University of Albany's Bob Ford Honored By Capital Region Hall of Fame - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany's Bob Ford will be inducted into the Capital Region High School Football Hall of Fame with its Service to Football Award on Saturday, Aug. 7. The inaugural event will be conducted by the National Football Foundation's Capital District Chapter at the Colonie Elks Club in Latham.

Ford, the architect of the school's football program, has been UAlbany's only head coach since he 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) coaches. His UAlbany teams own a 74-47 mark for a .612 winning percentage as a Division I FCS program. The Great Danes have won or shared four Northeast Conference championships.

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.

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 has been a member of the American Football Coaches Association's Board of Trustees for 16 years, and served as AFCA national president in 2000. He received the New York State Athletic Administrators Distinguished Service Award in 2005. 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.

Twenty players, five coaches and four officials are in the first Capital Region Hall of Fame class. Ernie Stautner, a 10-time All-Pro with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Charlie Leigh, a running back with Miami, Cleveland and Green Bay, and former San Diego Chargers' offensive lineman Joe Cocozzo are among the inductees.

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Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head football coach Bob Ford announced on Thursday, Aug. 5 the hiring of Matt Scott as assistant football coach. Scott, who will coach the cornerbacks and assist in the defensive secondary, replaces Samson Brown who is now working with the National Football League's New York Jets as an intern coach.

Scott comes to the UAlbany from the University of New Haven, a Division II program in the Northeast-10 Conference, where he coached the safeties and linebackers and served as video coordinator during the 2009 campaign. New Haven posted a 5-5 record in its first season of competition after a five-year absence from the gridiron. Scott, who recruited New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and Connecticut, worked for head coach Peter Rossomando, UAlbany's former offensive coordinator.

Prior to New Haven, Scott served as defensive line coach at his alma mater Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Crimson Hawks finished 8-2 and tied for second in the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Western Division. Scott earned a B.S. in physical education and sport with a minor in business. He went on to gain a master's in business administration from New Haven.

A native of Imperial, Pa. Scott was a three-time All-PSAC West second-team selection as a collegian. He totaled 51 tackles, including 16 for losses, three sacks and two fumble recoveries from his nose tackle position as a senior. Indiana, Pa. reached the 2007 NCAA playoffs with a 9-3 record. He also led IUP to a first-place finish in the PSAC West as a junior. Scott finished with 162 career tackles, 42 hits for a loss and eight sacks in 39 games played.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information