HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – Hampden-Sydney College third-year head football coach Vince Luvara has announced the appointments of Owen Helton, Carlos Delgado, Jake Pugh, Joseph Gonzalez '26 and Luke Candiano to his coaching staff. Helton will coach tight ends and serve as the video coordinator, Delgado will coach cornerbacks, Pugh will coach quarterbacks, Gonzalez will coach running backs and Candiano will serve as the program's chief of staff.

"We are really excited to add Owen, Carlos, Jake, Jojo and Luke to our staff," said Luvara. "They have all hit the ground running and have done a great job helping us continue to grow our program. Having Owen and Carlos here in the spring was a tremendous help as we transitioned into the fall, and anytime you can bring back a former player like Jojo, it adds tremendous value to the program.

"I have known Jake for a long time, having recruited him out of high school and coached him for several years at W&J. He has done a great job with our quarterbacks and has made an immediate impact. Luke has also been a great addition to our staff. He has taken a lot of responsibilities off the plates of our on-field coaches, which has helped us tremendously. We are excited about what all five bring to our program and the impact they will have moving forward."

Owen Helton had served as the assistant quarterbacks coach at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member Elon (NC) University since February 2025. He assisted the offensive coordinator and offensive staff in weekly offensive game-planning at Elon, including a role in the development of Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Year Landen Clark (QB). Helton served as an offensive line assistant and recruiting intern at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member Wake Forest (NC) University from January 2024 to February 2025. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Bonita Springs (FL) High School from June 2022 to January 2024, serving as the varsity running backs coach and the JV offensive coordinator, and also worked as an assistant director of scouting for Mike Farrell Sports from November 2022 to January 2024.

A native of Fredericksburg, Owen graduated from James Madison University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport and recreation management, and minored in business.

Carlos Delgado had served as a graduate defensive coach at NCAA Division III member Aurora (IL) University since August 2024, assisting with daily defensive practice plans, film breakdown and analysis, created weekly defensive scouting reports, handled defensive play calling for the JV team and helped with equipment inventory. The Spartans finished 9-2 in 2024, including 8-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) for first place, and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Playoffs. AU was 8-3 in 2025, including 6-2 in the NACC for second place, and won the SmileyCookie.com LakeFront Bowl. He served as the varsity safeties coach and JV defensive coordinator at Damien (CA) High School from September 2020 to July 2024. Prior to that, he was a student assistant coach at his alma mater, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member the University of Saint Mary (KS), from January 2020 to May 2020, assisting with defensive backs among other responsibilities. He was a three-year member of the Spires' football team as an undergraduate.

A native of Covina, California, Carlos graduated from Saint Mary in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management with a concentration in marketing. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Aurora in May 2026.

Jake Pugh had served as an offensive quality control and assistant quarterbacks coach at FCS member the University of New Haven (CT) during the spring of 2026. He served as an intern assistant coach at his alma mater, Division III Washington & Jefferson (PA) College, during the 2025 season, working with the defensive backs, including two All-Region and All-Conference selections, and special teams with punt return responsibilities, and has served as a volunteer assistant at Thomas Jefferson (PA) High School from 2022-24.
 
Pugh was a four-year team member, three-year starter at quarterback and a two-year team captain for W&J. He was a semifinalist for the 2024 Gagliardi Trophy that recognizes the most outstanding player in Division III who demonstrates excellence in athletics, academics and community service. Pugh was a two-time Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Offensive Player of the Year (2023-24), First Team All-PAC and D3football.com All-Region selection, and ranks fourth in career touchdown passes (93) and fifth in career passing yards (7,668) for the Presidents. He led W&J to a three-year overall record of 27-6, and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Playoffs as a senior.

A native of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, Jake graduated from W&J in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, and minored in both economics and communication arts. He was also named a member of the 2025 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society.

Joseph Gonzalez was a four-year team member and three-year kick return specialist with the Tigers (2022-25), and rushed for over 400 yards at running back in a reserve role as a senior. He played in 29 career games and averaged 24.7 yards on 68 career kick returns and one career kick return touchdown—a career long return of 91 yards for the touchdown vs. Ferrum on October 7, 2023, and ranks second in season kick return average (29.1, 2025), fourth in career kick return average and fifth in longest kick return. Gonzalez totaled 425 career rushing yards on 85 career rushing attempts (5.0) and five career rushing touchdowns, including 419 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, adding six career receptions for 43 career receiving yards. Jojo was third in the ODAC in all-purpose yards (1,082) and all-purpose yards per game (108.2) in 2025, and earned D3football.com Second Team All-Region 3 honors in 2023.

A native of Spotsylvania, Joseph graduated from Hampden-Sydney in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business.

Luke Candiano had served as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, Division III member DePauw (IN) University, since 2024 after two years as a team member of the Tigers (2022-23). He supported the DePauw coaching staff through daily logistics, practice preparation and equipment management for 150 student-athletes, while also assisting in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. Candiano served as a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), as well, and was a primary liaison between the Athletic Department and nearly 600 student-athletes. In addition, He was a co-leader of ambassadors for the Management Fellows Honors Program and received the Management Fellows Award for Excellence in Leadership, served as treasurer for Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was an analyst for the DePauw Investment Group.
 
A native of Anderson, Indiana, Luke graduated from DePauw in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.