WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson football head coach Mike Sirianni has announced the elevation of Vince Luvara to defensive coordinator for the 2016 season.

Luvara replaces Shawn Rohrer, who returned to fellow Presidents' Athletic Conference school Saint Vincent as its defensive coordinator. Rohrer served as the defensive coordinator at W&J for five seasons after spending the previous three years at Saint Vincent.

"Coach Rohrer did a great job here at W&J and I am very sad to see him go," said Sirianni. "It is a good move for his family and we wish him nothing but the best."

After spending the 2015-16 academic year as an intern assistant coach focusing primarily on the linebacking corps, Luvara earns his first coordinator position on a defense that returns seven starters and numerous other players that have contributed recently.

"Coach Luvara did an outstanding job recruiting this past year and has a great football mind," said Sirianni. "I have no doubt that he will do a great job. He is a tireless worker and wants to be the best."

Luvara inherits a defense that ranked fourth in the PAC in total defense and second in pass defense a season ago, allowing 350.6 total yards per game and 177.5 yards through the air. W&J ranked third in the PAC by allowing just 18.0 opponent first downs per game and held its opponents to just a 34.1 percent (56-of-164) conversion rate.

Two of W&J's linebackers ranked in the top three on the team and top 20 in the conference last year as Jalen Morris made a team-high 78 stops and Ryan Torrance contributed 62 tackles.

Prior to arriving at W&J, Luvara was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Allegheny, where he was a three-year letterman and inside linebacker from 2007-10. His Bachelor of Arts from Allegheny is in Managerial Economics, while he minored in Communication Arts. He also spent time as a Graduate Assistant in charge of inside and outside linebackers at Misericordia, where he received his Master of Business Administration.

The Presidents kick off the 2016 on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Cameron Stadium with a nonconference match-up against Wooster for the fourth straight season.