The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy announced May 19, 2005, that Mike Toop, a 1977 Academy graduate and East Northport, N.Y. native, has been appointed as the 14th head football coach in Mariners history. Coach Toop is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Mariners.

Toop has coached at some of the nation's finest academic institutions, and previous to returning, spent the last four seasons as the head football coach at Davidson (N.C.) College. He led the Wildcats' transition to an NCAA Division I-AA program in the Pioneer Football League. The Toop-led Wildcats went 7-3 in the 2002 campaign, as Davidson won seven-plus contests for just the seventh time in the last 100-plus years. The Wildcats played a I-AA schedule in the 2003 and '04 campaigns.

Prior to his stint at the helm of Davidson's program, Toop was the defensive coordinator from 1999-2000 at the University of Connecticut. He was the primary recruiter for the Huskies in the states of New York, New Jersey and California, and led the UConn defense in its inaugural season at the Division I-A level (2000).

Toop enjoyed a seven-year tenure as the defensive coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers won three Ivy League championships (1993-94, '98), and went undefeated on two occasions. The Toop-led defense ranked No. 1 nationally in Division I-AA in pass efficiency, total defense and scoring defense in 1994, and ranked No. 4 and No. 25 during the 1998 campaign in run defense and total defense, respectively. Penn set the Division I-AA record for consecutive wins, with 24, from 1992-95. Toop was named the National Division I-AA Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 1995 by American Football Quarterly Magazine.

Also included on Toop's collegiate coaching resume are stops as an assistant football coach at Colgate (1987-91), Union (1985-86) and Albany (1983-84). The Union Dutchmen advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament both years with Toop serving as an assistant coach. Prior to that, those familiar with New York-area high school football may remember him from his stops as an assistant coach at Holy Cross High School (Flushing) in 1982, and at Chaminade (Mineola) from 1977-81. He guided Holy Cross to the 1982 Catholic Football League City Championship, while Chaminade took home the CFL title in 1977 and 1978. During his time in the high school ranks, Toop fulfilled his Maritime commitment working on off-shore oil rigs and sailing with Master Mates & Pilots. He also fulfilled his Naval Reserve commitment.

Toop was a linebacker for USMMA from 1973-76 and earned four letters. The Mariners' team captain in his senior campaign, he garnered the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player, along with All-Conference, Honorable-Mention All-East and Honorable-Mention All-America accolades.

Born on Dec. 18, 1954, Toop graduated from USMMA in 1977 with a Bachelor's Degree in Nautical Science and earned a Master's Degree in Social Studies Education from Albany in 1984. Toop and his wife, Diana, reside in Stony Brook, N.Y. and have two children - Marcus, a 2nd LT in the United States Marine Corps and Jaclyn, a junior at Union College.

Captain Joe Martucci, a 1970 graduate of the Academy, enters his eighth season as an assistant with the Mariners.

In his seven seasons, Martucci has coached three positions, including defensive line, running backs and tight ends. He returned to coaching the backfield in 2006 and has held the position since.

Martucci played fullback for the Mariners during the 1969 season, in which USMMA went 7-2 overall and earned the Lambert Bowl Championship, which is presented to the best NCAA Division III team in the region by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC). Additionally, he was also captain of the 1969 undefeated, national and international rowing team.

From his time of graduation until reporting aboard in 2003, Martucci spent over twenty years sailing and working ashore in the Maritime industry, earning his Chief Engineer’s license and attaining the position of Superintendent Engineer. While sailing as an engineer for American Export Lines, Martucci attended CCNY and attained a master’s degree in math and education.

Commissioned an Ensign USNR at graduation, Martucci pursued his Navy career earning the rank of Captain. He retired in 2003 after thirty years of service and ten years in command. Martucci currently works as the Associate Director of the USMMA Global Maritime and Transportation School.

Martucci and his wife, Debra, are the parents of six children: Jeremy, Cory, Dan, Joe III (a 2000 USMMA graduate and Academic All-American water polo player,) Patricia, and Rich (a 2004 team captain and All-Freedom Football Conference defensive lineman). He resides in Great Neck, N.Y.

Dave Kunyz joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s football program as the Defensive Backs Coach in August, 2011. Kunyz arrived at Kings Point following a two year stint at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he served as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach.

Prior to coaching at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Kunyz spent two seasons at Plymouth State University where he worked with both the wide receivers and defensive backs. During his tenure at Plymouth State, the Panthers won the 2007 ECAC North Atlantic Championship, and earned an NCAA Division III playoff appearance after winning the New England Football Conference in 2008.

Kunyz began his collegiate playing career in 2004, where he played two seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson University as a defensive back. He then went on to earn a B.S. in Mathematics from Plymouth State University in 2009 and a M.S. in Educational Technology from DeVry University in 2011.

Kunyz is a native of Oceanport, NJ and currently resides in Thomaston, NY.

Jimmy Robertson will be entering his second season with the United States Merchant Marine Academy football program in 2012. It will be his first season as Quarterbacks Coach after serving as Wide Receivers Coach during the 2011 season. Prior to joining USMMA, Robertson played in the German Football League (GFL) for the Plattling Blackhawks in 2009 and 2010. He previously served as Assistant Quarterbacks Coach at his alma mater, RPI, during the 2009 season while obtaining his M.S. Degree in Management, graduating in May 2010. Along with his M.S. Degree in Management from RPI, Robertson also graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. Degree in Business and Management from RPI in 2009. He minored in Sports Psychology.

During his time at RPI he was a four-year starting Quarterback and two-year Team Captain. He helped lead RPI to the 2007 Liberty League Championship and NCAA Playoff Appearance and ECAC Bowl Championships in 2005, 2006, and 2008. He was Liberty League Player of the Year in 2008 and Liberty League Rookie of the Year in 2005, while being named All-League every season.

Robertson is a native of, and currently resides in, Yonkers, NY.