Lewis Acquarulo begins his 31th season in college football, his 20th season as an assistant coach with the Bantams and his 19th as defensive coordinator in 2024. Acquarulo coaches the inside linebackers and also coordinates the kicking game. 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.
Last season, the Bantams captured a share of the NESCAC crown for the 11th time in program history, registering an 8-1 record on the season. As a team, Trinity ranked third in the country in redzone defense (.455), fourth in first-down defense, and sixth in rushing defense. The Bantams ranked 18th in total defense and 19th in scoring defense nationally.
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.
Trinity led the nation statistically in three different defensive categories in 2011, having allowed just 63.5 rushing yards per game, 195.5 total yards per game, and 8.13 points per game. The Navy & Gold also claimed third place nationally in tackles for loss with 9.0 per contest, while posting shutouts in four of its eight games. In 2012, Trinity yielded an NCAA Division III-low 195.5 yards per contest, and surrendered an NCAA Division III-low 8.1 points per game, allowed an NCAA Division III-low 53.6 yards per game on the ground, and posted an 84.68 defensive pass efficiency rating (4th in nation). In 2013, the Bantams allowed just 13.9 ppg (9th in nation), yielded 138 yards through the air per game (5th in nation), and held opponents to 254.8 yards per game (8th in nation) and an 80.8 pass efficiency rating (3rd in nation). In 2014, Trinity finished sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense with a 90.3 rating for opposing quarterbacks.
In 2015, the Bantams ranked No. 1 in the nation in red-zone defense (.458), third in scoring defense (10.1 ppg allowed) and pass efficiency defense (87.05), ninth in total defense (253.3 ypg), and 10 nationally in rushing defense (90.3 ypg). In 2016, Trinity concluded the year ranked fourth nationally in first downs allowed, ninth in scoring defense, fifth in pass efficiency defense, sixth in sacks and 12th in total defense. The Bantams led the league and were ranked among the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, scoring offense, pass efficiency defense, and passing yards allowed in both 2017 and 2018.  The Bantam defense also led all of NCAA football with an average of just 3.2 yards allowed per play in 2018.  In 2019, Trinity finished 24th in the nation in total defense with a NESCAC-low 285.7 yards allowed, ranked fourth in the nation in red-zone defense. Trinity was among the top five nationally in fewest first downs allowed in both 2019 and 2021.Â
The Navy & Gold defense boasts 73Â All-NESCAC defensive players in the last 14Â years, including four NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year selections in Tyler Berry (2008), Walter Fallas (2009, 2010), Rae Haynes (2012), and Spencer Donahue (2016).
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.
