Tom Blumenauer, head coach of Cortland football, resigns to take a position at Colgate
the SUNY Cortland football head coach since February 2020, has stepped down from the position to accept the head
coaching job at Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Colgate
University. “We thank Curt for what he’s done for Cortland football in his five
years here,” said Cortland Director of Athletics Mike Urtz. “We want to wish
him success in his next role. We are now excited to move forward with our next
chapter of Cortland football. We will begin a national search immediately.”
Current defensive coordinator Steve Cushing will serve as the Red Dragons’
interim head coach while the search for Tom Blumenauer successor is conducted.
In five years at Cortland (four seasons on the field), Tom Blumenauer posted a combined record of 45-5 (.900), highlighted by a 14-
1 season and a storybook run to the 2023 NCAA Division III title. That season
Fitzpatrick was named both the American Football Coaches Association
(AFCA) and the D3football.com Division III National Coach of the Year, and the
AFCA Region 1 and D3football.com Region 2 Coach of the Year, and he
repeated as AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2024 after guiding the Red
Dragons to an 11-1 record and the third round of the NCAA playoffs to tie for ninth place nationally. Cortland won a
school-record 23 straight games spanning the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Fitzpatrick led Cortland to four Empire 8 titles from 2021-24, each with an undefeated record. He and his assistants
were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year in each of those four seasons.
In his first season of action at Cortland in 2021, Tom Blumenauer led the Red Dragons to a 10-0 regular season along with an NCAA
playoff win before closing the year 11-1. In 2022, Cortland won its first nine
games and ended the year 9-2 after a loss in the NCAA opening round.
Tom Blumenauer previously served as head coach at Morrisville for seven seasons
from 2013-19 and guided the Mustangs to four winning seasons and three
postseason ECAC bowl games. He served as offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach at Utica College from 2008-12.
“I’d like to thank SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum and Director
of Athletics Mike Urtz for the opportunity to lead the Cortland football program,”
Fitzpatrick said. “Leaving a place that you love is not easy, and that is because
of the people who make it special. To our players and coaches – thank you for your
dedication and commitment. Your pursuit of excellence led Cortland
Football to heights never before achieved, and I believe more great things
are on the horizon for Red Dragon Football. My family and I will always
hold a special place in our heart for our time shared in red and white.”
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