DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman University Athletics has learned of the passing of Kirk Mastromatteo, who served as offensive coordinator for some of the Wildcat football program's most iconic moments.

Mastromatteo passed away in his sleep while at home with his parents on Saturday, January 7. He was 49.

"He was without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable, talented, understanding, and hardest working individual that I have ever known," said former Wildcat Head Coach Alvin B. Wyatt, Sr.

Mastromatteo was the recruiting coordinator and the running backs coach for the Wildcats for eight seasons. In each of the last seven of those seasons, Bethune-Cookman ranked in the top 21 in Division I-AA (now FCS) in rushing offense. He also helped lead the Wildcats to a MEAC championship in 2002 and back-to-back berths in the I-AA playoffs in 2002 and 2003. B-CU also played in the 1998 McDonald's Heritage Bowl, a now-defunct game that pitted the MEAC and SWAC football champions that was a predecessor to today's Celebration Bowl.

"'Coach Mas' as he was so lovingly known, was the epitome of a coach," said Allen Suber, who was BCU's quarterback when Mastromatteo was the offensive coordinator, a role Suber currently serves. "A true teacher and motivator, his knowledge of the game we all love was. unmatched." 

[CLICK HERE TO READ SUBER'S FULL TRIBUTE] 

Prior to joining B-CU, Mastromatteo was offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Mainland High School from 1996-97. He also coached at New Smyrna Beach High School, overseeing the defensive line.

His first collegiate coaching experience came at Division III Widener University in Chester, Pa., in 1995. He was a graduate assistant who coached the quarterbacks and served as assistant to the head coach. That season, he helped Widener to the Mid-Atlantic States Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The last eight years saw him coaching internationally. He most recently spent three years coaching the Warsaw Eagles in Poland winning the 2018 PLFA TopLiga title in his first season with the team.  In 2014, he guided Vukovi Belgrade to the Serbian and CEFL titles, going undefeated along the way. He also coached Switzerland's Geneva Seahawks to a second division title game in 2015. He got his start in Europe with the Cagiliari Crusaders in Italy.

 He is survived by his mother and father and three siblings, Andrea Royce (husband Michael), Matthew Mastromatteo (Jill), Mitchell Mastromatteo (wife Julie), and six nephews, Samuel Mastromatteo, Grant Mastromatteo, Spencer Stapleton, Luke Mastromatteo, Sawyer Stapleton, and Benjamin Mastromatteo.

"Bethune-Cookman University is the beneficiary of so many people who have walked these sacred grounds and touched the lives of our young people. Coach Mas was one of them," said BCU Vice President Of Intercollegiate Athletics Lynn W. Thompson. "He left an indelible imprint on our football program, not only in assisting us towards winning championships, but building championship lives amongst our student-athletes. We are so much better of an institution because of his work here."