After serving a two-year stint in the United States Air Force, Navarro headed to Teachers College at Columbia University, where the head football coach Lou Little offered him the job of assistant offensive line coach under John F. Bateman in 1955.
Little's offer ended Navarro's pursuit of teaching and put him on a path to a career in coaching.
The monster, or the scrape linebacker, was the one who was targeted to make tackles after the linemen tied up the offensive line.
Navarro was named the New York Writers Association Eastern College Coach of the Year.
During his four years there, he led the LWabash Little Giants to a combined 26–17 record, including an 18–5 mark over his final two seasons.
1977 was even better as he directed the Little Giants to a 11–2 mark and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division III Football Championship, where they lost a 39–36 shootout to Widener.