The 2018 and 2023 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Andrew DiDonato enters his 10th season as Grove City College’s 28th all-time head football coach.
DiDonato has implemented a “Brick By Brick” philosophy throughout all aspects of the Wolverine program since taking his position in 2016.
In 2023, Grove City won the Presidents' Athletic Conference title with a 10-0 record and captured the program's first-ever NCAA Division III playoff berth. Grove City defeated undefeated Susquehanna in the first round of the playoffs, 21-20, to earn the program's first NCAA playoff win. The Wolverines fell at eventual national champion Cortland State in the second round, 25-24.
Guard Vinny Lepre and linebacker Ben Bladel both earned All-America honors following the 2023 season. Bladel also earned the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award. Those two men earned D3football.com All-Region, as did center Brady Brungard, cornerback/kick returner Gabe Dunlap, running back Nico Flati, long snapper C.J. Otwell and defensive end Bryce Spolnik.
In 2024, the Wolverines repeated as conference champions and captured their second straight NCAA Division III playoff berth. Grove City led the nation in turnover margin while also ranking third in rushing defense.
Bladel and wide receiver Scott Fraser both earned All-America honors. Bladel, Brungard, Fraser, Spolnik and cornerback Boden Davidson all earned All-Region recognition from D3football.com.
Grove City won four straight Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) bowl games from 2018 to 2022. The Wolverines are 53-14 over the last six fall seasons.
In 2022, Grove City led the Presidents' Athletic Conference in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense and rushing defense. The Wolverines went 8-3 overall and defeated FDU-Florham in the ECAC James Lynah Bowl, 31-14.
LePre earned AFCA All-America honors while Bladel captured Presidents' Athletic Conference and ECAC Newcomer of the Year honors.
In 2021, wide receiver Cody Gustafson earned consensus All-America honors, as well as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American of the Year honor. Grove City finished 8-3 and rolled past Utica, 49-7, in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl.
In 2019, the Wolverines tied the program record by winning nine games and set a program record with seven conference victories. Grove City finished 9-2, capping the season with a 41-38 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) James Lynah Bowl.
Running back Wesley Schools earned Presidents' Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors and became a consensus Division III All-American. Schools led Division III in scoring and ranked among the national leaders in rushing yardage.
Meanwhile, junior wide receiver Cody Gustafson earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. He also became the program's career leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches during the 2019 season.
In 2018, the Wolverines posted their finest season in 21 years by going 8-3 overall. Grove City capped the season by winning its final seven games, including a 56-48 victory over Morrisville State in the ECAC James Lynah Bowl, marking the first postseason victory in Grove City football history.
The Wolverines set a program record by winning six conference games, leading to the league’s head football coaches honoring DiDonato as its Coach of the Year. Schools led the conference with 1,741 rushing yards and Gustafson set single-season program records with 76 catches, 1,201 receiving yards, and 15 touchdown catches.
Gustafson and Schools both earned D3Football.com All-South Region, while punter Caleb Brake and tackle Sal Spinosa joined that duo on the All-ECAC Division Team.
Gustafson joined the linebacker duo of Ethan Conto and Sam Henson on the Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. Twelve Wolverines earned PAC Academic Honor Roll distinction in 2018.
In 2017, Schools became the program’s fourth all-time 1,000-yard rusher and Gustafson earned Presidents’ Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year honors after catching 58 passes as a rookie. Grove City posted a four-game improvement in the standings in his second season as head coach.
DiDonato returned to the College as offensive coordinator in 2015. Under his guidance, the Wolverine offense nearly doubled its point production from the previous season and also increased its offensive yardage average by 55 yards per game.
Quarterback Caleb Jakiel set a program record by throwing for 428 yards October 31, 2015 at Bethany. He also set a Grove City standard with 484 yards of total offense that day.
DiDonato joined the Grove City coaching staff in January 2015 after spending three seasons at South Fayette High School. He worked as South Fayette’s offensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014, helping the Lions to a 32-0 aggregate record and two Class AA state titles.
As South Fayette’s offensive coordinator, he successfully directed an explosive offensive system that featured Pennsylvania’s all-time leader in passing yardage, quarterback Brett Brumbaugh.
DiDonato’s coaching career began at the University of Buffalo in 2010. He also coached at Peters Township High School.
A native of Bridgeville, Pa., and graduate of South Fayette High School, DiDonato graduated as Grove City College’s record holder in career passing yards (7,509), pass completions (750), and touchdown passes (49). He also held the Wolverines’ season records in each of those three categories.
DiDonato started a Grove City-record 40 games at quarterback from 2006 to 2009. He captained the 2009 team as a senior, leading the team to a 4-2 mark in Presidents’ Athletic Conference play, marking the program’s best finish in the league in nine years.
DiDonato concluded his career as a student athlete by earning the College’s Omicron Delta Kappa Sportsman of the Year award in 2010. As a senior, he lettered in basketball and helped Grove City to the conference title and the Wolverines’ first trip to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 21 years. DiDonato also earned PAC Academic Honor Roll distinction during his career as a student-athlete.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 2010 and a master’s degree in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2011.
He previously served on the board for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in western Pennsylvania and worked as the football camp director and coaches’ ministry director for that organization.
DiDonato lives in Pine Township with his wife, Andrea, and their two children.
