NEWPORT NEWS, VA- Christopher Newport Football Coach Matt Kelchner today announced Zbigniew Kepa has joined his staff. Kepa, who spent the last 29 years as an assistant coach at the College of William & Mary, will guide the Captains defensive line beginning this fall.

"We are very happy to welcome Zbigniew to our staff," Kelchner said. "He has certainly proven himself as an outstanding leader and will bring a wealth of experience with him to CNU."

Kepa will also have the opportunity to coach both of his sons, Nathaniel and Nicholas, with the Captains. Nathaniel, a quarterback, is transferring to CNU after beginning his playing career at James Madison, while Nicholas was a backup offensive lineman last season with the Captains. Both will be sophomores on the 2013 CNU roster.

Kepa's lengthy career at William & Mary began in 1984, when he arrived as a part-time assistant working primarily with the defense. The following year, he became a full-time assistant moving to the offensive side to lead the squad's receivers. Kepa helped develop one of the most productive offenses in FCS football. The 1996 team led the conference in total offense, while the 1993 unit finished sixth in the nation in total yards with the second-highest total in school history.

Kepa grew up in northern Indiana and attended Bishop Noll Institute, where he played football all four years. After graduation in 1975, he accepted a football scholarship at St. Joseph's College in Indiana. He led the Pumas at quarterback and defensive back before a knee injury ended his playing career.

He continued at St. Joseph's as a student assistant coach and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health. Kepa stayed on the Pumas' staff for the 1979 and 1980 seasons, while working on his master's degree in health and physical education at Purdue.

Kepa earned his master's degree in 1981 and went onto become an assistant with the offense and defense at Fenwick High School in Chicago. In 1983, he returned to St. Joseph's for one year as a full-time offensive assistant before joining William & Mary in 1984.

He and his wife, Mary, have three children, Christina, Nathanial and Nicholas.

The Captains open the 2013 season at Salisbury on Saturday, September 7^th.