During his four-year stint on the Lancaster Catholic football team, Nick Schmalhofer got used to winning seasons and deep playoff runs.

So when he arrives at his new campus in the fall, he should feel right at home.

Schmalhofer, a 6-4, 240-pound offensive and defensive lineman, committed to the University of New Hampshire on Monday. He will join the Wildcats in August when they open training camp.

UNH has made a habit out of winning under coach Sean McDonnell, who is 70-50 in his 10 years at the helm. The Wildcats play in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA), where they have made the playoffs for five straight years and reached the quarterfinal round four times.

Last season, UNH finished the year ranked No. 8 in the Sports Network FCS Top 25 poll after going 10-3 and falling to No. 4 Northern Iowa 36-34 in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats have gone 47-17 in their last five seasons. In 2005, they finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation, but were upset by Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals.

"They have a great program there, just like we do at Catholic," Schmalhofer said. "It's nice to be part of a program with a winning tradition."

Schmalhofer made his official visit to UNH earlier this month.

"I've always liked their coaching staff and felt comfortable with them during the recruiting process," Schmalhofer said. "And when I hung out with the players during my visit there, it felt like I was already hanging with my best friends. It just felt like I was home."

Schmalhofer also made official trips to Appalachian State, Eastern Michigan and Stony Brook and unofficial visits to Purdue and Connecticut. But UNH was the best fit for him.

"It's a smaller campus, but I think I'll have a good college experience there," Schmalhofer said. "When I was touring the campus, I noticed how close everyone seemed and how friendly they were.

"And they told me that there's great snowboarding nearby, which will be a plus," he added with a chuckle.

Schmalhofer called New Hampshire on Monday to let the coaches know his decision.

"The offensive line coach told me I made his day," he said. "Everyone seemed really happy to get the news."

But Schmalhofer may be the subject of a few arguments among the UNH coaching staff. It hasn't been decided whether he'll play offense or defense.

"They'll put me through some agility and speed tests when I get there to see where I'm a better fit," said Schmalhofer. "If they want me on offense, I'll almost definitely redshirt so I can put some more weight on and compete next year. I hope to be around 260 when I get up there in August.

"The coaches say I can compete for a spot on defense at my current weight (240)," he added.

Asked for his preference, Schmalhofer demurs. He said he likes playing defense "a little more," but wants to go wherever he'll have the best shot at landing a starting job down the line.

"Either way, I'd personally prefer to redshirt this season," said Schmalhofer, who hopes to major in business. "I want to get a masters degree, so it would give me an extra year of studying."

No matter which side of the ball he winds up on, Schmalhofer will bring along solid credentials. He made the Associated Press Class AA All-State second team as a defensive lineman this past season - the most successful in Lancaster Catholic's history.

The Crusaders went 13-2, won the District 3 Class AA championship and reached the PIAA Eastern final before bowing out. They lost 37-14 to Philadelphia West Catholic, just one step short of the state title game.

Catholic also won their fourth straight Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 championship, cementing its status as one the league's elite programs. During Schmalhofer's four years on the team, the Crusaders went a combined 46-7 and won a pair of District 3 Class AA crowns.

Schmalhofer was a key figure on both sides of the ball during their 2008 campaign. On offense, he helped protect Kyle Smith, the Crusaders' outstanding junior quarterback, who passed for 3,193 yards and 42 touchdowns. He also carved out holes for a quintet of Crusader running backs as Catholic racked up an average of 173.8 yards per game on the ground.

Schmalhofer was also the anchor of a defensive line that helped Catholic put up some staggering stats. The Crusaders yielded just 184.9 yards and 11.4 points per game on defense.

Schmalhofer's two-way prowess was noted by the L-L League's coaches, who voted him onto their All-Star First Team on both sides of the ball. He was also voted Offensive Lineman of the Year, Defensive Lineman of the Year and Outstanding Lineman of the Year.

UNH's recruiting class was solid before he joined the fold, Schmalhofer said. He hopes to be part of a freshman class that helps the Wildcats earn a national championship.

"That's the ultimate goal," he said. "I can't wait to get up there and start competing."