FAIRFIELD, Conn. –Ahead of the start to spring practice, Sacred Heart University head football coach Mark Nofri has added three members to his coaching staff. Joining the Pioneers is Nigel Madison, Ernesto Purnsley and Kevin Woodring.
 
Madison will be the new inside linebacker coach while Purnsley takes over as running back's coach. Woodring will oversee the tight end corps. Brad Tiernan, who previously served as tight end coach, transitions to offensive line coach. 
 
"I am excited about the three new coaches that we added to our staff," Nofri said. "I believe that they are men of high integrity, good teachers and role models for our student-athletes. I am sure they will fit into the Pioneer community, and I know they are excited to get to work for SHU."
 
Most recently Madison served as a defensive analyst for Oregon. He helped the Ducks to a 10-win season and victory over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl. While with the Ducks, his responsibilities included assisting the defensive coordinator in developing the game plan as well as all recruiting functions. On game days he would oversee the linebacker rotations. 
 
Named to Football Scoop's 2022 Minority Watch List/Rising Stars, Madison also has FBS experience as a graduate assistant at the University of Buffalo and Florida International. He got his coaching start as defensive line coach for three seasons at his alma mater, Concordia University.
 
"I am very grateful to Coach Nofri for giving me an opportunity to be a part of such an amazing staff," Madison said. "I'm so excited to help continue to push this amazing university to new heights."
 
A two-year starter for the Cardinals, he played in 23 games during his career. Madison graduated from Concordia in 2017 with a degree in exercise science.
 
Purnsley brings a wealth of coaching knowledge to the staff with 23 years on the sidelines. The last 17 years of his career he coached in arena football, including stops with the Iowa Barnstormers, Philadelphia Soul and Chicago Rush. Most recently he was the head coach of the Guangzhou Power of the Chinese Arena Football League. 
 
"I'm excited to join the staff and I'm looking forward to a great season," Purnsley said. "I want to thank coach Nofri for the opportunity to be a Sacred Heart and the great tradition of excellence that's been established here."
 
Before making the jump to the pro ranks, Purnsley spent six seasons at the collegiate level. He spent two seasons at Murray State, helping the Racers to back-to-back winning seasons. In addition, he coached at Charleston Southern and Southern Illinois. 
 
Purnsley, a native of North Carolina, played collegiately at Catawba College, where he was a wide receiver and quarterback. He earned a degree in physical education from Catawba in 1990.
 
Rounding out the staff is Woodring, who spent the last two seasons at Springfield College as a graduate assistant. Serving as the defensive line coach, he helped the Pride to a pair of NEWMAC championships. Last year's team posted a 9-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
 
"I could not be more excited to join the Sacred Heart football coaching staff," Woodring said. "I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of such a storied program and more importantly a great community with great student-athletes and people. I appreciate Coach Nofri and the rest of the staff for welcoming me to the program and I'm looking forward to continuing the strong tradition here at SHU."
 
A native of Norwalk, Conn., Woodring was a standout player at Middlebury College. He was a three-time All-NESCAC offensive lineman who served as team captain on the Lions' 2019 championship team that went 9-0. Woodring also excelled in the classroom as a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team selection and CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree. He graduated from Middlebury with a bachelor's in economics.