Bob Rankl

Biography

Bob Rankl was appointed 27th Head Coach of the Alfred University football team prior to the 2014 season after serving 15 years as an assistant for the Saxons. Since taking over the team, Rankl has become one of the most successful coaches in the nearly 125-year-old program becoming the fastest coach to earn 40 wins at the helm. Since the 2014 season, the Saxons have totaled nine seasons with a .500 or better regular season record. During the 2016 season specifically, the team finished with a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season, claiming the Empire 8 Conference crown and becoming the first team in Empire 8 history to go through a season unbeaten. The Saxons were the top seed in their region of the NCAA tournament, and hosted three games. AU defeated Bridgewater (MA) State and Western New England in the first two rounds before falling to Mount Union in an Elite 8 shootout at Yunevich Stadium. The Saxons won a school-record 12 games and were named winners of the Lambert Cup as the top Division III team in the East. It marked the first time since 1971 that an Alfred University team earned the Lambert Cup. Under Rankl, the Saxons have been selected to compete in the ECAC Championship on five occasions, winning in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Prior to being appointed head coach of AU, Rankl served as the defensive line coach from 1999-2000 for the Saxons, before transitioning to coaching the offensive line and coordinating the Saxons' running game from 2001-2013. Prior to coming to A