Steve Devlin has been hired as the head football coach at Alvernia University, the university announced on Tuesday.
Alvernia was 0-10 this past season and 0-9 in the Middle Atlantic Conference.
Devlin spent the last eight seasons as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Ursinus College. Before Ursinus, Devlin spent 11 years as the head coach of Archbishop Wood High School in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
“We could not be more proud to announce coach Devlin as our next head football coach,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Cory Beddick. “We recognize how important this hire is to the university, and we believe we have everything in place for Coach Devlin and his staff to turn our football team into a championship caliber program while developing our student-athletes on and off the field.”
During Devlin’s time with Ursinus, the Bears went 53-23 overall and 34-21 in Centennial Conference Play. Ursinus received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament in 2024 following a 9-1 regular season. That NCAA appearance marked Ursinus’ first in the NCAA tournament since 1999. Ursinus also made five MAC-Centennial Bowl appearances during Devlin’s time with the team, winning four of the five bowl matchups.
“My family and I are very excited to join the Alvernia community,” Devlin said. “I am really looking forward to building the program to compete at a high level and give our student-athletes a great experience at Alvernia.”
The 2025 Ursinus defense finished second in the NCAA with 21 interceptions. In 2024, the Bears’ defense led the nation in third down defense, and in 2023 the Ursinus defense finished as the top performing defense in the Centennial Conference. In 2022, the Bears led the nation in fumbles recovered. During his tenure, Devlin coached 31 All-Centennial honorees – including the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-American, Ryan Bodolus.
“Coach Devlin’s passion for football, recruiting, and student-athlete development is exactly what we need at this time,” Beddick said. “His deep ties to eastern Pennsylvania and our region bring immediate credibility to our program. We believe that he is the right man to lead our program to competitiveness and success.”
Prior to joining the Ursinus staff in 2018, Devlin had an impressive run for 11 years as the head coach of Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia. He had a 132-22-1 overall record and led Wood to PIAA titles in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. The Vikings were PIAA runners-up in 2008 and 2012. Devlin led the Vikings to 10 straight Philadelphia Catholic League titles.
Devlin was named the 2014 USA Today Pennsylvania Coach of the Year, and was the 2013 Associated Press Pennsylvania Coach of the Year. He was a six time Philadelphia Catholic League Coach of the Year. Devlin has three Archbishop Wood football alumni who currently play in the NFL – Kyle Pitts, a tight end for the Atlanta Falcons, Ryan Bates, a center for the Chicago Bears, and Raheem Blackshear, a running back most recently with the Carolina Panthers.
Devlin was a member of the Lycoming College football team that made an appearance in the 1990 Stagg Bowl – the Division III National Championship.
Devlin, and his wife, Sue, reside in Philadelphia. They have three children and five grandchildren.
