Coach Verria is in his 22nd season as a key member of the Bears' coaching staff.  From 2004 to 2006, Bridgewater State's defense ranked among the national leaders in Division III.  The Bears allowed just 16.6 points per game during that three-year span and the rush defense gave up just 2.7 yards per carry.  The team's pass efficiency defense checked in with an impressive 94.96 NCAA rating. On an NFL scale, that would calculate to a rating of 50.53.  BSC forced 89 turnovers over the 29 games for an average of 3.07 per game.  60 of those 89 turnovers came via the interception, including a school, single-season record of 28 interceptions in 2005.

In 2005, Bridgewater State football ranked 11th in all of Division III in defensive pass efficiency rating (90.0), 15th in rushing defense (88.1 ypg) and turnover margin (+13), 21st in total defense (265.6 ypg) and tied for 20th in scoring defense (15.5 ppg).  In 2006, the Bears finished 10th nationally in both interceptions (21) and forced turnovers (34), and were ranked third in turnover margin (+17) and 22nd in defensive pass efficiency rating (92.3).

Coach Verria was a star defensive tackle for Bridgewater State for four seasons from 1977 to 1980.  Following his collegiate career he had several NFL tryouts including stints with the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.  Joe was also a track star at BSC and was a MASCAC all-conference shot putter in 1980 and 1981.  He returned to Bridgewater in 1988 as an assistant coach for football, a position that he has held ever since.  In 2001, Joe was one of six new members inducted into the BSC Athletic Hall of Fame.  Before joining the BSC coaching staff, he also coached for six years at East Bridgewater High School (1981-87). 

Joe, who is an insurance and financial specialist at Bearce Insurance, presently resides in Bridgewater with his wife, Maryann, and son, Ryan.