Dave Murray
Head Coach
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607.871.2889

Dave Murray was appointed head football coach in 1998. Following the 2007 season, his career record is 61-41. The 61 career coaching wins are the third-most ever at AU.

In his first two years, Murray posted winning marks (5-4 in 1998 and 6-4 in 1999), the first time a Saxon coach has had consecutive winning campaigns since Jim Moretti did it in 1988 and 1989. From 2004-07, his teams had a combined record of 33-11, with the 33 wins being the most the Saxons have ever had in a four-year period. The Saxons also won four straight ECAC Bowl Championships during those four seasons.

A 1981 graduate of Springfield College, where he played linebacker for the Chiefs, Murray spent a season as a graduate assistant coach at Ithaca College where he earned his master's degree in physical education in 1984.

From Ithaca, Murray went on to serve as linebackers coach at Dartmouth College before becoming become defensive coordinator at SUNY Cortland in 1987. In 1989, Murray's defensive unit posted an NCAA record six shutouts and was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in scoring defense (2nd), total defense (4th) and passing defense (7th).

In 1990, Murray was tabbed head coach at Cortland and recorded a 44-30-1 mark in seven seasons, taking the Red Dragons to the post-season five times, including a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1990. Murray served as head football coach at Lebanon Valley for one season (1997) and has a career record of 55-48-1 in 10 seasons.

Murray and his wife Karin have three daughters: Chelsea, Kailea, and Megan.

Richard Puccio Jr.
Assistant Coach
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Richard Puccio Jr. was appointed assistant football coach in 2004. He is in charge of coaching quarterbacks and coordinating the Saxons' passing game.

Puccio comes to Alfred from Rush-Henrietta High School near Rochester, where he was head varsity football coach for four seasons, from 2000-03. He was also a physical education teacher at Rush-Henrietta from 1994-2004.

A native of Attica, NY, Puccio is a 1994 graduate of Cortland State, where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education. He was a four-year standout quarterback at Cortland, where he was coached by Murray. He also served one season at Cortland as an assistant junior varsity coach.

Puccio enjoyed a standout playing career at Cortland, where he was a three-time All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) quarterback from 1989-91. In 1991, he was named the ECAC Upstate Player of the Year.

He has served in various football coaching positions over the last decade. In addition to holding the head varsity post at Rush-Henrietta, he also served as an assistant varsity coach from 1997-99 and junior varsity coach in 1996. He coached varsity baseball at Rush-Henrietta from 1996-2000 and at Elba Central School in 1994. His high school coaching career began in 1993, when he served as an assistant varsity football coach at Attica Central School.

Puccio holds a master's degree in liberal studies, which he earned in 1999 from Brockport State.

Robert Rankl
Assistant Coach
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Bob Rankl was appointed full-time assistant coach for the Saxons in 2001 and is in charge of coaching the offensive line.

A native of New Jersey, Rankl was a graduate assistant coach in charge of the defensive line for two seasons (1999 and 2000) before his appointment to a full-time post.

Prior to coming to Alfred in 1999. Rankl enjoyed a standout playing career at Division III power Ursinus, where he was a four-year starting defensive lineman. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Ursinus and in 2001 received his master's degree in college student development from AU.