On Feb. 5, Monmouth University announced across social media platforms football alumni, Christian Runza, would be returning to the Division I Football program as the Director of Football Operations and Outside Linebackers Coach.
For Monmouth football fans, the news felt much more than a routine staffing update, it signaled the return of a familiar face tied to a chapter of program history. As a linebacker, Runza helped lead the Hawks to their first ever FCS playoff berth in 2017, his senior season. He later that year earned the Raymond Micheli Coaches Award, an honor recognizing his leadership and commitment to the program.
In the spring, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree of science in business administration and was a two time member of the Dean’s List. His journey back to West Long Branch, however, was far from straightforward. Runza entered the finance world, taking a position on Wall Street. However, the fast paced corporate lifestyle quickly confirmed that his passion remained on the football field.
“That life wasn’t for me so I got into coaching and the only way for me to do it was by volunteering,” he said. He began at Towson University as a volunteer defensive quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach, eventually earning a promotion to Linebackers Coach. The experience provided both validation and clarity, reinforcing that coaching was not simply an interest, but a long term calling. That momentum then carried him to the professional ranks, where he coached for the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League. Even while working at the professional level during the spring, Runza maintained ties to Monmouth in the fall, gaining experience across multiple levels of the game while broadening his perspective as a coach.
“It was great to be able to coach both at the professional level and back where I played at,” he said. “It’s been awesome to be able to give back to the program that helped mold me into the man I am today.”
Now, Runza returns to Monmouth in a role that extends well beyond the sidelines. In addition to coaching outside linebackers, he will serve as Director of Football Operations overseeing travel logistics, coordinating fundraising efforts, managing alumni relations and organizing community outreach initiatives. The position demonstrates many of the behind the scenes responsibilities required to sustain a Division I program.
“It’s important to me to have guys who have great pride in our program and Monmouth as a whole,” Head Coach Jeff Gallo said. “He has a bright path ahead of him, he is very passionate, very energetic, he’s a very hard worker. We want to be one team, one campus, one goal and I feel he helps us build on that. He is going to be very involved on campus and in student life, he’ll really help bridge that gap.”
Runza’s homecoming also reflects a broader theme within the program: continuity. Former Monmouth tight end and current staff member Matthew Harmon pointed to the program’s leadership history as evidence of a tight knit culture.
“Monmouth football has always had a family atmosphere. Up until this off season the program was led by Coach Callahan from when it first began in 1993 and the fact that it’s now taken over by Coach Gallo, who is a former player and longtime assistant coach pretty much tells you all you need to know,” Harmon said. “Christian coming back is a great example of former players who want to get involved in the world of coaching and know that they have a home in West Long Branch.”
For current players, that sense of familiarity carries immediate impact. Linebacker Charlie Sasso, who first built a relationship with Runza during the recruiting process, said the transition has brought noticeable energy to the locker room.
“It’s awesome to have Coach Runza back,” Sasso said. “He actually recruited me out of high school to Towson and I really enjoyed being able to get close to him then. Now that he’s back at Monmouth he brings great energy and input to the team. Him being a Monmouth alumni makes it even more special because he can see things from our point of view since he has done it all the same as us. The team is amped to have Coach Runza back on staff!”
Beyond coaching, Runza has already immersed himself in one of the program’s major annual service initiatives. On April 8, Monmouth Football will host its annual “Get In The Game” donor drive, encouraging students and community members to register as potential lifesaving donors for individuals battling blood cancers and disorders. The team is going to have tables set up on the patio of the student center and inside at the dining hall for people to sign up to potentially save a life.
With experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, alongside a personal understanding of what it means to wear the Hawks uniform, Runza’s return represents more than a staffing change. It reflects continued investment in a program built on pride, connection and long term growth, both on the field and throughout the Monmouth community.
“I’m really excited about the new position because it will prepare me to hopefully become a head coach one day. The best part is that while I’m gaining more experience in another aspect of this profession, I still get to do what I love; coach and develop these players,” Runza said.
