NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University has hired two new assistant football coaches for the 2011 season, according to Director of Athletics Tony Mariano. Barry Casterlin and Frank Meade will join the coaching staff at NU effective immediately.

Casterlin comes to Northfield from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Savannah State University, where he spent the past three years coaching the running backs, defensive line and secondary. In 2009 he oversaw a backfield that combined for over 1,000 combined rushing yards, with one player ranking fifth in the FCS in yards per carry at a 6.2 yard average.

Casterlin's other college coaching stops include Cheyney University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, helping a player achieve all-conference honors in both places. He served as the interim head coach at Cheney following the 2007 season and also coached in the high school ranks with stints at Madison High School (New Jersey) and Lake City High School (South Carolina).

A native of New Jersey, Casterlin walked on to the football team at the University of South Carolina, where he played under legendary head coach Lou Holtz.

Meade spent last season on the sidelines at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, New York, where he served as an assistant football coach and the defensive coordinator. He helped guide the team to the New York Section I Class A state title in 2009. Meade also spent time on the coaching staff at Saunders High School (N.Y.) where he served as an assistant coach with the varsity and the head coach of the junior varsity.

In addition, Meade volunteered at the 2011 Empower New York State Football Classic and helped out at the NFL High School Player Development Camp in New Rochelle, N.Y. He worked with the defensive backs. 

Meade played defensive back at Iona College where he was honored an All-MAAC selection and Don Hanson All-American for three straight years. He served as a team captain and was named Gael of the Year as both a junior and senior. Also a standout in the classroom, Meade was a two-year CoSida (College Sports Information Directors of America)/Capital One Academic All-American and graduated from Iona magna cum laude with a B.A. in English.

Casterlin, Meade, and the rest of the NU coaching staff continue to prepare for the start of training camp which is set to open on Aug. 12. The Cadets begin their 2011 slate Saturday, Sept. 3, when they travel to Western New England.