Football

Chris Pincince begins his third season as the Rams' offensive coordinator in 2010. In 2009, Pincince oversaw a passing attack that averaged 202.5 yards per game, which ranked fifth in the CAA. Quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne averaged 174.5 passing yards per game in Pincince's offensive scheme. Paul-Etienne began to excel under the watchful eye of Pincince as he averaged 236.7 passing yards per game and had a CAA-best 10 touchdowns over the final four games of the season. During that stretch, Paul-Etienne threw for a season-high 424 yards through the air at nationally-ranked New Hampshire. In his first season, Pincince implemented the spread offense at URI and the affects were felt immediately as the Rhody passing game ranked fifth in CAA Football (238.4) in passing offense. Pincince's offensive scheme also helped former quarterback Derek Cassidy throw for 2,759 yards, which ranks third in the URI all-time record book for passing yards in a single season. Cassidy also threw for 15 touchdowns in 2008. Five of Cassidy's touchdown passes came against Brown in the Governor's Cup (Oct. 4). Before arriving in Kingston, Pincince spent four seasons at Holy Cross (2004-2007), serving as offensive coordinator in the final two years. In 2007, his offense led the Patriot League in scoring (35.9 ppg), passing (335.2 ypg), total offense (463.4 ypg), and first downs (272). Crusaders quarterback Dominic Randolph led the conference in passing yards (3,604), touchdown passes (30), and total offense (340.1 ypg) and finished 12th in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the top player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Additionally, wide receiver Ryan Maher led the Patriot League in receptions (75), yards (907), yards per game (82.5 ypg), and touchdowns (10). In 2006, he directed a Crusaders' offense which led the Patriot League in total yards (384.4 ypg) and passing yards (271.5 ypg) and finished third in scoring with an average of 25.0 ppg. Pincince arrived at Holy Cross in 2004 and spent the next two seasons as wide receivers coach. During that span, he led a group which included All-Patriot League WR Sean Gruber, who finished his career at the Crusaders' all-time leader with 22 career touchdown receptions. He came to Holy Cross from Ursinus College (Pa.), where he served as offensive coordinator in 2003. While at Ursinus, Pincince coached Gary Sheffield, who finished among the Centennial Conference leaders in rushing yards. In 2002, Pincince worked on the Brown University football coaching staff as quarterbacks coach. At Brown, the Bears averaged 296 passing yards per game while quarterback Kyle Slager ranked 12th in the nation in total offense with an average of 298.2 yards per game. He began his coaching career at New Haven in 1995 as wide receivers coach before he was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Fairfield in 1997. Following the 1998 season, Pincince joined Rizzi at New Haven as offensive coordinator. During his tenure, the Chargers' offense averaged 355.2 yards per game and 30.1 ppg. In 2001, he helped coach New Haven to a win over previously unbeaten and nationally-ranked Villanova. A 1994 graduate of Boston University, Pincince was a member of the Terriers' 1993 Yankee Conference Championship team and also played on two NCAA Division I playoff teams. Pincince and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Woonsocket, R.I. with their sons Zachary and Owen and daughter Emma. updated: 6/22/10