Moon Township, Pa. -- Robert Morris University head football coach Bernard Clark announced the hiring of offensive coordinator Gabe Luvara and defensive coordinator Dave Plungas Tuesday. Both Luvara and Plungas worked with Clark at the University of Albany before joining the RMU staff.

Luvara spent four seasons at the University at Albany, the last three as the quarterbacks coach and associate offensive coordinator. He assisted the Great Danes in averaging 24.9 points per contest in 2016 to rank fourth in the CAA, including 36 points in a comeback victory at New Hampshire, en route to a 7-4 overall record.
 
"For the last four years, I've watched him be very thorough with everything he did at UAlbany with the quarterbacks," said Clark. "He was very structured and very detailed with everything he did with the offense as the passing game coordinator there. He did a great job, not only working with the head coach but working with the offensive coordinator, and getting everything right and the patterns right. When I got the job, he was one of the guys I really wanted here."
 
"More than anything else, Gabe picks defenses apart. He does a great job watching film. He'll make it simple for our guys while also making it complex for our opponents."
 
Luvara came to Albany after four seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Frostburg State University football program. Under his direction, the Bobcats made huge strides on the offensive side of the ball, improving over 130 yards per game from his first season to his second, averaging 376 yards per game and 32 minutes of possession per game. In addition, the 2011 Bobcats threw for 2,234 yards, the fourth most yards in a season in school history, tossed 15 touchdowns, fifth best in school history, and ran for 1,528 yards, the most since 2002.
 
"I couldn't be more excited to be a part of the program here at RMU," said Luvara. "Obviously knowing Coach Clark the last four years, I have developed a deep respect for him as a coach and leader. I know his vision for the program will produce not only football teams that will represent RMU at a championship level, but also help develop young me that will make the entire community proud. To be a small part of that process, as well as being included into the great tradition of this program and University, is very humbling. I can't wait to get to work in both meeting and developing relationships with our current student-athletes as well as help recruit the next class of Colonials."
 
Plungas was a defensive assistant under Clark for three seasons at the University at Albany prior to joining the RMU staff. Most recently, Plungas served as the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons at the University of Albany. He oversaw the development of Eli Mencer, an All-Colonial Athletic Association pick at linebacker. Mencer led the CAA and was third nationally forcing five fumbles in 2017.
 
"For the last three and half years, Dave has worked side-by-side with me, so he knows exactly what I'm looking for," said Clark. "He knows the defenses I like. He knows the culture I want. He knows that our best defense has to be our base defense. He knows we're trying to make it as simple as possible for our guys to play fast, physical and finish off plays. Dave is very detailed and very structured."
 
Plungas helped mold the 2017 Danes defense into the ninth best in the nation. That squad ranked ninth in FCS holding opponents to just 282.1 yards per game, a number that was bolstered by the country's 15th-best rushing defense (107.0) and 20th-best passing defense (175.1). The Great Danes allowed just were 17^th nationally allowing just 17.7 points per game as the Albany defense finished in the top-20 of eight different national stats categories in 2017 and three players earned All-CAA honors for the Danes defense.
 
"I am very excited and grateful to become part of the Robert Morris University football program under the guidance of Coach Clark," said Plungas. "We are going to continue to build upon the success and traditions that have been established here while creating our own. This is an exciting time for this football program and I cannot wait to get started."
 
In 2016, the Danes defense ranked first in the CAA with a +1.45 turnover margin and 32 total forced turnovers, leading to just 18.8 points allowed per game for second in the league.  Three Albany defensive players earned All-CAA honors, including Michael Nicastro on the First Team with 126 total tackles and three recovered fumbles, each top-four in all of FCS.