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| Franklin & Marshall athletics photo |
Tom Blumenauer has been chosen as SUNY Cortland’s new football head coach in an announcement from director of athletics Mike Urtz. Blumenauer replaces Curt Fitzpatrick, who spent five years at the Red Dragon helm before accepting the head coaching position at Colgate University this past December.
Blumenauer has served most recently as head coach at Franklin & Marshall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 2022-24. During those three seasons, he led the Diplomats to a combined 21-11 record, including an 11-8 record in the Centennial Conference. F&M won postseason bowl games vs. Delaware Valley in 2024, to cap a 7-4 season, and King's in 2023, to finish an 8-3 campaign. The 2024 season also featured a tight 13-6 loss at eventual national semifinalist Johns Hopkins.
"It is an incredible honor to be named the new head football coach at SUNY Cortland," Blumenauer said. "I would like to express my gratitude to President Erik Bitterbaum, Director of Athletics Mike Urtz, and the search committee for this amazing opportunity. It is a privilege to join an institution renowned for its nationally recognized academic programs and strong athletic traditions. I look forward to meeting the entire team and beginning our preparation for the 2025 season. The recent success of the program has revitalized the entire Division III national landscape. I will work tirelessly to help each of our football student-athletes maximize their potential and continue to uphold the standards of excellence that have long been a hallmark of SUNY Cortland football."
In 2024, F&M ranked first in the Centennial Conference in scoring defense (13.1 points per game), passing yards allowed per game (164.8) and rushing yards allowed per game (62.7), along with time of possession (34:37 per game; second nationally) and offensive third down conversion percentage (49.3 percent; 21st nationally). The team also ranked second in the conference in passing yards per game (261.7).
Blumenauer's F&M teams earned a total of 25 Centennial Conference all-league honors, including 11 in 2024, in addition to 62 student-athletes named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to F&M, "Coach Blu" served as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Williams for six years. He was the Ephs' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2021 and the program's run game coordinator and offensive line coach from 2016-20. Williams made a steady climb up the New England Small College Athletic Conference standings during his tenure, culminating in the program's first 9-0 season and a league title in 2021. That season, Williams averaged more than 34 points per game and ranked fifth nationally in Division III in red zone scoring percentage (.895), seventh in passing yards per completion (17.8) and ninth in passing efficiency (170.4 rating).
Blumenauer's other coaching positions include serving as offensive coordinator at Bowdoin in 2015 and at Endicott in 2014. He got his start in collegiate coaching as recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at St. Lawrence for three seasons from 2010-13. The Saints were Liberty League champs in his first season in Canton.
After playing from 2003-04 at Division I Connecticut, Blumenauer transferred to Ithaca and played outside linebacker and free safety for the Bombers for two seasons. He registered 55 tackles, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions, one returned 85 yards for a touchdown, in 2005, and the following season he recorded 54 tackles, including three sacks among his 13 total tackles for loss. Blumenauer was a two-time All-Empire 8 selection.
Blumenauer earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Ithaca in 2007 and a master's degree in educational leadership from St. Lawrence in 2012. The Brentwood, New York, native graduated from Brentwood High School in 2003. He earned football all-county honors twice and was a three-year standout wrestler. He's in the Brentwood Hall of Fame for both sports.
"Tom has seen and had success at every turn in his college football career, from his time as a player all the way up to serving as head coach at Franklin and Marshall," said Urtz. "His New York ties will serve him well here at Cortland. We are truly excited to welcome Tom and his family into ours."
Tom and his wife, Eileen, have three daughters, Teagan, Riley and Quinn. Eileen is a 2009 SUNY Geneseo alumna and was an All-SUNYAC soccer player for the Knights as a junior in addition to playing professionally for the Rochester Ravens in the USL W-League from 2010-11.
Cortland finished 11-1 last season, including a victory in the NCAA Division III tournament second round after posting a 10-0 regular-season mark. Since 2021, the Red Dragons are a combined 45-5 with four Empire 8 titles and four NCAA appearances, highlighted by winning the 2023 national championship.