A 1980 graduate of the Naval Academy, Tony Verducci returned to the Navy sprint football program as the associate head coach / defensive coordinator in 2025 after distinguished careers as a Marine Judge Advocate, Department of the Navy (DON) Senior Executive, and high school football coach.
In 2025, the Navy sprint football team concluded a perfect 8-0 season by capturing the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) Championship with a thrilling 20-17 overtime victory against Army in the annual Star Game. During the championship matchup at Shea Stadium in West Point, the Midshipmen secured the win when sophomore kicker Jacori Sutton connected on a 36-yard field goal in the extra period after Army missed their own attempt. This victory marked Navy's 41st overall conference championship, its 34th outright title, and its fourth CSFL championship in the last five years. Throughout the season, Navy was dominant on both sides of the ball, outscoring opponents 321-90 while amassing 2,905 total yards of offense and recording 14 interceptions, 67 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks on defense.
Following their championship run, the Midshipmen received numerous postseason accolades, with 14 players earning All-CSFL honors. Junior running back Hunter Gennicks was named the CSFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year, senior linebacker Jake Wolinski was selected as Defensive Player of the Year, and Jacori Sutton took home Special Teams Player of the Year honors. Gennicks, Wolinski, and Sutton were joined on the First Team by John Dutton, Kerry Johnson, and Tyler Meisenzahl, while seven other players received second-team recognition and one earned honorable mention.
Verducci’s 2025 “Blue Shirt Defense” led the CSFL in takeaways, intercepting fourteen (14) passes and recovering fourteen (14) of the twenty (20) fumbles caused. Led by Wolinski, the Mids limited opponents to 11.25 points per game and a meager 1.2 yards per rush. Wolinski was joined on the CSFL first team by classmate Tyler Meisenzahl; while seniors Seamas Carrasco and Owen Erker, along with juniors Mick Tabor and Tucker Opdahl earned second team all-league honors.
The Blue Shirts were at their best in the season finale versus Army, holding the high-powered Black Knights offense far below their season averages in rushing (43 yards compared to their per game average of 151), passing (182 yards compared to their per game average of 241), and scoring (17 – a full 19 points below their 36 point per game total). The defense held firm in overtime as Meisenzahl’s sack pushed Army out of field goal range, setting the stage for Sutton’s championship-winning field goal.
Verducci earned two varsity letters and was a member of two sprint football championship teams as an offensive lineman. His first stint as a Navy football coach occurred after graduation, coaching defensive ends for the sprint football team.
Verducci returned to Annapolis to serve as a Company Officer, serving as tight end coach under Navy football head coach Gary Tranquill. Law school and service as a Marine Judge Advocate followed, before Verducci returned to coaching football at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va. He finished his high school coaching career (2007-15) as Ireton’s winningest coach and was twice honored as the Virginia Independent School Division I Coach of the Year.
Off the field, Coach Verducci became a DON Senior Executive in 2016, filling several significant leadership positions before serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Civilian Personnel) from 2022 until 2025. He was responsible for leading a team of 1,300 human resources professionals and providing policy direction to 250,000 DON civilians.
A lifelong learner, Verducci earned a bachelors degree in economics from the Naval Academy, a masters degree in computer management from Webster University, a Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University Law School, and a Master of Laws (LLM) in labor and employment law from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Verducci is married to Peggy (Malone) Verducci. The couple have four adult children and six grandchildren.
Daughter, Kara Firth, is married to Thomas and the couple have four kids – Poppy, Tierney, Thomas, and Margaret Mary, while daughter, Meghan Albornoz, is married to Kristian and they have two children – Martin and Malone.
Son, Matt, was a 2014 graduate of the Naval Academy and member of the men’s club lacrosse team. He specializes in human performance and is the head lacrosse coach at Newport Harbor High School in California. Son, Ryan, was a 2022 Academy grad and is currently a Navy helicopter pilot stationed in Mayport, Florida.
Verducci’s father, Tony, is a New Jersey High School Hall of Fame football coach (Seton Hall Prep). His brother, Frank, played football at the University of Nebraska, while brother, Tom, is a senior baseball writer for Sports Illustrated and an Emmy Award winning Fox Sports broadcaster.
