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Sypult Head Coach jsypult@methodist.edu (910) 630-7178 Sypult’s philosophies helped to garner him a share of the 2005 conference championship, but he is not merely concerned with competing on the field. Sypult maintains “our players are expected to be the best they can be: on the field, off the field, and in the classroom. We, as coaches, help them for four years preparing for the next forty years. They are the future. Coaches and teachers have a huge responsibility.” The victories keep accumulating; Sypult boasts a 81-78 record while finishing nine seasons at .500 or better. Methodist had only two wins in three years before Sypult was hired. In 1997, the Monarchs went 9-1, finishing the season ranked 20th in the country for Division III. The team finished 7-3 in both 2000 and 2004, before finishing at the top of the conference with Ferrum in 2005. However, Sypult has moved away from the past and looks forward to a new year. “Every year is different. It is like a puzzle. We are searching for the right pieces. If everything falls into place, we can be very good in 2007. Methodist has all kinds of potential,” said Sypult. “I am excited to be here and will stay as long as they allow me. Coaching football is my passion.” While Coach Sypult has been the head coach at Methodist, eleven Monarch athletes have earned NCAA Division III All-American honors, while 28 players have been awarded first team All-Dixie Intercollegiate/USA South Athletic Conference honors. In addition, Sypult has helped to produce one DIAC Defensive Player of the Year and two DIAC/USA South Offensive Players of the Year. In 2000, Sypult was named the DIAC Coach of the Year. Sypult credits his staff with much of his success, “I am blessed to have these men working with me. Coming to work is pure joy. Each coach has no ego; no chore is beneath him. They are a loyal and cohesive group of demanding and knowledgeable winners.” Originally from Fairmont, West Virginia, Sypult was selected All-State in football and basketball at East Fairmont High School. He attended West Virginia University, starting two seasons at free safety and one season at wide receiver. In 1964, he helped take the Mountaineers to the Liberty Bowl and eventually was selected captain as a senior in 1966. Coach Sypult played under a number of prominent coaches including Bobby Bowden (long-time Florida State Head Coach), Galen Hall (Penn State’s Offensive Coordinator, Jim Carlen (former Head Coach at the University of South Carolina and Texas Tech) and Marshall Taylor (former Head Coach of the Shreveport Steamers of the old USFL). Sypult spent a year as a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia while earning his master’s degree in safety education. He coached high school for five years before moving to college coaching. In 1973, Sypult returned to his hometown as co-defensive coordinator at Division II Fairmont State and in 1974 moved to Middle Tennessee State as the defensive coordinator under Bill Peck and Ben Hurt. From 1979 to 1991, Sypult spent time as defensive coordinator and administrative assistant at Davidson College. During his time at Davidson, Sypult took a two-year hiatus to coach in Italy, taking a 2-12 team to the Super Bowl Playoffs. Sypult attributes his own coaching development to the mentors he has had throughout his life. “I have had great people guide me,” he said. “Every coach I had influenced me in a positive way. Joe Ross was my first coach in the 6th grade. Jim Priester and Jimmy Cale in high school were great people as were all of my college coaches. Every young man should be as lucky as me.” Sypult is married to Dr. Sharron Sypult,
an associate professor in Journalism and Communications. The Sypults
have one daughter, Jill Marcus, who owns a catering business in Charlotte.
The Sypults have two grandsons, Zachary (11) and Kyle (7).
Since returning to his alma mater, Eavenson has developed the Monarchs into one of the top offensive teams in the USA South Athletic Conference/Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In 2005, Methodist produced 2,000 yards rushing in a season for the third straight year, and the Monarchs set individual records for single season yards rushing, passing completions and passing yards. Throughout Eavenson’s tenure, the Monarch offense has ranked consistently in the upper tier of the conference and during the 2003 season they spent much of the season ranked in the Top 15 in the nation in rushing offense. Prior to returning to Methodist, Eavenson
coached for four seasons at Brockport State, a NCAA Division III school.
Eavenson served the Golden Eagles as the defensive backs coach and
was the recruiting coordinator.
In the last five years, Funderburk has helped the Monarchs to limit the number of sacks allowed. In 2004, Methodist set a USA South mark for fewest sacks allowed in a season with four. Individually, eight Monarch linemen have been selected All-USA South under Funderburk’s direction. In addition, two have advanced to the professional ranks. Funderburk joined the Methodist staff after a three-year stint as offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. Prior to Bacone, Funderburk served as offensive line coach for two seasons at Kemper Junior College in Booneville, Mo. A veteran of the United States Marine
Corps, Funderburk received his bachelor’s degree in history
from Elon in 1989. Funderburk married Eileen Tully during the spring
of 2007. In 2005, three defensive backs were named to the USA South All-Conference second team. Jones’ presence paid dividends for the Methodist defensive backfield in 2004. The Monarchs tied for the lead in the USA South with 13 interceptions. Jones came to Methodist following two seasons at former USA South Athletic Conference rival Chowan. While at Chowan, the Temple Hills, Md., native was the defensive line coach under head coaches Lou Saban and Steve Gill, and also served as special teams coordinator. Prior to returning to Chowan, Jones served as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division II Eastern New Mexico under head coach Harold “Bud” Elliott, where he helped lead the Greyhounds to two straight Lone Star Conference South Division Championships and berths in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. A former standout defensive lineman
at Chowan from 1993-1996, Jones received his bachelor of science degree
in physical education from Chowan, and his master of science degree
in physical education from Eastern New Mexico. Jones holds both the
school single-season and career records for quarterback sacks at Chowan.
Jones has a three-year-old son Christian Jones. Overall, Boxleitner has nine seasons experience as an assistant at the collegiate level. He also has stints at Cortland State (2001), Albany (1999-2000), South Dakota (1998) and Brockport State (1997). Boxleitner was defensive coordinator in his one season at Cortland State. His defense was ranked second in the NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference) in total defense and led the NJAC in rushing defense. He served as outside linebackers coach at both Albany and South Dakota, and assistant offensive line coach in his first stint at Brockport State. It was his first stint at Brockport State where Boxleitner served on the same coaching staff as current Methodist offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Eavenson. As a player, Boxleitner lettered four
seasons at inside linebacker at Blackburn in Carlinville, Ill. He
was a four-year starter and was selected All-SLIAC (St. Louis Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference). He received his bachelor’s degree in physical
education from Blackburn. In 2006, Goss coached All-American George Sands and in 2005, Goss coached three All-Conference wide receivers that heped to break numerous individual and team passing records. In addition to the wide receivers, Goss is also in charge of the Monarch’s strength and conditioning. A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Goss was a part of a Brockport State program that advanced to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for four straight seasons from 2000 to 2003. He was a part of a defensive staff that molded Brockport State into one of the top defenses in the nation, leading the nation in scoring defense twice while being ranked in the top five in several defensive categories. While at Brockport, Goss coached four All-Americans. In addition to his football duties, Goss was an assistant and recruiting coordinator for the track and field program at Brockport State. Not only did he make his mark as a coach
at Brockport State, Goss did so as a player as well. He lettered four
seasons for the Golden Eagles and started two seasons at defensive
tackle. As a senior, Goss recorded three quarterback sacks for a career
six sacks. Goss received his bachelor of science degree in physical
education from Brockport State in 2001. In March of 2007, Goss married
Amanda.
As a player, Maraschiello served as an offensive tackle from 2000 to 2003. A four-year starter before an injury sidelined him during his senior season. Originally from Flat Rock, North Carolina, Maraschiello lettered four seasons in both golf and football at East Henderson High School.
Jerry
McCombs While at Averett, McCombs coached the offensive line. In 2006, under his direction the offensive line surrendered only two sacks in conference play, helping lead the Cougars to the 2006 USA South Conference Championship. Additionally, he held the duties of Recruiting Coordinator, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and Video Coordinator during his time there. McCombs also serves on the American Football Coaches Association Division III Assistant Coaches Committee. As a player McCombs was a four year letter winner and three year starter on the Offensive Line at Waynesburg College located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor’s degree in Secondary History Education from Waynesburg and later earned a Master’s of Business Administration while coaching at Averett. McCombs and his wife Melissa have one
daughter, Madison.
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Coach
Jim Sypult has coached 16 seasons at Methodist University, a program
that he has helped build to become a consistent contender in the USA
South Athletic Conference. Sypult believes “we have been very
competitive for several years. We haven’t accomplished all of
our goals and dreams yet. We still have work to do.”
Dave
Eavenson, a graduate of Methodist College, has spent eight seasons
on the Monarch football staff as the offensive coordinator and offensive
backs coach. He has also spent six seasons as Associate Head Coach.
Carl
Funderburk has coached six seasons on the Methodist coaching staff
as the offensive line coach. A veteran of eleven seasons as an offensive
line coach, Funderburk has made the Monarch offensive front one of
the top offensive lines in the USA South Athletic Conference. 
A
coach with familiarity in the USA South Athletic Conference, Tyrone
Jones has coached four seasons on the Monarch coaching staff. He will
be in charge of the defensive backs.
Wade Boxleitner returns for another season at Methodist. He rejoined
the Monarchs in 2005 after serving the previous two seasons as defensive
backs coach at Brockport State. During the 2002 season, Boxleitner
was the outside linebackers coach for Methodist.
C.J.
Goss serves as the Defensive Line Coach and the Strength and Conditioning
Coordinator. Goss came to Methodist in 2005 following a five-year
stint as defensive line coach at Brockport State.
Michael
Maraschiello joined the Methodist coaching staff in March of 2007,
bringing valuable experience. A Methodist graduate and former
Monarch player, Maraschiello has served as a volunteer assistant for
the past two seasons.
Jerry McCombs joined the Methodist University
football staff in March of 2008. No stranger to the USA South Conference,
McCombs spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach at Averett
University in Danville, VA.
