The architect of the University at Albany's football program, Bob Ford has established a solid reputation with his positive attitude and a coaching philosophy that instills loyalty among each member of his team and staff.
     Ford, who has been UAlbany's only head coach since the program was reinstated after a 46-year absence, was appointed on April 27, 1970. Since then, he has compiled a 37-year varsity record of 232-147 as the Great Dane mentor, while his 241 career victories rank first among active NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) head coaches. His UAlbany teams own a 74-47 mark for a .612 winning percentage as a Division I FCS program.
     The Great Danes posted a 7-4 record and finished second in the Northeast Conference standings last year. UAlbany also defeated No. 20 Maine, 20-16, the first victory over a national top-20 opponent since the 2006 campaign.
     In 2008, The Great Danes put together their second consecutive championship season with a NEC crown and a victory over Jacksonville in the Gridrion Classic. Ford's squad became the first NEC program to win the Gridiron postseason game. UAlbany finished with a 9-3 record, the most victories in a Division I FCS campaign. Ford, who was voted NEC coach of the year for the third time, led UAlbany to an undefeated league season for the second straight year. Tailback David McCarty, the school's career rushing leader, and offensive tackle Raphael Nguti were both chosen as All-Americans.
     UAlbany also won the NEC championship in 2007, when Ford was named the conference's top coach. The Great Danes made their fifth postseason appearance in team history when they played Dayton for the FCS mid-major national title in the Gridiron Classic. UAlbany posted an 8-4 record, including a perfect 6-0 mark against league opposition.
     Ford, who was honored at the 69th annual Maxwell Awards for recording his 200th career win at UAlbany on Nov. 5, 2005, has produced 12 All-America players and 114 all-conference selections at the FCS level. Offensive tackle Raphael Nguti became the fourth Great Dane to be selected to the AFCA FCS All-America first team in 2008, joining J.T. Herfurth (2000), Geir Gudmundsen (2004) and Colin Disch (2006).
     In 2003, UAlbany shared its second consecutive Northeast Conference crown by finishing in a tie for first place in the conference standings with a 7-4 overall mark. The Great Danes were fourth among the FCS Division I leaders in rushing, while tailback Gary Jones was named to the Associated Press All-America Team for the second time in his career.
     The Great Danes put together one of their most celebrated seasons in 2002 by winning the program's first-ever Northeast Conference title and capping the year with a 24-0 upset of previously unbeaten Duquesne in the ECAC Division I-AA Football Classic. Ford, who directed his team to an 8-4 record, was named the NEC Coach of the Year. UAlbany placed 14 players on the all-conference squad.
     Ford, who served as president of the American Football Coaches Association to begin this decade, led UAlbany to a 7-2 record in its inaugural campaign as a I-AA program in 1999. The Great Danes garnered seven wins in 2001, and finished among the conference's top teams for the third straight year.
     As a Division II program, Ford led the Great Danes to their second consecutive Eastern Football Conference championship, an EFC Atlantic Division title, and a 10-1 record in 1998. He was named the conference's coach of the year for the second straight season. Ford also received the Gordon White-Herschel Nissenson Division II Coach of the Year Award by the Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association.
     Ford coached his 1997 team to a school-record 11-1 mark and an EFC championship. For his efforts, he was named the Football Gazette Division II non-scholarship national Coach of the Year, and voted the top Region I coach by GTE and the American Football Coaches Association.
     At one time, Ford was the youngest head football coach in the nation, when the 26-year-old took over the reins at St. Lawrence University in 1965. In his first season, he guided the Saints to an Independent Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) title. He arrived in the Capital Region five years later to start the first gridiron squad at the University since 1924.
     After three seasons at the club level, the program was upgraded to varsity status in 1973, and finished with a 7-2 record. One year later, the Great Danes completed the school's only undefeated season with a 9-0 mark.
     Ford's 1977 team earned a NCAA Division III playoff berth. After a season-opening loss, the Great Danes rebounded with nine consecutive victories. UAlbany defeated Hampden-Sydney in a thrilling 51-45 contest to begin the postseason before losing to eventual national champion Widener in the semifinals.
     In 1978, Coach Ford's mystique grew before a national audience on ABC television. His last-minute addition of a field goal kicker direct from the soccer team paid off in a victory over third-ranked Ithaca. Dario Arango kicked a 45-yard field goal in the last two minutes to provide a 9-6 victory.
     In 1985, the Great Danes rallied from a three-touchdown deficit for a 33-21 victory over Plymouth State and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North championship. The '85 team, which produced one of the greatest comebacks in Ford's coaching career, boasted offensive and defensive units which were nationally ranked, and supported by five Pizza Hut and one Associated Press All-America players.
     UAlbany's football program is also known for the high standards required of its coaching staff. Ford's "coaching factory" has allowed many of his assistants to earn their master's degrees while working at the collegiate level. According to a recent review, more than 100 coaches, who have started their careers under Ford's tutelage, are currently employed with 60 different high schools, colleges, and professional teams from around the nation and the world.
     A starting quarterback in his senior year at Springfield College in Massachusetts, Ford was given the "Greatest Desire to Improve" Award by the school's athletic department. He received an undergraduate degree in physical education from Springfield in 1959, and later would earn his doctorate from the College in the same discipline. He gained a master's degree from St. Lawrence in educational administration in 1960.
     Ford's first coaching opportunity came as an assistant at St. Lawrence in the fall of 1959. He then moved to Albright College in Pennsylvania as an assistant for four seasons, where he coached the secondary and offensive backfield, and was part of a program which produced a 21-game winning streak.
     At Albright College, Ford also coached the wrestling and golf teams. He returned to Springfield in 1964 as a secondary coach, and later was named defensive coordinator at his alma mater in 1969.
     Beginning in 1977, Ford was UAlbany's director of athletics for five years. During that time, he managed a program which sponsored 25 varsity sports for men and women.
     A 1986 inductee into the Wachusett Regional High School Hall of Fame, Ford is presently active in the National Football Foundation & Hall of Fame, and serves as vice president of the NFFCHF's Capital District Chapter. He was honored by that organization in 2000 with its Service to Football Award.
     Ford, 72, has been a member of the American Football Coaches Association's Board of Trustees since 1994, and presently is serving on the AFCA's Division I FCS All-America Team Selection Committee. Ford received the New York State Athletic Administrators Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
     In August of 2010, Ford was recognized by the National Football Foundation Capital District Hall of Fame with its Service to Football Award. Ford was previously presented by the UAlbany Alumni Association with its Citizen of the University Award in 2007 which recognizes outstanding contributions to the University by a non-alumnus or alumna through leadership, service or a special gift.
     Ford and his wife, Donna, reside in the Capital Region. He has a daughter, Sherri Lee, son-in-law, Kevin, and two grandchildren, Aiden and Kyra.
COACHING RECORD
1959 St. Lawrence University Runnings Backs, Secondary
1960 Albright College Secondary, Offensive Backs
1961 Albright College Secondary, Offensive Backs
1962 Albright College Secondary, Offensive Backs
1963 Albright College Secondary, Offensive Backs
1964 Springfield College Secondary
1965 St. Lawrence University Head Coach (4-4)
1966 St. Lawrence University Head Coach (2-6)
1967 St. Lawrence University Head Coach (1-6-1)
1968 St. Lawrence University Head Coach (2-6)
1969 Springfield College Defensive Coordinator
1970* University at Albany Head Coach (2-4)
1971* University at Albany Head Coach (4-4)
1972* University at Albany Head Coach (6-1-1)
1973 University at Albany Head Coach (7-2)
1974 University at Albany Head Coach (9-0)
1975 University at Albany Head Coach (7-2)
1976 University at Albany Head Coach (4-5)
1977 University at Albany Head Coach (9-2)
1978 University at Albany Head Coach (7-3)
1979 University at Albany Head Coach (6-3)
1980 University at Albany Head Coach (5-5)
1981 University at Albany Head Coach (7-3)
1982 University at Albany Head Coach (6-3)
1983 University at Albany Head Coach (3-7)
1984 University at Albany Head Coach (5-5)
1985 University at Albany Head Coach (9-2)
1986 University at Albany Head Coach (4-6)
1987 University at Albany Head Coach (5-5)
1988 University at Albany Head Coach (5-5)
1989 University at Albany Head Coach (5-4)
1990 University at Albany Head Coach (3-7)
1991 University at Albany Head Coach (5-5)
1992 University at Albany Head Coach (6-4)
1993 University at Albany Head Coach (6-4)
1994 University at Albany Head Coach (4-6)
1995 University at Albany Head Coach (3-7)
1996 University at Albany Head Coach (7-3)
1997 University at Albany Head Coach (11-1)
(Eastern Football Conference Champion)
1998 University at Albany Head Coach (10-1)
(Eastern Football Conference Champion)
1999 University at Albany Head Coach (7-2)
2000 University at Albany Head Coach (5-6)
2001 University at Albany Head Coach (7-3)
2002 University at Albany Head Coach (8-4)
(Northeast Conference Champion)
2003 University at Albany Head Coach (7-4)
(Northeast Conference Co-Champion)
2004 University at Albany Head Coach (4-7)
2005 University at Albany Head Coach (5-6)
2006 University at Albany Head Coach (7-4)
2007 University at Albany Head Coach (8-4)
(Northeast Conference Champion)
2008 University at Albany Head Coach (9-3)
(Northeast Conference Champion)
2009 University at Albany Head Coach (7-4)
*club teams