ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Navy head football coach Ken Niumatalolo has elevated Robert Green from defensive assistant to cornerbacks coach and has hired Kent State's outside linebackers and defensive recruiting coordinator, Joe Coniglio, to be the defensive assistant.
 
"We are really excited about these changes to our program," said Niumatalolo.  "RB Green is one the best leaders that I have ever been around.   He has grown into an outstanding football coach under the guidance of Brian Newberry.  He is also one of the most influential recruiters at the Naval Academy."   
 
"Joe Coniglio brings a wealth of talent to our program," continued Niumatalolo.  "He knows and understands Coach Newberry and his defensive philosophy.  He is a relentless worker with a wide variety of schematic and technical knowledge that will enhance our program.  We welcome him, his wife Jessa, their children Anna and Joseph, to Annapolis and the Naval Academy family. "

Green is in his ninth season at the Naval Academy and his seventh as a coach on the field. He served his first two years as the Director of Player Development, was the cornerbacks coach for five years and then was a defensive assistant the last two years.

Green was the cornerbacks coach in 2015 when Navy won a school-record 11 games against two losses, won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and defeated Pitt 44-28 in the Military Bowl. The defense finished 26^th in the country in scoring defense, 12^th in red zone defense, 13^th in turnovers gained, first in fumble recoveries and third in turnover margin.

Navy finished the 2016 season with a 9-5 mark and a 7-1 record in the American Athletic Conference, despite a season that saw the Mids have 102 missed games by starters or key contributors.  The Mids played Temple in the AAC Championship Game and played in a bowl game (Armed Forces). 

Green was a defensive assistant in 2019 when the Mids won a school-record tying 11 games against just two losses, won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, shared the American Athletic Conference West Division title with Memphis and won the prestigious Liberty Bowl. The Mids' eight-game improvement from 2018 was the second-biggest turnaround in FBS history.

The Mids finished the 2019 campaign ranked 20th in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. It marked just the second time since 1964 that Navy finished in the AP Top 20 (18th in 2015).

A big part of that turnaround was the massive improvement Navy showed on the defensive side of the football as the Mids improved in every major category.

Navy finished the 2019 campaign ranked 20th in third down defense (121st in 2018), 10th in rushing defense (90th in 2018), 39th in passing defense (75th in 2018), 16th in total defense (86th in 2018), 34th in scoring defense (103rd in 2018), 68th in pass efficiency defense (117th in 2018), 55th in sacks (129th in 2018) and 53rd in tackles for a loss (129th in 2018).

The defensive staff, led by coordinator Brian Newberry, installed a "Get 6" culture within the Navy defense that took off. Newberry told the defensive players if they got a combination of six three-and-outs, fourth down stops, turnovers and defensive touchdowns in a game, the Mids would win.  In 2019, the Mids were 8-0 when they managed to "Get 6."

The Mids finished 10th in the nation against the run, giving up just 105.8 yards per game, despite facing the #2, #3 and #11 rushing offense's in the country. The Mids forced the opposing offense off the field in three plays or less in 36 percent of its drives, which was the 10^th-best average in the country.  The Navy defense gave up just 15.2 first downs per game, which was tied for third best in the country.

Green is a 1998 graduate of the Naval Academy where he was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter on the football team as a defensive back. During the 1996 campaign, Navy fashioned its best record since 1978 at 9-3 and registered a 42-38 victory over California in the Aloha Bowl. Consequently, Green was named to the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic and was an All-Independent selection.

Green was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga., where he attended Booker T. Washington High School. After graduation, Green attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I. before moving on to the Naval Academy. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in May 1998, having completed his undergraduate education at the Naval Academy.

As a Marine, the former Lieutenant Colonel's personal decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Legion of Merit.

Green retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in the summer of 2017. He resides in Annapolis with his wife, Robyn, and twin boys, Garrison and Grant.

Coniglio returned to Kent State as its outside linebackers coach and defensive recruiting coordinator in January of 2019.  A former graduate assistant with the Golden Flashes, Coniglio spent the previous five seasons at Rhode Island, where he served as defensive line coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.

Coniglio helped the Golden Flashes to the first bowl win in school history with a 51-41 victory in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. Last year, Kent State finished 3-1 in a COVID-shortened season.

Coniglio spent three seasons at Kent State from 2009-2011, while earning a master's degree.  His roles included special assistant to the head coach, defensive graduate assistant, video coordinator and defensive volunteer.  Working closely with the Flashes' defensive line, Coniglio helped develop future NFL players Roosevelt Nix, Ishmaa'liy Kitchen and Monte Simmons.  During that period, Kent State's defense ranked in the top tier of numerous NCAA categories, including 10th in the nation in total defense in 2010.  In 2011, the Flashes ranked 21st in total defense, while the 2009 squad was fourth in tackles for loss and 17th in sacks.

Coniglio was the defensive line coach at Northern Michigan in 2012-13 and worked with current Navy defensive coordinator Brian Newberry, who served as the defensive coordinator there in 2012.

Rhode Island was also among national (FCS) leaders in numerous defensive categories during Coniglio's time with the Rams.  In 2017, Rhode Island was the only defensive line in the nation to have five players with five or more sacks and 10 or more tackles for loss.  The Rams broke the program's sack record that season and produced their third different all-conference player during Coniglio's time.  In 2018, URI ranked 31^st in the FCS in total defense. 

On special teams, the 2018 Rams ranked in the top 20 in punt return defense, kick return average and punt return average.  Coniglio also brought recruiting success to URI in 2016, when the Rams ranked first in the Colonial Athletic Association according to 247 Sports. 

A two-time All-Mid-American Conference defensive end at Miami, Coniglio was a three-year starter and three-year winner of the RedHawks' Vic Waltz Defensive Lineman of the Year award.  Coniglio helped Miami win three MAC East titles and ranks fifth among the program's sack leaders.  He was also a roommate of RedHawk teammate Sean McVay, who led the Los Angeles Rams to an appearance in Super Bowl LIII in 2018.

Joe and his wife, Jessa, have a daughter, Anna, and two sons, Joseph and Matt.