Ferrara has been Gannon’s longtime kicking coach, serving as a member of the Gannon coaching staff under four head coaches since 1991. He was part of coaching staffs under Tom Herman, Bill Elias, Jim Kiernan and Brad Rzyczycki. Ferrara helped tutor former Gannon kickers Brendan McNicholas, Tim Hrivnak, Jarrett Kier and Adam Foust. They are among Gannon’s all-time top five in field goals made.
Jeremy Ditzler, who recently graduated in 2011, was the latest to come under Ferrara’s guidance. Ditzler is Gannon’s all-time leader in career field goals (33) and field goal percentage (63.5). He was named to the 2009 Lindy’s College Football Preview All-America second team. As a sophomore, Ditzler was named to the All-PSAC first team and selected to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Super One Region third team. He ranks fourth all-time at Gannon in scoring (182).
The Charleroi, Pa., native graduated from Ford City High School, before being a four-year player at the Air Corp Technical School where he played running back and quarterback.
Ferrara served in the Air Force for seven years, flying B-29s in the South Pacific and later started his coaching career at Hempstead Long Island High School. Among his other coaching stops were Rantoul (Ill.) High School, Officer Training School (OTS) in San Antonio, Texas and the Air Force Academy.
