award at the conclusion of his playing career. He also holds a master’s degree from Trinity in American Studies.
