Mike Saint Germain '07 begins his fourth season as the Leopards’ defensive coordinator. He oversaw the linebackers for his first three seasons and will take over coaching the defensive line in 2025.
The Maroon and White defense in 2025 returned its leaders, and they delivered. Saiku White ‘25 racked up a team-high 87 tackles on his way to being named All-Patriot League First-Team. Gabe DuBois ’25 joined White on the All-Patriot League First-Team after collecting 52 tackles and 12 pass breakups. Together, White and DuBois intercepted six of the teams’ conference-leading 23 turnovers. Defensive lineman Tyree Morris earned All-Patriot League Second-Team with 65 tackles and two sacks.
In 2024, the defense ranked first first in the league for turnovers gained (17), team sacks per game (3.08), team tackles for loss per game (7.0), scoring defense (23.3), rushing defense (123.1) and red-zone defense (.735).
Lafayette’s defense was of critical importance in capturing a Patriot League title in 2023. The Leopards led the conference in scoring defense, rushing defense and red-zone defense. Linebacker Marco Olivas led the group, finishing third on the team in tackles (74) on his way to becoming a three-time All-Patriot League First Team selection. Fellow All-League honoree Billy Shaeffer was one of three national finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the national defensive player of the year. Shaeffer, who secured All-America honors, paced the team with 83 tackles for a Patriot League-best 21.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks (0.83 per game tied for 10th in the nation).
In 2024, Preston Forney (73 T, 8 TFL) returned to an inside linebacker spot to help to guide the linebacker corps along with senior classmates Reggie Thomas and Tim O'Hearn.
Saint Germain's defense was the standout unit for the Leopards in 2022, finishing second in the Patriot League in team defense (21.7 ppg) while leading the conference in rushing defense (111.0 ypg). The Leopards were led by five-time All-Patriot League selection and two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Malik Hamm. Damon Washington, DaRon Gilbert, Jyaire Stevens and Marco Olivas joined Hamm in earning All-Patriot League honors.
Prior to returning to College Hill, Saint Germain, coached three seasons as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Kutztown University under head coach Jim Clements. He presided over one of NCAA Division II's top defenses in 2021, helping Kutztown to an 11-2 record, a PSAC championship and a trip to the Division II national quarterfinals.
He joined the Kutztown staff prior to the 2019 season after spending four seasons at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. While at VMI, he coached three position groups: defensive line in 2015-16, outside linebackers in 2017 and inside linebackers in 2018. He also served as the recruiting coordinator from 2015-17 and finished his tenure there as the special teams coordinator in 2018.
Saint Germain spent the 2014 season on College Hill, mentoring as a defensive assistant coach under Frank Tavani. Prior to that, he was an offensive assistant coach at Virginia from 2012-13 under Scott Wachenheim who was on the Virginia staff as the offensive line coach.
His collegiate coaching career began at Franklin and Marshall on Troxell’s staff from 2009-11 when he coached the defensive line and helped the program to consecutive winning seasons and ECAC Bowl game appearances in 2009 and 2010. Saint Germain was the program’s video coordinator in 2010-11 and helped oversee special teams.
Saint Germain’s coaching start began at his alma mater Morristown High School where he coached the offensive and defensive lines and tight ends.
A three-year letterman on College Hill, Saint Germain broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2004, clearing the way as the Leopards amassed over 200 yards per game on the ground. As a junior, he was the only Leopard on the offensive line to start all 12 games when the team threw for a league-best 244.3 yards per game. Saint Germain earned All-Patriot League First-Team honors.
Lafayette won the Patriot League championship and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs in 2006, Saint Germain's senior season. He started every game and repeated as an All-Patriot League First-Team pick. He continued to accumulate postseason awards, garnering All-America First-Team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and CollegeSportingNews.com, All-America Third Team honors from the
Associated Press and
Football Gazette and an All-ECAC First Team nod. He graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Saint Germain then completed his playing career in 2008 with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League's developmental AF2 league.
Saint Germain is married to his wife, Stephanie, and the couple has a son, John, and a daughter, Lucy.
Updated 4/25
