Kean University

Garrett was named the head coach of the football program in July 2006, and he immediately made an impact turning the program around as the Cougars recorded seven straight non losing seasons for first time in program history in his first seven years at the helm.

Coach Garrett Highlights

NCAA Tournament Appearance - 2011

NJAC Championships – 2011

Four ECAC Bowl Championships – 2006, 2009, 2015, 2016

Five ECAC Bowl Appearances – 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016

Two NJAC Coach of the Year Selections – 2006, 2011, Fall 2021

2005 ABCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year

Winningest Coach in Program History

215 All-NJAC Selections

79 All-NJAC First Team Selections

42 All-ECAC Selections

33 All-Region Selections

22 All-Americans

One Division III ECAC Player of the Year Selection

One Division III ECAC Defensive Player of the Year Selection

Two Division III ECAC Rookie of the Year Selections

Five NJAC Offensive Player of the Year Selections

Three NJAC Defensive Player of the Year Selections

Four NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year Selections

Five NJAC Rookie of the Year Selections

In his 19 seasons, the Cougars have won 84 games. Garrett led the team to its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and its third NJAC Championship, and has also guided three ECAC Southeast Bowl Championship teams.

In 2024, Kean had eight All-NJAC selections, including first team selections in Chris Amos and Meir Pittman. Amos and Pittman were also named to the All-ECAC Second Team

In the Fall 2021, Garrett was named NJAC Co-Coach of the Year after guiding the Cougars to a second place finish in the conference. Kean boasted 10 All-NJAC selections with five first teamers, including Donte Jamison being named NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Jamison along with Kyeon Taylor were named All-American by respective organizations. Taylor was selected All-American by the AFCA, Associated Press, CFB Network and D3Football. Jamison earned an All-American selection from D3Football.

Over four seasons (2017-Spring 2021), Coach Garrett has had 37 student-athletes selected to the NJAC All-Conference, including Darin Hungerford being named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, Anthony Bassani being named the NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, Dante Capozzoli being named the NJAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, Naz Broome being named the NJAC North Offensive Rookie of the Year and Tanner Ash being named NJAC North Co-Defensive Rookie of the Year in Spring 2021. 

In 2015 and 2016 the football program combined for 15 wins (8 and 7 respectively) and claimed two ECAC Presidents Bowl Championships and defeated every school from New Jersey on the schedule. 

The football team had its most successful season in program history in 2011 after winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference title and earning the program's first trip to the NCAA playoffs, while winning a school-record 10 games.  The Cougars, who defeated Montclair State University for the program's third NJAC title, defeated Christopher Newport University in the opening round of the NCAA playoffs, before dropping a heartbreaker in triple overtime to host Salisbury University.  At the conclusion of the 2011 season the Cougars were ranked in two national polls as they finished with a #10 ranking in the D3football.com poll and #12 ranking in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll.  For his efforts, Garrett was awarded NJAC Coach of the Year honors for the second time in six seasons.

Garrett guided the Cougars to a then-school record nine wins and came within one win of capturing the NJAC Championship in 2009.  The Cougars capped the season with their second Eastern College Athletic Conference Southeast Bowl Championship in four years and only third title in program history. 

In 2008, Garrett guided the Cougars to a 7-4 record, 6-3 in the NJAC and a berth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference South Atlantic Bowl Championship, the second time in three seasons the Cougars advanced to an ECAC Bowl Championship and just the program’s fourth ECAC appearance. 

During his rookie season as a head coach in 2006, Kean finished 7-4 overall, 4-3 in the NJAC and captured just the second ECAC championship in program history, as Garrett was selected NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers.  In 2007, the Cougars won three of their final four games, including a season-ending victory over NJAC co-champion The College of New Jersey, giving the NCAA tournament bound Lions their only conference loss of the season.



Immediately following a standout playing career at Montclair State University, during which he was a first team all-NJAC selection at linebacker and defensive end in 1995 and 1996, Garrett was invited to join the staff of longtime MSU head coach Rick Giancola. In both of his first two seasons on the staff, the Red Hawks added two victories to their previous total, winning eight games and the ECAC Southeast Championship in 1998.

The following year, Garrett received an even bigger opportunity when Giancola offered Garrett the chance to assume control of the defensive unit, an almost unheard of responsibility for someone of his age and relative experience. He eagerly accepted and became the youngest defensive coordinator in the NJAC at the age of 25.

Opposing offenses were quickly overwhelmed by the ferocity of his defense, which finished in the top five nationally in yards allowed in Garrett’s first year and helped the Red Hawks to their first NJAC title in a decade, followed by an encore in 2000. In his first four years on the job, Garrett’s unit finished the season ranked No. 1 in the NJAC in total defense.

Garrett took the defensive coordinator’s position at Kean prior to the 2003 season, a move that paid immediate dividends for the Cougar program. Upon his arrival, Kean’s defensive units were ranked among the NJAC and national leaders. In Garrett’s first season, the Cougars ranked first in the NJAC in pass defense and were second in the conference and 21st in the nation in total defense. In 2005, Kean ranked 33rd in the country in rushing defense, while also finishing second in the conference in turnover margin.

Garrett earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1997 from Montclair State University. He and his wife Tammy reside in Ocean, N.J., with their sons, Shane, Jake and Danny

*-Season shortened and played in the Spring due to COVID-19

Updated 6-19-25