The veteran coach and former Delaware high school star joined the Hornets’ staff in Feb. 2020 after a highly successful stint as an assistant at NCAA Div. III power Wesley College in Dover (Del.).
During Azzanesi’s his 18-year tenure on the Wesley coaching staff, including 16 under late legendary head coach Mike Drass, the Wolverines posted an overall an overall record of 180-42 (.811), including a 63-13 mark in conference games (.797). The team also made 14 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, advancing to final four six times, and captured nine conference championships while he was on the staff.
During the 2018 and ’19 seasons, Azzanesi was Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Wolverines. In 2019, Wesley was tops in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in passing at 267.3 yards per game, and led the league in total offense (448.6 ypg), passing (279.4 ypg) and first downs (22.4 pg) in 2018. The Wolves posted a NCAA playoff win in 2019.
Azzanesi served as Wesley’s Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator from 2011 to ‘17. The seasons were highlighted by NCAA Tournament appearances each year and the development of record setting quarterback Joe Callahan, whose numbers with the Wolves made him one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history and led to National Football League opportunities.
In four seasons at Wesley, Callahan passed for school-records of 12,878 yards and 130 touchdowns. In 2015, he threw for a NCAA Div. III record 5,063 yards and 55 touchdowns and was presented with the Gagliardi Award as the Most Outstanding Player in D III. Callahan passed for 4,190 yards and 46 touchdowns as a junior in 2014. In 2013, he set NCAA playoff records with 633 passing yards and eight touchdowns in a game vs. Mount Union.
Callahan was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2016. He appeared in one regular season game for the Packers in 2017, and has also spent time with the NFL’s Saints, Browns, Eagles, Buccaneers, Ravens and Lions.
In 2015, Wesley was also tops in Div. III in total offense (591.8 ypg) and scoring (46.8 ppg). Also that season, Wolverine wide outs Bryce Shade and James Okike combined for 62 catches, 2,853 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns.
In Azzanesi’s first year as Wesley’s passing game coordinator in 2011, Shane McSweeny threw for 3,019 yards and 33 touchdowns, while Justin Sollilare passed for 3,071 yards and 33 scores the following year.
Wide receiver hauled in 80 passes for 1,551 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Wolverines in 2014. In 2017, led the NJAC in total offense at 441.3 yards per game.
Wesley reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals three times and made two semifinal appearances from 2011 to ’17.
In addition to his coaching duties, Azzanesi has served as an Associate Athletics Director (2011-20), Interim Director of Admissions (2014), Assistant Athletics Director (2006-10) and adjunct professor, among other responsibilities, during his tenure at Wesley.
Prior to his coaching career, he was a football and baseball standout for the Wolverines. In 1998, he was selected as the All-American Collegiate Football Conference First Team quarterback and was captain of the 1999 Wesley baseball team.
Azzanesi earned a bachelor’s from Wesley in 2000 and a MBA from the school in 2004. He’s currently enrolled in the doctoral program at Wilmington (Del.) University, with an expected completion in May 2021.
A graduate of St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, Del., he led the school to a state football championship in 1994.
