Tom Herman will begin his 57th year of coaching and his 31st season at Mercyhurst in 2024 - the longest-tenured coach on the staff. During his career, Herman has coached on both sides of the ball but has concentrated on the offensive line in recent years.
From 2017-22, Herman has helped coach at least one All-PSAC Offensive member in each season including three First Team members. Two of the All-PSAC honors were accumulated by tight ends with Bryce Mostoller in 2017 and Jason Armstrong in 2021. Armstrong's 2021 campaign was one in which he was named to the PSAC West Offensive First Team with a team-high 37 receptions with 400 yards and a total of four touchdown catches.
During the 2016 season, the Laker offensive line blocked for an AFCA All-America Second Team all-purpose player who was also All-PSAC West First Team. In 2015, the Laker offensive line allowed just 10 sacks in 11 games - the second-lowest total in the conference. The Lakers gave up 17 in 2012, fifth best in the PSAC. Mercyhurst had allowed at least 28 sacks in the previous two seasons. Last season, Ben Gysin was chosen was named to the All-PSAC West First Team while Dustin Rogalla was selected ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Herman’s offensive line allowed the fewest sacks in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 2009 -ten - and allowed just 18 (tied for third) during the 2010 campaign.
In 2013, the offensive line also helped to pave the way for running back Brandon Brown-Dukes to become the first player in school history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. The Lakers, in fact, finished second in the conference (behind only Bloomsburg) in yards rushing after averaging 237.8 yards on the ground. That figured included 407 rushing yards against Gannon - the highest total by a Laker team since becoming a Division II program and the third-highest total in school history.
Most importantly, under the tutelage of Herman, Mercyhurst has had at least one offensive lineman named All-Conference in each of the past ten seasons and in 12 of his 16 seasons on the staff.
The native of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, joined Mercyhurst after serving the previous ten years as the head football coach at Gannon University. There, he was responsible for resurrecting the Gannon football program. The Knights progressed quickly and compiled a 6-3 record in Herman’s second season.
Herman began his coaching career as an assistant at Cambridge Springs High School and at Edinboro University in 1972. At Edinboro, Herman coached spring football, performed in-season film breakdowns, scouted opponents, and led off-season workouts. He was also an assistant coach at Cambridge Springs during that time.
Herman moved to Marshall University in 1974, where he served as a graduate assistant and earned his Master’s degree in health and physical education. He returned to Edinboro in 1975 as a defensive line coach and was moved to offensive line coach the following year. In 1979, he was promoted to Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator where he stayed until 1985. After serving as Edinboro’s interim head coach in the spring of 1985, Herman accepted a position at the University of New Hampshire as linebackers’ coach and recruiting coordinator.
A 1972 graduate of Edinboro, Herman received his bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies. He was a two-and-a-half year starter with the Fighting Scots and participated on both the offensive and defensive lines.
Herman and his wife Trisha reside in Millcreek with their daughters Lindsey and Amanda.
