Mike Kagafas, a 2014 Marist graduate, is in his fifth year as linebackers coach at Marist in 2023. In the summer of 2022, Kagafas was named the department's Compliance Coordinator.
The linebackers have been an area of strength in recent years. In the 2022 season, Mike Arrington was named First Team All-PFL, First Team PFL All-Academic, was an FCS ADA Academic All-Star team honoree, a CSC Academic All-District recipient, an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, and was a national semifinlalist for the Campbell Trophy. In the 2021 season, Jayden Johnson was named First Team All-Pioneer Football League, while Arrington earned Second Team honors. Arrington and Arthur Pinckney both served as team captains, and both were named PFL Defensive Player of the Week.
In the 2019 season, Kagafas' tutelage helped Grant Dixon earn First Team All-PFL honors. Dixon led the Red Foxes in total tackles (86), solo tackles (49), and tackles for loss (10.5) that year.
Kagafas played football at Marist from 2010-14. He began his career at safety before moving to linebacker for his final three seasons. In his senior season, Kagafas was named Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Football League, was named PFL Defensive Player of the Week, and served as team captain.
Kagafas started all of the team's games at linebacker in both 2013 and 2014. In 2013, he finished with 56 tackles for the Red Foxes, who won a share of the PFL championship.
Kagafas finished his Marist career with 146 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five-and-a-half sacks, and four forced fumbles. He was a three-time selection to the PFL Academic Honor Roll.
Following graduation, Kagafas played professionally overseas for the Orebro Black Knight (Sweden) and Bialystok Lowlanders (Poland). In the 2018 season, he served as defensive coordinator at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.
