New Britain, CT -- Central Connecticut State named Jeff McInerney the school's 12th head football coach on Friday.

McInerney will replace Tom Masella, who guided the Blue Devils to a 7-4 record last season and an 8-2 mark in 2004. Masella resigned in December to take over the same role at Fordham.

"We are very pleased to have a coach of Jeff McInerney's stature come to lead our football program," said university president John Miller. "The lessons he has learned being an assistant for some of the finest football coaches in the country, including John Robinson at the University of Southern California and the University of Nevada Las Vegas, will serve him well as he steps up to be a head coach."

McInerney spent the last two seasons as defensive coordinator at the University Rhode Island.

"My family and I are extremely excited to join a successful football program and the community at Central Connecticut," said McInerney. "I am familiar with the football program having faced Central Connecticut in each of the last two seasons, and I know that this team can continue to play football at a high level."