Widener University Athletics

Mike Barainyak in the Media






Mike Barainyak enters his seventh season as head coach of the Widener University football team in 2025-26.

In 2023, the Pride bounced back from a sub-.500 2022 season. The Pride went 7-4 (6-3 MAC). Under Duquesne transfer quarterback Chase Diehl, the Pride started the season 3-0, scoring at least 30 points per game. After a two-game losing streak, they finished the regular season with four straight wins. Although the Pride would lose to Delaware Valley in the Keystone Cup on Nov. 11, Widener earned a spot in the Scotty Whitelaw Bowl against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). It was Widener's first ECAC Bowl game since 2011. However, the Pride's season would end with a loss to RPI in Troy, N.Y. on Nov. 18. The Pride had 11 student-athletes make the All-MAC teams: wide receiver Isaac Hostetter, linebacker Colin Murt, kicker Ryan Pattison, and defensive lineman Dom D'Alessio made the first team, Diehl, defensive back Joshua Salter, offensive lineman Cody Reusing, wide receiver Jordan Baxter, and running back Shawn Thompson made the second team, and defensive back Jacob Kopelman and defensive lineman Jalen Walker were honorable mentions.

Despite a 3-7 season in 2022, the Pride were honored with awards on the field and in the classroom. Five players were named to All-Middle Atlantic Conference teams, and rookie defensive lineman Dom D’Alessio was listed twice: one for defense, and one for special teams. D’Alessio was tied for fifth in the conference in sacks, and he had 10 tackles for loss. He was also MAC Rookie of the Year. Three players – offensive linemen Matt Thomas and Cody Reusing, and linebacker Colin Murt – were named to the Academic All-MAC list. Forty-five members of the team were listed on the MAC Academic Honor Roll for the previous season.

In 2021, Barainyak guided the Pride to a 7-4 record and their first Centennial-MAC Bowl Series appearance since 2017. In addition, Barainyak coached six All-Middle Atlantic Conference players and two D3football.com All-Region 1 players. In the classroom, 43 members of the team made the MAC Academic Honor Roll by posting a 3.2 GPA or higher in the fall semester and one member - Mario Scotese - earned the MAC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for football while also being selected to the Academic All-MAC, CoSIDA Academic All-District, and Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area teams.
 
His first year in 2019 saw an improvement in the win total as compared to the previous season and a dramatic jump in the offensive output of the Pride, which scored 37.0 points per game, leading the MAC, ranking in the top-35 nationally, and was the highest per game point total for WU since 2014. 

Additionally, six members of the team were named All-Middle Atlantic Conference. James Gillespie was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and a D3football.com Third Team All-American after finishing the regular season third in the nation in both receiving yards and touchdowns. Sean McGaughey was also a First Team All-Conference member, while showing his prowess in the classroom being named a Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District member and the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year. Michael Raczak was selected by the coaches as the top punter in the league for a second straight year. Chris Randle and Ryan Stecklein were chosen on the Second Team and Mario Scotese was Honorable Mention. 

Academically, the Blue and Gold also excelled in Barainyak's first year at the helm as Widener had a league-high five football student-athletes named Academic All-MAC with McGaughey, Raczak, Randle, Scotese, and Stecklein all garnering recognition for their work both on the field and in the classroom. 
 
Prior to being named head coach, Barainyak spent two years as an assistant coach with the WU, serving as the offensive coordinator in 2018. The Blue and Gold averaged 29.9 points per game in 2018, better than a touchdown improvement from the previous year. In 2017, Barainyak was Widener's offensive line coach and led a group that allowed the fewest quarterback sacks in five seasons.
 
"I am humbled and honored to be named the head football coach at Widener University," said Barainyak. "I would like to thank President Wollman, Vice President Baker, Jack Shafer, and the entire search committee. I need to offer special thanks to my wife and family for their support during the interview process as well as all the coaches I have played and worked for to get to this point. This is a true blessing and, along with our coaching staff, we will work tirelessly to restore the tradition and standards set forth by our predecessors that have made Widener football one of the elite programs in Division III football history."
 
Prior to his arrival in Chester, Barainyak spent two seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach, winning a national championship in 2016 and advancing to the national quarterfinals in 2015. While with the Cru, he was responsible for the development of two All-Americans, two All-South Region honorees, and six All-American Southwest Conference selections.
 
Academics have also been a large part of Barainyak's teams. Since he has been at Widener, the Pride has seen nine student-athletes named Academic All-MAC, tied for the most of any team in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Additionally, two received the MAC Football Senior Scholar-Athlete Award and two have been named Academic All-Americans. With Mary-Hardin Baylor, he coached the Division III football recipient of the Elite 90 Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA that is competing at the site of each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
 
Barainyak has also worked at Villanova where he was the video coordinator and special teams graduate assistant for a Wildcats team that won the Colonial Athletic Association championship and advanced to the NCAA FCS postseason. He began his career at Delaware Valley University as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach, winning multiple conference titles with the Aggies.
 
A native of Chalfont, Pa., Barainyak lives in North Wales with his wife, Erin. son Tripp, and daughter Emma.
 

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What They're Saying About Coach Barainyak:
"Michael was such a diligent worker. Helping us with our offensive line while finishing up his Master's Degree. I am beyond thrilled for him and for his family to have this opportunity. Michael is a really good young football coach and I think he will do a great job for Widener University."
    Pete Fredenburg – Head Football Coach, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
 
"Mike has a great work ethic.  He will bring great enthusiasm and excitement to the Widener program!"
    Andy Talley – Former Head Football Coach, Villanova University
 
"Mike has a great passion for our game and will work tirelessly in creating a culture that will represent Widener both on and off the field."
    Jim Clements – Head Football Coach, Kutztown University