Joe Battaglia named interim head football coach
LOCK HAVEN – Joe Battaglia has been named the Lock Haven football program’s interim head coach.
Battaglia joined the Lock Haven staff in April of 2022 as the offensive coordinator and he will serve as the interim head coach until a national search for Lock Haven’s next football head coach is completed.
“Joe has been instrumental in the successful revitalization of Lock Haven Football over the past three years,” said Albert Jones, interim director of athletics. “His interim appointment will ensure the continued academic and athletic success of our student-athletes. I’m excited about the direction of the program as we begin the search for our next head coach.”
Since taking over play calling duties for the Bald Eagles in 2022, Battaglia has turned The Haven’s offense into one of the most prolific in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), both through the air and on the ground.
In 2024, quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky finished the season with 3,203 passing yards, 291.18 passing yards-per-game and 27 passing TDs, all of which led the PSAC. All of those marks also stand as Lock Haven single-season passing records. All-American wide receiver T’iar Young won the PSAC receiving triple crown after earning the top marks in receiving yards (1,146), receiving yards-per-game (104.2) and receiving touchdowns (11).
In 2023, current Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) running back Chris Collier earned multiple All-American honors and was named PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, after leading the league in rushing and breaking the Lock Haven football program record for single-season rushing yards (1,393).
Prior to Lock Haven, Battalgia added nearly a decade of experience to the staff following stints at Division I Coastal Carolina, Temple and Georgia Tech.
In 2023, when Lock Haven won five games, it stood as the Bald Eagles first five-win season in 42 years (1982). Now, The Haven has posted 10 wins in two seasons, the most victories in a two-year stretch since Lock Haven won 11 in 1981 (6) and 1982 (5).
A national search for Lock Haven’s next head football coach is forthcoming.
