Updated 3/20/08

Gregg Perry, who led the University of Delaware football team to national success as a player and then as a long-time assistant coach, returns to the Blue Hen staff this spring as tight ends and offensive tackles coach.

Perry, 54, served as offensive line coach at Princeton University the past two seasons after working in private business for four years. He replaces Bobby Acosta, who took an administrative athletics position at Monmouth University this winter after serving one year at Delaware.

A native of Washington, NJ, Perry was a three-year standout as a running back and tight end at Delaware under Hall of Fame head coach Tubby Raymond from 1974-76, helping the Blue Hens win 28 games, two Lambert Cup trophies, and make two appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The 1974 squad went 12-2 and advanced to the national championship game.

Perry earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Delaware in 1977 and went on to earn his master's degree in education from UD while working as a graduate assistant.

He served as an assistant coach for the Blue Hens for 25 seasons, working as a graduate assistant coach under Raymond in 1977-78, serving as head coach of the freshman team in 1979-80, and moving into a full-time position as offensive line coach in 1981, a duty he held for 21 seasons until the 2001 season when Raymond retired.

During his tenure as offensive line coach, Perry gained a national reputation for his team's success and played a big part in shaping a Blue Hen offense that annually ranked among the nations' elite. During his 21 years on the varsity staff, Delaware teams posted a record of 172-79-1 (.684), advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, won the Lambert Cup trophy as the top team in the East five times, was named the ECAC Team of the Year four times, and captured six league titles. The Hens advanced to the national semifinals four times, including a trip to the NCAA I-AA title game during the 1982 campaign. The Hens led the conference in rushing four straight years in 1991-94 and annually ranked among the national leaders in that category. In addition, Perry coached nine All-American offensive linemen.

He left the coaching ranks following the 2001 to enter private business but returned to college athletics in 2006 and coached the offensive line at Princeton University the last two seasons under head coach Roger Hughes. The Tigers went 9-1 and captured the Ivy League title in 2006 and posted a 4-6 mark in 2007.

“We are very happy to have Gregg back as a Blue Hen,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, who was a player at UD in 1977-79 when Perry was a graduate assistant under head coach Tubby Raymond at Delaware. “We were looking to fill a position and we were looking for a great coach, a great person, and a great recruiter. Already having known Gregg, he was the perfect fit. He will be a great resource to Brian Ginn and Wrobo (Wroblewski) in working with our offense.”

Perry’s wife, Joyce, was a three-sport athlete at Delaware and served as UD’s women’s basketball head coach for 18 seasons, winning 266 games and three conference titles between 1978-96. She was inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. She works as an instructional technology specialist with the Avon Grove (PA) School District after teaching four years in the UD College of Health and Exercise Science.

Gregg and Joyce live in Lincoln University, PA with their sons Rhett and Trey. Rhett is currently a student at Delaware.