Saj Thakkar was named the seventh head football coach in Bentley University history on June 16, 2023.
His first season in Waltham saw the Falcons post a 6-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Northeast 10. The team's success on the field was recognized with 11 players on the NE10 All-Conference teams. Sal Lupoli Jr. became the program's first AFCA first team All-American since 2007. Lupoli was also named the NE10 MVP, becoming the first defensive player to win the award since 2000.
In April of 2024, both Lupoli and Mathieu Severance received invites to NFL Rookie Minicamps. Lupoli was invited to Tennessee Titans' minicamp and Severance to the Kansas City Chiefs' minicamp.
The Falcons excelled in the classroom in Thakkar's first season. The program led all Division II teams with 12 players to make the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society for the 2023-2024 academic year. Eight players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team and Jake Tarentino earned Academic All-America honors. Furthermore, 64 players were named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the fall semester.
Thakkar, whose resume includes five years on the staff of Tim Murphy at Harvard University, was hired as Bentley’s offensive coordinator in the spring of 2023 and was elevated to interim head coach in April, 2023.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be the next head football coach at Bentley,” said Thakkar when his hiring was announced. “Bentley is truly a special place with special people. My family and I look forward to continue building relationships at Bentley and around Waltham."
“The connection between the staff, players, campus community, and alumni will be what sets us apart from our competitors,” said Thakkar. “We will strive to create the model program in all of Division II football.”
“I’m excited that Coach Thakkar will be the leader of our football program,” said Vaughn Williams, Bentley’s Director of Athletics upon Thakkar's hiring. “He succeeded as an assistant coach at both the Division I and III levels, and he did an excellent job overseeing our program as the interim head coach.”
Prior to Bentley, Thakkar, 33, spent five seasons (2018-22) as the running backs coach at Harvard after three years (2015-17) on the staff at SUNY Maritime.
During Thakkar’s tenure at Harvard, four players were named All-Ivy including Ivy League rushing champions and 1,000-yard rushers Aidan Borguet and Aaron Shampklin.
Tim Murphy, Harvard’s head coach since 1994 and the owner of 224 career wins in 35 seasons, praised his former assistant. “Saj is a great American success story. His work ethic, football IQ and love of the game are important components in his ability to recruit, coach, and motivate student-athletes.”
At SUNY-Maritime, Thakkar spent two years as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. During the 2017 season, the Thakkar-led offense averaged 37 points per game with ten offensive players earning All Eastern Conference Athletic Conference (ECAC) honors.
Thakkar coached the running backs and special teams at his alma mater, Fitchburg State University, from 2013-2014.
In 2022, Thakkar worked at the NFL Bill Walsh Fellowship in Atlanta.
Thakkar earned his MBA and Bachelor of Science degree from Fitchburg State, where he was a three-time academic all-conference selection as a wide receiver and quarterback.
A native of Wakefield, Thakkar resides in Woburn with his wife Bobbi-Jo, their son Caiden and their daughter Ensley.
