Presbyterian College is seeking to prove its football program isn't going to be a fleeting force.
After promoting incumbent offensive coordinator Matt Rahl to the head coaching position late last month, the Blue Hose under Rahl's guidance are poised to turn over their defense to a veteran college coach with major Power Conference coaching experience, FootballScoop has learned.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Rahl is hiring Mike Bruno to run the Presbyterian defense.
Bruno was a long-time veteran coach in Justin Wilcox's Cal Golden Bears program, helping the institution's transition from the unraveling PAC-12 into its present membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference
At Cal Berkeley, Bruno -- with six seasons spanning two separate stints in the program -- most recently served as the Bears' inside linebackers coach during the 2025 season. He's also served as a defensive analyst, opposition scouting and assessing Cal's own defensive tendencies, among other responsibilities.
He has additional Football Bowls Subdivision experience from time at UNLV, where he also coached inside linebackers. Bruno was a defensive coordinator at the NCAA Division II level earlier this decade at Minot State.
Presbyterian is coming off the most successful season in the program's Football Championship Subdivision era. The Blue Hose transitioned from NCAA D-II status to FCS membership in 2007.
The 10-win 2025 campaign was the program's most in that span and the first 10-win season at Presbyterian in 20 years.
The Blue Hose were among the teams to receive votes in Tuesday's final AFCA FCS Top 25 of the 2025 season.
Rahl was tabbed to take over the program after Steve Englehart exited to take over the West Georgia program.
Presbyterian is still finalizing its 2026 schedule for Rahl's debut season but is scheduled to face Western Carolina in mid-September.