(Posted June 21, 2001)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Shawn McIntyre and Mark Murnyack have been named assistant football coaches at Juniata College, according to Eagle gridiron mentor Kevin Burke, who is entering his fourth year on College Hill. McIntyre will serve as the recruiting coordinator for football and he will be the special teams' coach. Murnyack takes over at the club's defensive coordinator.

“We are very fortunate to have coaches the caliber of Shawn (McIntyre) and Mark (Murnyack) join our staff,” said Burke. "Both have very solid backgrounds are and very energetic. They will represent Juniata and its football tradition very well. Mark has an excellent defensive mind, while Shawn has proven to be a solid recruiter at three different schools. The fact that we have attracted these men to come and work at Juniata College speaks volumes about Eagle football and the direction our program is headed."
Murnyack takes over the position left vacant by Tim Launtz, who is now the director of residential life at Juniata. Launtz will still serve as an assistant coach for the sixth consecutive seasons and will work with the free safeties.

"Tim (Launtz) did an outstanding job for Juniata College football," Burke commented. "We are very excited that his duties as the director of residential life will allow him to continue to coach with us."
McIntyre comes to Juniata from Amherst College (MA) where he was the coach of the linebackers for this past season. He had national recruiting responsibilities in nine states, including Ohio. McIntyre graduated from Norwich University (VT) in May of 1998 with a degree in criminal justice. While at Norwich as an undergraduate student, he coached the offensive line and the tight ends for two seasons and was in charge of recruiting efforts in Massachusetts. During the 1999 campaign, McIntyre spent the year at Assumption College (MA) as the linebacker coach, before moving on to Amherst.

Murnyack, a native of Clarence and a Bald Eagle Area graduate, is no stranger to College Hill, having received his bachelor's degree from Juniata in 1996. He earned four varsity letters on the gridiron as a linebacker for the blue and gold and was a team captain in 1995 and 1996. Murnyack tied for team honors in total tackles in 1994 with a personal-best 92 wrap-ups. After receiving his degree from Juniata, he journeyed to Norwich (VT) where he spent the past four years working on the defensive side of the ball. Murnyack coached the outside linebackers in 1997, the defensive line in 1998, the defensive line and special teams in 1999 and the inside linebackers last fall. Norwich was a combined 17-23 during his four seasons, including a 7-3 mark in 2000.

Juniata, which is looking to improve on last fall's heart-breaking 1-9 overall record (including six losses by seven points or less) opens the 2001 season on Saturday, September 8 with a home game against FDU-Madison at 1:30 p.m.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.