Mike Castellano is starting his ninth year on the football coaching staff at Coastal Carolina University, working with the cornerbacks.
During Castellano[apos]s time, Coastal Carolina has been at the top of the Big South and among the national leaders in pass defense. The Chants led the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2004, while leading the league in the category from 2004-07. Nationally, Coastal was 15th in pass defense in 2009 (2nd in the Big South), while ranking first in Big South in pass defense in 2008, `07 (third nationally) and `06 (15th nationally). In 2010, the Chants were 35th in the NCAA and second in the Big South pass efficiency defense while ranking 36th in pass defense.
Castellano ha coached two All-Americans -- brothers Marrio and Josh Norman -- and CCU[apos]s first All-Big South first team pick Greg Williamson.
Norman, for the second consecutive year, was named first team All-Big South in 2010. Although he had just one interception on the year, he had nine pass breakups and secured his honor late in the year with an impressive performance versus All-American Chris Summers and the Liberty Flames.
The 2009 season was a banner-year for the Chanticleer secondary. Led by Norman, Coastal Carolina picked off 21 passes to rank fourth nationally. Norman was responsible for eight, setting a Big South record, and ranking third in the nation. Norman also set a league record with three picks in a game, earning national and Big South Defensive Player of the Week honors. Norman added seven PBU to lead the league in passes defended (15), while ranking eight nationally. Norman[apos]s counter-part, Marcus Lott added two picks and five PBU to rank eighth in the league in passes defended.
The 36-year-old Castellano spent the four years prior to arriving at Coastal Carolina as a high school defensive coordinator, the last two seasons at Millbrook High School and the 1999-01 seasons at North Wilkes. During his two seasons at Millbrook, he also worked with the special teams, as he helped lead the team to a pair of state playoff appearances.
Castellano spent one year with Delta State University as a graduate assistant, working with the tight ends and offensive line in the fall of 1998, helping the squad to their first-ever conference championship and the national playoffs. In the spring, he shifted to working with the wide receivers and quarterbacks.
Castellano is very familiar with Head Coach David Bennett, working for three seasons as a student assistant coach at Catawba College. A graduate of the school, he received his bachelor[apos]s in history in December 1997. He also earned his master[apos]s in education in 2000 from Delta State.
Born in Somerset, N.J., Castellano was a three-sport standout at Delaware Valley High School, playing football, baseball and basketball during his career.
Castellano resides in Myrtle Beach and is married to the former Allison Butterfass.
