Marist College picked for eighth in Pioneer Football League preseason coaches poll

Defending champion Drake is picked to repeat as Pioneer Football League champion, with Marist chosen for eighth in the 11-team league.

The league's coaches voted in the preseason poll. Drake, St. Thomas, Davidson, Butler, San Diego, Dayton and Presbyterian were chosen ahead of Marist. Morehead State, Valparaiso and Stetson round out the poll.

The league's preseason all-stars will be announced on Wednesday.

Former Princeton assistant coach Mike Willis is Marist's new head coach. Long-time coach Jim Parady retired after the 2023 season.

The Marist preseason roster features six players from the Hudson Valley: grad student tight end Luke Pecovic (Washingtonville); freshman safety Conor Fitzgibbon (Monroe-Woodbury); sophomore defensive lineman Joey Patierno (Roosevelt); sophomore offensive lineman John Krebs (Suffern); junior offensive lineman Dominic Perricone (Mahopac); and, freshman offensive lineman T.J. Surace (Walter Panas).

kmcmillan@th-record.com

X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

Pioneer Football League

Preseason coaches poll

1. Drake (8) 98
2. St. Thomas (1) 87
3. Davidson (1) 81
4. Butler 72
5. San Diego (1) 67
6. Dayton 49
7. Presbyterian 39
8. Marist 37
9. Morehead State 35
10. Valparaiso 22
11. Stetson 18

Marist football schedule

Sept. 7 - vs. Georgetown, noon

Sept. 14 - at Lafayette, 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 - at Bucknell, 6 p.m.

Sept. 28 - vs. Dayton, noon

Oct. 5 - at Davidson, 1 p.m.

Oct. 12 - vs. St. Thomas, noon

Oct. 19 - at San Diego, 5 p.m. ET

Oct. 26 - vs. Valparaiso, noon

Nov. 2 - at Drake, TBD

Nov. 9 - at Stetson, 1 p.m.

Nov. 16 - vs. Presbyterian, noon

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Marist College picked for eighth in Pioneer Football League preseason coaches poll