TicketsCINCINNATI – Cincinnati football head coach Scott Satterfield announced on Wednesday the additions of assistant coaches Greg Gasparato (defense) and Josh Stepp (offense) as well as his strength and conditioning staff led by Niko Palazeti.
Gasparato and Stepp come from Louisville, where they helped lead the Cardinals to an 8-5 record in 2022.
Gasparato spent two seasons on the Louisville staff, coaching safeties in 2021 and outside linebackers in 2022. This past fall, his linebackers were instrumental in Louisville tallying 50 sacks, which led the nation. Senior linebacker Yasir Abdullah led the ACC with 9.5 sacks en route to First Team all-conference honors. Gasparato joined the Cardinals after a successful 2020 season as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Army. Prior to his one season at the United States Military Academy, he coached the safeties at Appalachian State – his second stint with the program. He also made stops at Wofford, Brevard College, Juniata (Pa.) College and Richland Northeast High School.
"Greg is one of the top young defensive coaches in the country," Satterfield said. "He was an integral part of our defensive staff at Louisville, coaching safeties and outside linebackers during his time there. Greg is a great teacher of the game. He loves football, and his passion for the game makes him the kind of coach that players want to play for."
Stepp spent the previous season as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville following six seasons at Georgia State, where he coached tight ends and running backs and was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the 2021 season. Stepp helped lead a Louisville offense that averaged more than 400 yards per game in 2022. He coached redshirt junior tight end Marshon Ford to honorable mention All-ACC accolades, as well. Stepp was a high school football coach for several years before joining the college coaching ranks. As a quarterback at Newberry (S.C.) College, he set program records for passing yards and touchdowns.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Josh as a member of our offensive staff," Satterfield said. "He will do a remarkable job teaching, recruiting, and most importantly, mentoring our student-athletes. Josh did an outstanding job for our team at Louisville last year, and he is a coach who has impressed me for a number of years – from his time at Georgia State to when he was a high school coach."
Palazeti Leads Football Sports Performance Staff
Niko Palazeti, who spent six seasons on the strength and conditioning staff at Ohio State, was announced by Satterfield as the Bearcats' Director of Football Sports Performance. He will lead a staff of five full-time strength coaches.
A strength training and conditioning coach at three Power 5 schools, he joined the Ohio State staff in January 2017. Palazeti was a three-year member of the Michigan State football team and a two-time Spartan letterwinner (2011 and 2012) before injuries prompted him to retire from the sport in 2013. His first full-time position as a strength and conditioning coach came in 2015 at Mississippi State University. After one season, he moved on to the University of Maryland.
The Buckeyes held a record of 67-9, won four Big 10 championships and advanced to three College Football Playoffs during Palazeti's six years on staff.
"Niko comes to us as one of the most highly respected strength and conditioning coaches in the country," Satterfield said. "His work on the staff at Ohio State was key to the team's success. He has assembled a great team, and I'm looking forward to watching them interact with our student-athletes when we start our offseason program in the next few weeks."
Joining Palazeti on UC's football sports performance staff are:
Friend spent the last five years as a member of the Ohio State performance staff. In addition to working with football during his time with the Buckeyes, he oversaw all aspects of strength and conditioning and performance for both the men's and women's ice hockey programs. The women's ice hockey team won the 2022 NCAA National Championship.
Garcia most recently served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for UNLV football, beginning in the role in 2020. He previously served as strength and conditioning coach/sports performance assistant for football at the University of Maryland in 2018.
Stout spent the previous four seasons as an assistant strength coach for the University of Louisville football program. He wrapped up his playing career in 2018, spending five seasons at Appalachian State under Satterfield. He started 38 of 39 games over his final three seasons at Appalachian State, tallying 82 tackles and earning All-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention honors as a junior.
Ethington previously served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Marshall, beginning in the role in January of 2022. He worked with both the football and softball programs. Prior to Marshall, he was a strength and conditioning intern at Ohio State (2020-2021) and University of Maryland football (2019).
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Gasparato and Stepp come from Louisville, where they helped lead the Cardinals to an 8-5 record in 2022.
Gasparato spent two seasons on the Louisville staff, coaching safeties in 2021 and outside linebackers in 2022. This past fall, his linebackers were instrumental in Louisville tallying 50 sacks, which led the nation. Senior linebacker Yasir Abdullah led the ACC with 9.5 sacks en route to First Team all-conference honors. Gasparato joined the Cardinals after a successful 2020 season as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Army. Prior to his one season at the United States Military Academy, he coached the safeties at Appalachian State – his second stint with the program. He also made stops at Wofford, Brevard College, Juniata (Pa.) College and Richland Northeast High School.
"Greg is one of the top young defensive coaches in the country," Satterfield said. "He was an integral part of our defensive staff at Louisville, coaching safeties and outside linebackers during his time there. Greg is a great teacher of the game. He loves football, and his passion for the game makes him the kind of coach that players want to play for."
Stepp spent the previous season as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville following six seasons at Georgia State, where he coached tight ends and running backs and was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the 2021 season. Stepp helped lead a Louisville offense that averaged more than 400 yards per game in 2022. He coached redshirt junior tight end Marshon Ford to honorable mention All-ACC accolades, as well. Stepp was a high school football coach for several years before joining the college coaching ranks. As a quarterback at Newberry (S.C.) College, he set program records for passing yards and touchdowns.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Josh as a member of our offensive staff," Satterfield said. "He will do a remarkable job teaching, recruiting, and most importantly, mentoring our student-athletes. Josh did an outstanding job for our team at Louisville last year, and he is a coach who has impressed me for a number of years – from his time at Georgia State to when he was a high school coach."
Palazeti Leads Football Sports Performance Staff
Niko Palazeti, who spent six seasons on the strength and conditioning staff at Ohio State, was announced by Satterfield as the Bearcats' Director of Football Sports Performance. He will lead a staff of five full-time strength coaches.
A strength training and conditioning coach at three Power 5 schools, he joined the Ohio State staff in January 2017. Palazeti was a three-year member of the Michigan State football team and a two-time Spartan letterwinner (2011 and 2012) before injuries prompted him to retire from the sport in 2013. His first full-time position as a strength and conditioning coach came in 2015 at Mississippi State University. After one season, he moved on to the University of Maryland.
The Buckeyes held a record of 67-9, won four Big 10 championships and advanced to three College Football Playoffs during Palazeti's six years on staff.
"Niko comes to us as one of the most highly respected strength and conditioning coaches in the country," Satterfield said. "His work on the staff at Ohio State was key to the team's success. He has assembled a great team, and I'm looking forward to watching them interact with our student-athletes when we start our offseason program in the next few weeks."
Joining Palazeti on UC's football sports performance staff are:
- Christopher Friend, Associate Director of Football Sports Performance
- Brandon Garcia, Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance
- MyQuon Stout, Assistant Football Sports Performance Coach
- Scott Ethington, Assistant Football Sports Performance Coach
Friend spent the last five years as a member of the Ohio State performance staff. In addition to working with football during his time with the Buckeyes, he oversaw all aspects of strength and conditioning and performance for both the men's and women's ice hockey programs. The women's ice hockey team won the 2022 NCAA National Championship.
Garcia most recently served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for UNLV football, beginning in the role in 2020. He previously served as strength and conditioning coach/sports performance assistant for football at the University of Maryland in 2018.
Stout spent the previous four seasons as an assistant strength coach for the University of Louisville football program. He wrapped up his playing career in 2018, spending five seasons at Appalachian State under Satterfield. He started 38 of 39 games over his final three seasons at Appalachian State, tallying 82 tackles and earning All-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention honors as a junior.
Ethington previously served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Marshall, beginning in the role in January of 2022. He worked with both the football and softball programs. Prior to Marshall, he was a strength and conditioning intern at Ohio State (2020-2021) and University of Maryland football (2019).
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