Marist University Athletics

The 2025 season marks Roger Kotlarz's first on head coach Mike Willis' staff. Kotlarz joined the staff as a senior analyst in the spring season, and is currently serving as assistant defensive backs/assistant special teams coach.

Kotlarz joins the Red Foxes after a highly successful run as a high school football coach in New Jersey. In 18 years as a head coach at three different schools, he compiled a record of 114-71 (.616 winning percentage) with 13 playoff appearances. He most recently served as head coach of Wayne Valley High School for the past 11 years, where his 67 wins are the most in school history.

In 2019, Kotlarz led Wayne Valley to its first state championship since 1991. In 2022, he led the program to its first outright division championship since 2008. Prior to arriving at Wayne Valley, Kotlarz served as head coach at Dover High School from 2012-13. In 2013, he led Dover to its first playoff appearance since 2003. His first head coaching position came at Becton Regional from 2007-11. There, he had five winning seasons, four playoff appearances, and a berth in the state semifinals in 2009.
 
Between his time as an assistant coach and head coach, Kotlarz is a 30-year veteran of the profession. He has won 11 Coach of the Year awards across six different seasons, and he has frequently presented at coaching clinics. He has served as a coordinator in all three phases of the game, and he has coached nearly every position group on the field while also taking a leading role in strength & conditioning and speed exercises.
 
Kotlarz played collegiately at the University of Massachusetts, where he started games as a linebacker, strong safety, and cornerback. In his senior year, he led the team in total tackles and was named Third Team All-Yankee Conference as a linebacker.

Kotlarz earned his B.S., Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts, his B.S., Health & Physical Education from William Paterson University, and his M.Ed., Positive Coaching & Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri.

He and his wife of 19 years, Hillary, live happily together in Northwest Jersey.