Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst College head football coach Marty Schaetzle has completed his coaching staff with the hiring of Stephen Rivera and William McCarthy for the 2008 season.

Rivera just completed a four-year career at Bucknell University, where he played on the offensive line. He also spent a year as a member of the wrestling team. Prior to his time at Bucknell, he was a four-year starter on the football and wrestling teams at Colonial High School in Orlando, Fla.

During his time at Bucknell, Rivera worked as an instructor at numerous football camps, including the Susquehanna House Football Camp and the Bucknell Bison Big Man's Camp.

This is Rivera's first collegiate coaching job and he will work under Schaetzle, another Bucknell graduate.

McCarthy comes to the Lakers after spending a season with the Mississippi Mudcats of the American Indoor Football Association.

With the Mudcats, McCarthy began the season as the offensive and defensive lines coach and special teams coordinator. After 12 games, he assumed the role of head coach for the remainder of the season and the squad posted a 3-1 mark under his leadership.

McCarthy has coaching experience at the high school and junior college level, as well as spending time in professional arena football. He has turned out a number of NCAA Division I athletes, as well as an NJCAA All-American. 

A native of Kentucky, McCarthy played collegiately at Morehead State University.