Legendary former football coach Bob Ford built UAlbany’s program from scratch, successfully guided it through four different levels of competition and mentored more than 100 assistant coaches who went on to become head coaches on professional teams, colleges and high schools.

More than 10 years after he retired with a spectacular record of 256 victories and eight conference titles in 41 seasons as a varsity head coach (44 seasons overall), the 87-year-old dynamo received perhaps his biggest career accolade in January: the American Football Coaches Association’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Award. The prestigious award recognizes “those whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests in football.”

“When they decided to reinstate the football program here back in 1970, I was given a four-year contract to get the job done,” said Ford, who admitted he was under a lot of pressure. “But they only gave me a small budget, and I only had four graduate assistant coaches. I had to be very innovative, so I eventually split the money into eight graduate assistants, and we were one of the first programs to use a computer to scout all of our opponents. I’m not sure why they gave me the award. Perhaps it’s because I’m one of the few coaches who have coached at every level with the same program. But I’m humbled by this honor. There are a lot of great coaches who have won this award.”  

Ford, a former president of the AFCA,  a two-time director of athletics at UAlbany and a member three halls of fame: at the University at Albany, Springfield College and Wachusett Regional High School. He earned the National Football Foundation’s Capital District Chapter’s Service to Football Award, and UAlbany’s football field is named after him.

Ford is obviously proud of his many achievements on the gridiron, but his noteworthy coaching tree is right at the top of his accomplishment list. He keeps track of as many former assistants as possible. They include the likes of former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo, former NFL assistant coach Tony Wise from Niskayuna, former RPI coach Joe King, former Union coaches Al Bagnoli and John Audino, former Siena coach Ed Zaloom and former Trinity coach Chuck Priore, and many more.

“Coach Ford actually and literally taught me not just how to be a coach and all it entailed (on the field, preparation, scouting, recruiting, marketing, etc.) but he taught me the intangibles — discipline, work ethic, leadership, consistency of detail and relationships with players and fellow colleagues,” said Campo. “He was a good man who loved his players, his staff and the game. He was truly a mentor who produced a bunch of outstanding coaches and men. Love the man.”

Audino, now a coach at La Salle Institute in Troy, is equally fond of Ford. “Coach Ford was a great mentor, not only to me, but to a great number of high school and college football coaches,” he said. “The experience that Coach gave to all of us was not just about football and how to coach, but how to recruit, develop life skills and become a successful person. It was the experience that you got from Coach that carried so many of his assistants to achieve great success. Coach had so much energy, and he still does. His passion for teaching and coaching was unparalleled.”

Current UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso succeeded Ford, and their relationship began on opposing sidelines when Gattuso was at Duquesne.

“When we played against each other, I never really met him. It was kind of quirky, but the first time I really met him was at my interview, but I did know him through so many of the coaches who worked with him,” Gattuso said.

“I always compared Coach Ford to [former Pittsburgh and Tennessee coach] Johnny Majors, who was a southern gentleman and very classy. Both of those guys had that same complimentary personality and were positive human beings to be around. When you meet his alumni and the guys who played for him, you get the same [vibe]. He’s a great mentor and someone who really cares and listens.”

Coaching is in Ford’s blood and he has no regrets.

“I really enjoyed coaching all those years. I even coached some wrestling and lacrosse, two sports I didn't know much about.," he said. "There were always challenges, but that was part of the fun. I still follow my assistant coaches in the papers every morning to see how they are doing. Those are the things I’m most proud of,” Ford said.

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