2× Metropolitan Conference COY (1976–1977) Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association COY (1985) MIAA Coach of the Year (1999) D2football.com WVIAC Football Coach of the Year (2005) Iona College Hall of Fame (1997) Mercyhurst Hall of Fame (2016) University of Charleston Hall of Fame (2024)
DeMeo began his head coaching career at his alma mater, Iona College. He compiled a 22–10–2 record at Iona and was twice named Metropolitan area coach of the year (1976 and 1977). DeMeo was inducted into the Iona College Hall of Fame in 1997 for his affiliation with two undefeated teams: first as a player in 1967 and then as the head coach in 1977.[1]
In March 1981, DeMeo was hired as the first head coach for the new football team at Mercyhurst College—now known as Mercyhurst University.[3][4] In seven seasons at Mercyhurst, he led the Lakers to a record of 41–21–2. DeMeo was named Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1985. He was inducted into the Mercyhurst University Hall of Fame in 2017.[5]
DeMeo was the 39th head football coach at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, serving for eight seasons, from 1994 to 2001, and compiling a record of 31–54. His 31 wins are third-most among head coaches in Washburn's history, behind Ernest Bearg and Craig Schurig.[6] After leading Washburn to a 6–5 record in 1999, the program's first winning season in over 10 years, and DeMeo was named Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Coach of the Year.
