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Albany coach Bob Ford, the winningest active FCS coach, will go for his 250th career win Saturday at home against Northeast Conference leader Duquesne. The 74-year-old is 249-176-1 all-time, including 2-2 this season and 240-155 overall at Albany (he had nine wins in four seasons at St. Lawrence).


Albany head coach Bob Ford has a 249-176-1 all-time record.
Since arriving at Albany in 1970, Ford has taken the Great Danes from the club level to Division III, Division II and now Division I FCS.

More than 100 of his assistant coaches are working in the professional, college and high school ranks. They include Dave Campo, the Dallas Cowboys' defensive backs coach, and seven Division I head coaches: Dave Clawson (Bowling Green); Pete Lembo (Ball State); Kevin Morris (Massachusetts); Al Bagnoli (Penn); Kevin Callahan (Monmouth); Walt Hameline (Wagner); and Chuck Priore (Stony Brook).

This past offseason, Ford explained his passion for coaching to The Sports Network.

"I think if you're not enthusiastic, get out of this business," he said. "I think people rub off on each other. If you're pessimistic, all you can project is gloom and defeat. That's what you're going to get. I've always felt we're going to win, not that that's the important thing in the world because it isn't. But we're going to strive hard to do a great a job with each of the kids."

Albany, NY (Sports Network) - With more than 42 years on the sidelines, Bob Ford has coached all types of games at almost every level that NCAA football has to offer.

Engineering the Albany football program's rise from the club level in 1970, to its varsity debut in 1973 in Division III to Division II in 1995 and then joining the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) before the 1999 season, Ford has seen more than his fair share of football games.

However, that lengthy resume doesn't include an FCS playoff game and this year's Great Danes would like nothing more than to give the veteran coach that opportunity.

"Every kid wants to get there," running back Andrew Smith said. "There is a banner in our weight room with all the NCAA appearances, basketball has got two, volleyball has a couple and then football is just blank, nothing there. I look at that every time I go in the weight room."