The Corsair football team will have a new captain at the helm next season as UMass Dartmouth announced the retirement of Head Coach Mark Robichaud and the promotion of former-Offensive Coordinator Josh Sylvester as his replacement.

“Mark Robichaud’s commitment to his team members’ personal growth and development is the gold standard,” said UMass Dartmouth Director of Athletics and Recreation Lori Hendricks. “It is a high bar that has been set for Coach Sylvester and I have no doubt that he will build on Coach Robichaud’s success to write the next chapter of Corsair football.”

Robichaud had a successful 16-year tenure at UMass Dartmouth, with an overall record of 70-81, the second best by number of wins and winning percentage in Corsair history.

He will be remembered for leading the team to their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championship, guiding the Corsairs to the NCAA Division III Playoffs, and raising the New England Football Bowl Championship trophy.

"It has been my absolute privilege to serve as the head coach of the UMass Dartmouth football program for the past 16 seasons," said Robichaud. "I would like to thank the administration of the University and all those in the athletic department for their tremendous support over that time. I especially would like to thank the football staff and the players for all their incredible sacrifice, determination, and focus.”

Robichaud added that he had full confidence in Sylvester as the program’s new leader.

“The football program is now in great hands as Josh Sylvester takes over,” he said. “Josh has incredible passion and enthusiasm and will take the program to the next level. The University could not have made a better decision and I know that the staff and the players feel the same way.”

Sylvester has been with the program since 2009, serving as offensive coordinator for much of that time.

“I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to be the head football coach at UMass Dartmouth,” said Sylvester, thanking Robichaud and the university administration for their trust in him. “UMass Dartmouth is a special place, and I will work relentlessly to help our players be successful in the classroom and on the field.”

The architect of the Corsair offensive attack, Sylvester has produced four of the top five scoring seasons and seven of the top eight seasons of total offense in program history.

Most recently, the Corsairs established a new single-season standard for passing yards (3,288), passing completion percentage (61.3), passing efficiency (157.1), total offense (5,852), touchdowns (95), all-purpose yards (6,469), and total points scored (449).