Hugh Kirwan: Leading Keystone Football’s Rebirth with Grit, Vision, and Heart
By: Doug Noldy / Andrea Mecca | Sportzwire | May 10, 2025 | Photo courtesy Andrea Mecca @Borden_Photography
A Lifelong Passion for Football
Throughout his life, Hugh Kirwan has been a passionate advocate of football. After graduating from Marist College, Kirwan wanted to give back to the sport—a game that taught him countless valuable lessons, both on and off the field—through coaching. Now, he has finally earned the coveted opportunity he’s long dreamed of: becoming a head coach. Recently, Justin Higgins, who had taken the reins at Keystone College in 2018 as the program’s first football coach following a several-decade hiatus, stepped down in April. But Keystone didn’t have to look far for his replacement. The college has now officially named Hugh Kirwan as their new head coach. Sportzwire caught up with Coach Kirwan to talk about the past, present, and future of the Keystone football program.
Photographer: Andrea Mecca @Borden_Photography
Getting to Know Hugh Kirwan: A Rich Football History
A Montvale, New Jersey native, Kirwan was a standout in high school, excelling as both a quarterback and an outside linebacker. He continued his football journey at Marist College in New York, where he played outside linebacker. During a stellar career, he appeared in 44 games, starting in 22, and served as team captain in 2014. Academically, Kirwan shined as well, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications.
From 2015 to 2017, he coached quarterbacks and linebackers at Pascack Hills High School in New Jersey. In 2018, he moved to Florida and took on the role of offensive coordinator and special teams coach at Riverdale High School.
Finding His Way to Keystone College: Tackling a New Challenge
Kirwan was immediately intrigued when he heard that Keystone College was rebooting its football program. With aspirations of transitioning to the college coaching ranks and a desire to help shape a team from the ground up, he jumped at the opportunity. Given his football background and passion for mentoring, Keystone College welcomed him aboard with open arms.
Making an Immediate Impact at Keystone
Kirwan joined the Keystone coaching staff in March 2020 as an Offensive Assistant. His hard work quickly paid off, and he was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator and Receivers Coach from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, he stepped into the role of Pass Game/Special Teams Coordinator. He also led the team’s recruiting efforts.
Kirwan’s tenure has been marked by numerous accolades and statistical achievements:
• One specialist was named All-Conference for three consecutive years, with five players total receiving the honor.
• Keystone was one of just four teams nationwide not to allow a blocked kick.
• The team tied for third in the nation for kick return touchdowns.
• A wide receiver ranked in the top 25 nationally for all-purpose yards and was top 3 in the conference.
• The quarterback ranked top 30 in the nation for all-purpose yards and 42nd in passing yards.
• The team ranked third nationally for combined individual kick return yards.
• Keystone was second in the conference for punt return average.
• The team achieved blocked kicks returned for touchdowns in two consecutive seasons.
Photographer: Andrea Mecca @Borden_Photography
Weathering the Storm: Financial Uncertainty and Team Turnover
Keystone College recently faced a serious challenge. The institution was in danger of losing its accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which significantly impacted recruitment and student retention. Thankfully, after an appeal, the college’s accreditation was restored.
While this development ended rumors of closure, the uncertainty took a toll. Several players transferred to other institutions, leaving the program to focus on rebuilding during the 2025 season. The team will play a non-conference schedule in 2025 and aims to rejoin a conference by the end of the 2025-26 season.
Down But Not Out: Kirwan Sees Resilience and Positivity in His Players
Kirwan’s understanding of the team goes beyond spring practices—he’s been part of their journey for five years and has recruited many players of the current roster himself. Even before spring training began, he was impressed with the players’ commitment to weight training, team unity, and focus.
Spring practice only reinforced what he already believed: this group is competitive, disciplined, and hungry. The influence of former mentors such as Jon Naniewicz (Lakeland) and Bobby Ferraro (Valley View) has instilled a legacy of not just athletic performance, but academic excellence. Kirwan views academic success as the program’s top priority.
The current coaching staff features a blend of seasoned experience and youthful energy, providing the support system needed to build a thriving program—on and off the field.
Kirwan continues to be an avid student of the game, one he describes as “the thing I love about this game is you never have it quite figured out, there is always somewhere or something you need to be improving on .” His dedication goes beyond the field—he spends countless hours studying film, dissecting plays, learning from other coaches, and participating in seminars to refine his knowledge. He’s constantly evolving, driven by a hunger to improve both himself and his team.
One of his most trusted sources of wisdom was his grandfather , Hugh Kirwan, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a principal and coach for his support and contributions in the New York City metropolitan area.Hugh credits his father Ed, as the biggest influence on his coaching career, a father who set the example for him growing up to the real purpose of coaching which is to effect lives and use the game as mode to teach more meaningful lessons.
Photographer: Andrea Mecca @Borden_Photography
Tackling the Future Head-On
Kirwan continues to lead with optimism, determination, and deep respect for the sport that shaped him. His message to players, staff, and supporters is clear: there is still much to achieve. Past players laid the foundation, but now it’s time for the new generation to carry the torch forward.
The team may be entering a developmental season, but it’s doing so with clarity, purpose, and belief. Kirwan emphasized that the players and students always come first. The foundation of the program isn’t just talent—it’s character, commitment, and community.
It’s hard not to argue that Keystone picked the right man to lead this football team. Kirwan is extremely humbled and grateful for the opportunity. After all, coaching is in his blood. And with a strong support system, clear vision, and unwavering commitment, the Giants are set to tackle every challenge head-on.
One thing is certain: September 7th at Wilkes University cannot get here quickly enough. The Giants—and Coach Kirwan—will be ready. Even more reassuring, players will not lose a year of eligibility due to the team’s “developmental year” status, allowing them to grow and compete without compromising their future seasons.
Photographer: Andrea Mecca @Borden_Photography
