Bio

Conte Jr. became the sixth head coach in the history of the Owls' program on June 4, 2024.

Season Highlights:

2025 - Conte guided the Owls to a 3-7 record on the season and a 3-6 mark in MASCAC conference play.    The Owls placed five players on the all-conference teams, highlighted by first-year fullback Manny Mengata being selected to the first team, along with senior linebacker Justyn Gardener.  The Owls averaged 172 yards per game on the ground, and won the time of possession battle weekly, 32:16-27:44 as Conte continues to build the program.

2024 - In Coach Conte Jr.’s first season as head coach for the Owls, he led Westfield to a 4-5 MASCAC record, their highest win total since 2018. Conte Jr.’s first win came at home on week two in a 24-17 victory over Bridgewater State, which snapped an 11-year long losing streak to the Bears. Conte Jr. led senior defensive lineman Cade Nelson and fullback Dylan Disabella on the all-conference first team, and first-year defensive back Andrew Lovell was named as the MASCAC Co-Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Coaching Bio:

Lou Conte, Jr. will be the next head coach of the Westfield State University football team, athletics director Richard Lenfest, Jr. announced on June 4, 2024.

Conte, who served as head coach at American International College in Springfield, Mass., in 2023, will take about a 15-minute drive west to lead the Owls program.  He becomes the sixth head coach in the history of Westfield State Owls football.

Conte brings a strong resume to the Owls, having coached at the Division I, II and III levels in his career.

“We’re excited to welcome Lou Conte to Westfield State,” said Westfield State director of athletics Richard Lenfest, Jr.   “Lou brings a wealth of coaching experience to our head coaching position, with experience at the Division I, II and III levels.    While he will bring both a fresh set of eyes and some new ideas to our program, as a native of Western Mass. who has coached and recruited in the region he will offer a steady hand to lead Westfield State football through this transition and into the future.”

“I have such respect for what’s gone on here for the last 30 years,” said Conte. “I was a young man, a kid, when coach (Steve) Marino and coach Kowalski were on that sideline.   I hope I can continue the job they have started. I can’t think about this place without thinking about those two guys.  I know they will be supportive and I’m thankful for the opportunity to follow in their footsteps, and I’m grateful for what they have laid in front of me.   It’s an honor.”

Before taking the position at Division II AIC last year, he spent seven seasons at The Citadel, an NCAA Division I school in the Southern Conference,  where he served as Offensive Coordinator, quarterbacks and fullbacks coach before finishing up with a stint as the interim head coach of the Bulldogs.

In his first two seasons as the offensive coordinator at the Citadel, Conte led an offense that ranked in the top two nationally each year, including leading the country in rushing in 2016. The 348.2 yards per game was the second highest in program history.

A native of Agawam, Mass., Conte played collegiately at Springfield College. He earned his Bachelor of Science in movement and sport studies and a Master’s of physical education with a concentration in athletic administration from SC, as well as a graduate certificate in leadership from The Citadel.

Conte has held coaching positions at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Maine Maritime Academy, Springfield College and at the Williston Northampton School in his career.

Working with the running backs and special team units, Conte helped Lenoir-Rhyne win three consecutive South Atlantic Conference championships and reach the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2013. In each of Conte's three seasons, Lenoir-Rhyne finished as one of the top three rushing teams in the nation, setting the all-time NCAA rushing record for one season with 5,563 yards.

“I would say I’m demanding, I suppose,” said Conte when asked about his coaching style.   “We’re going to move.  We’re going to get as much out of our two hours (of practice) as we can.  It will be organized, it will be fast.  It will take a minute to learn it, but we’re going to give effort and we’re going to play hard.  That’s my expectation and how we’re going to approach every day.”

Conte’s message to recruits was “Come here!  I am still wowed by the campus.  I had been down south for about 15 years, so I hadn’t been here in a while.   The progress this campus has made, the location, the majors, the education that you will leave with, the facilities, this is a phenomenal place.  If any players are still looking for a place to call home, I’ll be happy to show you around ours because there is a lot here, and I’m excited to recruit to it.”

Westfield State athletic director Richard Lenfest, Jr. welcomes Lou Conte, Jr. as head football coach.