Gabe Infante - Baxter Family Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Tackles - Football Coaches

Gabe Infante

Title:
Baxter Family Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Tackles
Phone:
(919) 684-2635

Gabe Infante joined the Blue Devil gridiron program in January 2024 and serves as the Baxter Family Assistant Head Coach and special teams coordinator. He also coaches Duke’s defensive tackles.

Infante worked with Manny Diaz on the defensive staff at Penn State University during the 2022-23 seasons. Infante has more than 25 years of coaching experience, including 11 as a head coach at the high school level. His resume includes a ranked Power 4 bowl game win, four Pennsylvania state championships and nearly 40 collegiate wins over the last six years.

During his first season in Durham, Infante’s work along the defensive line helped Duke finish second nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.9) and fourth in sacks per game (3.3). He mentored defensive tackle Kendy Charles to Second Team All-ACC accolades after producing 50 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Redshirt junior Aaron Hall was an honorable mention all-league selection as a defensive tackle after he booked 41 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

On special teams, Infante’s units ranked 11th nationally in blocked kicks (three), 18th in punt return defense (4.5) and 20th in kickoff return average (24.2). He mentored punter Kade Reynoldson to 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team honors. Reynoldson’s first year was one of the best in Duke history as he set the Blue Devil rookie record for most punting yards (3,285) and tied the mark for punts (75). Reynoldson finished the season ranked tied for second nationally in punts, third in yards and 28th in punting average (43.8). In addition, redshirt freshman Que’Sean Brown was an honorable mention All-ACC choice as a punt returner after recording 24 for 233 yards (9.7).

Infante came to Durham after a two-year stint (2022-23) as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator at Penn State. In Happy Valley under head coach James Franklin and defensive coordinator Diaz, Infante helped the Nittany Lions to a 21-5 (.808) record and back-to-back bowl appearances, including a 35-21 Rose Bowl win over No. 8 Utah to cap the 2022 season.

Penn State’s defense was one of the top units in the nation during that two-year stretch, as the Nittany Lions ranked in the top-25 in third down defense, fumbles recovered, passes intercepted, rushing defense, scoring defense, sacks, tackles for loss, total defense, turnover margin and turnovers gained. Additionally, in 2023 Penn State ranked first in the country in first downs allowed (181), rushing yards allowed per game (75.5), sacks per game (3.77) and tackles for loss per game (8.5).

Prior to his time at Penn State, Infante served three seasons (2019-21) as the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach at Temple University. While with the Owls, Infante helped in the development of Re’Mahn Davis, who rushed for 936 yards and eight touchdowns on 193 carries in 2019. Davis was the Owls’ leading rusher, ranked second in school history among freshmen in every rushing category and earned Freshman All-America recognition.

Before his collegiate coaching career began, Infante spent 22 years at the high school level as both a head coach and defensive coordinator in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. While a high school head coach, Infante led his teams to a 104-31 (.770) all-time ledger in 11 seasons and earned 2018 National High School Coaches Association and Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, he was tabbed the 2017 U.S. Army Bowl National Coach of the Year, while also accumulating multiple regional and league coach of the year accolades.

From 2010-18, Infante served as the head coach at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. In addition to those duties, he also spent time as the Hawks’ associate athletic director, senior athlete adviser, head strength and conditioning coach and associate development officer. During the nine-year span with St. Joseph’s Prep, he turned the Hawks into a perennial powerhouse, compiling a 93-21 (.816) overall record with two 6A Pennsylvania State Championships (2016 and 2018) and two 4A Pennsylvania State Championships (2013 and 2014). Over his last three seasons, the Hawks were an impressive 40-1 with two state championships. St. Joseph’s Prep also claimed the District 12 City Championship and the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship on five occasions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018).

Infante coached the Hawks to eight winning seasons, including six years with 10-plus wins and two years with an undefeated record. St. Joseph’s Prep was nationally ranked continually during his tenure and held a No. 1 national ranking in Pennsylvania in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Individually, Infante had a hand in the develop of numerous student-athletes during his time as a Hawk, including cornerback John Reid (class of 2015), offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr. (class of 2015), running back D’Andre Swift (class of 2017) and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (class of 2015), who all went on to have successful NFL careers. Additionally, class of 2020 members wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and quarterback Kyle McCord were instrumental in the Hawks’ victory over Harrisburg High School in the 2018 state championship game. McCord and Harrison Jr., both went on to help lead Ohio State University to a 33-6 three-year record with three bowl appearances, including a 48-45 victory over No. 11 Utah in the 2021 Rose Bowl. Harrison Jr. was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft while McCord went in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Infante made his head coaching debut in 2008, when he took the reins of Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, N.J. He spent two seasons with the Paladins and compiled an 11-10 overall record.

He also made three other coaching stops while in the Garden State. He spent two seasons (2006-07) at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J., and three years (2003-05) at Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington, N.J., serving as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Prior to that, Infante served six years (1997-2002) as the defensive coordinator at Memorial High School in West New York, N.J.

Infante was also a member of USA Football’s Advisory Committee and a master trainer in USA Football’s Heads Up program. He traveled around the country conducting player safety clinics and helped promote the program’s techniques and benefits to youth and high school coaches. He worked national clinics for Nike, Glazier, and Hammer Strength and has been published by American Football Monthly. Additionally, he served as head coach of the 2017 U-17 national team and coached in three national high school postseason games – the U.S. National Team International Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2010), the U.S. National Team World Championships in Austin, Texas (2012) and the U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio, Texas (2013).

Infante was a four-year member (1991-94) and three-year letterwinner at safety for the College of Holy Cross, where he helped the Crusaders to 23 wins, including a Patriot League title in 1991. He compiled 87 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two interceptions, one caused fumble and two fumble recoveries throughout this career. In addition, he earned the 1994 Connor Award, which is presented annually to the Holy Cross senior who, by a vote of the varsity squad, is named the person the players are most proud of as a teammate.

A native of West New York, N.J., Infante graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Holy Cross in 1995. He later went on to earn his juris doctor from New York Law School in 1999. He is a licensed attorney in the state of New Jersey and spent six years practicing law before committing fully to coaching.

Infante is married to the former Tamara Defelice, of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of four children, Karysa, Gabriella, Gabriel and Sofia.

THE GABE INFANTE FILE
Hometown: West New York, N.J.,
Education: Holy Cross, 1995 (Political Science) and New York Law School, 1999 (Juris Doctor)
Wife: Tamara
Children: Karysa, Gabriella, Gabriel, and Sofia
Birthday: Jan. 30, 1973

INFANTE’S COACHING CAREER

2024-pres. – Duke (Baxter Family Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Tackles)
2022-23 – Penn State (Defensive Analyst and Analytics Coordinator)
2019-21 – Temple (Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs)
2012-18 – St. Joseph’s Prep [Pa.] (Head Coach/Associate Athletic Director)
2010-11 – St. Joseph’s Prep [Pa.] (Head Coach)
2008-09 – Paramus Catholic High School [N.J.] (Head Coach)
2006-07 – Bergen Catholic High School [N.J.] (Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach)
2003-05 – Queen of Peace High School [N.J.] (Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach)
1997-2002 – Memorial High School [N.J.] (Defensive Coordinator)