NFL rumors: Patriots add Youngstown State offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo to their staff

On Monday, it was reported that the New England Patriots will add former New York Jets assistant quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi to their staff in a role that has yet to be officially announced. Now, it sounds as if the team has found another assistant coach to bring on board: as first reported by The Vindicator’s Brian Dzenis, the Patriots will add Youngstown State offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo to their staff.

Starting his coaching career at his alma mater Duquesne and later joining Akron and Illinois, Bricillo moved to Youngstown State in 2010. During his tenure with the Penguins, he helped build a consistently solid offensive line that cleared the way for 2,000 rushing yards in all but one of his nine years at the job. Furthermore, 15 of the players Bricillo coached were named All-Missouri Valley Conference selections at one point.

Now moving to the pros, Bricillo will reportedly work as an assistant offensive line coach alongside Dante Scarencchia. This, in turn, could be seen as an indicator that previous assistant Cole Popovich might change roles: New England has multiple vacancies on both sides of the ball after a total of five coaches — including wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea and assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schupliski — left the club last week.

Bricillo will become the third member of the Patriots organization with ties to Youngstown State: backup defensive edge Derek Rivers and practice squad wide receiver Damoun Patterson both spent their college careers at the Division I school.