The orchestrator of some of the most prolific offenses at nearby West Liberty, Gary Krol returns for his third season as an assistant coach at Wheeling University in 2020, where he will lead the wide receivers.
Krol's wide receiver unit in 2019 featured Second-Team All-MEC standout Ryan LaFollette. LaFollette emerged as one of the most reliable receivers in the MEC and ranked second in the league and ninth in Division II during the regular-season with 7.2 receptions per game. He finished the year with team highs of 79 receptions for 655 yards, including a seven-catch, 135-yard performance in the season-opener against West Liberty.
Krol arrived at Wheeling University following two seasons as a head coach in the Ohio Valley at both St. John Central (2016) and Bridgeport (2017). His offense at Bridgeport in 2017 piled up some prolific passing totals, including the leading receiver in the OHSAA in yards (1,300) and receptions (86).
Prior to his stint in the OVAC, Krol spent nine seasons (2005-13) as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at West Liberty. Krol oversaw the development of numerous all-conference, all-region and All-America performers at West Liberty. Six of the Hilltoppers’ eight 1,000-yard single-season rushers and eight of WLU’s 10 all-time 1,000-yard receiving seasons occured during his tenure.
Krol's offense in 2009 at West Liberty featured seven offensive starters on the First Team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with four later being named NCAA Division II All-Americans. The 2010 Hilltoppers nearly matched that feat in 2010, when six offensive starters earned First Team All-WVIAC and three were named All-America.
West Liberty became the only NCAA Division II team ever to lead the nation in scoring and total offense in back-to-back seasons in 2010, averaging 46.0 points and 543.8 yards per game. The 2009 Hilltoppers were the only WVIAC school ever to top 7,000 yards in total offense, averaging 47.3 points and 542.3 yards per game. That team finished the season 11-2 and made an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals.
Among Krol's pupils included All-American quarterback Zach Amedro. Amendro was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up and completed more passes (1,079) for more yards (14,733) than any quarterback in NCAA Division II history during his four seasons (2007-10) under Krol.
Tight end Ryan Travis, another 2010 graduate, was a two-time First Team All-American who led the nation in pass receptions (126) and receiving yards (1,402) as a senior before signing a free-agent contract with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
Running Back Kevon Calhoun set school single-season and career scoring records with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Derrick Stickles won a WVIAC rushing title in 2005 while Eddie Hills posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2006-07 before switching to wide receiver and leading the WVIAC in receiving during the 2008 season. Hills was one of three 1,000-yard receivers in 2009 and ended his career with more than 5,000 all-purpose yards. Jay Gullion (2006) and Amedro (2007, 2009, 2010) led the league in passing and total offense.
Renard Stevens, a two-time first-team All-WVIAC receiver, signed with the New York Jets following his senior season in 2006. Almonzo Banks was the WVIAC’s leading receiver in 2006 and 2007, earning NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2007. Kashif Walls set a WVIAC record with 21 TD catches in 2009.
Prior to West Liberty, Krol spent two seasons as quarterback coach and passing game coordinator at then NAIA-power Westminster (Pa.) College. Prior to that, Krol had been an assistant coach for six seasons at Division II Millersville, helping the Marauders to a pair of NCAA Division II playoff bids. Two of Krol’s receivers at Millersville were signed to NFL contracts.
Krol played football and baseball at the University of Dayton and got his coaching start with the Flyers’ football program following his graduation in 1985. He left Dayton for a four-year coaching stint at Western Connecticut State before moving on to Millersville.
A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Krol holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Public Relations from the University of Dayton.
