NEW YORK — Columbia University's Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football Al Bagnoli has announced he is stepping down from his current role, effective immediately, due to health reasons. Bagnoli will transition into a new role within the athletics department, where he will be mentoring Columbia's head coaches and spearheading fundraising initiatives. Columbia's offensive coordinator Mark Fabish will take over as interim head coach for the 2023 season.

"After undergoing a heart procedure (aortic dissection) in February, and in consultation with my family, doctors and coaching staff, I have decided this is the right time for me to retire from coaching," Bagnoli stated. "This was a difficult decision but the right one for me and the program. I had every intention to get through this season, but after going through the recovery process, I realized the grind of the Ivy League season would be a lot to go through at this stage of my life. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish here and know we are in a place where we can continue to have success. Columbia has been a great home for the past eight years. I look forward to transitioning into this new role and helping the football program and athletics department build for the future."

One of the winningest coaches in NCAA history, Bagnoli spent eight years on the sidelines at Columbia after 23 years at Penn. Bagnoli led the Lions to four winning seasons in the past five years, and his 35 victories since 2015 are the most ever for the program during such a span. In 2017, Columbia went 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Ivy League to finish second in the conference – its best season since 1996.

Bagnoli coached 69 All-Ivy League honorees at Columbia, including 20 first-team selections and 2021 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Joe Green. He compiled a career record of 274-133, including a 132-78 mark in Ivy League play to go with nine Ivy League Championships during his tenure at Penn. Bagnoli's win total is the fourth highest all-time in FCS history and he is No. 6 in career winning percentage (.680).

"We cannot express our gratitude enough to Al for the incredible achievements at Columbia and what he has accomplished throughout his storied career," said Peter Pilling, Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education. "We are proud of the progress our football program has made under his leadership and know he has set up a foundation for us to remain competitive for years to come. We are grateful that Al will remain an integral part of our Columbia family and believe he will continue to be a tremendous resource for our entire athletics department."

Fabish has been a member of Bagnoli's staff since he arrived at Columbia in 2015 and has been offensive coordinator for the past seven seasons. His hybrid spread offenses have averaged 328.8 yards per game and completed 58.0 percent (1,145-1,971) of their passes. That offensive production enabled Columbia to amass 27 victories since 2016, its highest win total since the institution joined the Ivy League in 1956.

Fabish recruited former Columbia standouts Josh Wainwright, Rory Schlageter, Ben Mathiasmeier, Mike Roussos and Daniel DeLorenzi, who earned First Team All-Ivy League honors a combined seven times during their careers.

"I am ecstatic for the opportunity to lead this program," said Fabish. "I want to thank Coach Bagnoli, for his mentorship and friendship, and Peter Pilling for giving me a chance as a head coach. We have a special group of student-athletes in our locker room and a tremendous coaching staff, so to say I'm looking forward to this season would be an understatement. To be asked to lead them is an honor and I am excited to add to the foundation we've already built."

"I have great confidence in Mark to lead this program," Bagnoli said. "I've known him for over 30 years, and he knows what it takes to be successful at this level. With his experience playing and coaching in the Ivy League, Mark is more than ready to assume the responsibilities of a head coach. I am excited about this opportunity for him and look forward to seeing what the future holds under his leadership."

In 2022, Columbia's offense put up 26.5 points per game, racked up 362.5 yards of total offense per game and scored 34 touchdowns, which are the highest marks in all three categories since 2000 and rank in the top five on the team's single-season charts. The Lions tied a school record with 30 first downs in a win at Georgetown and led the Ivy League in third down conversion rate (46.7 percent). Columbia's quarterbacks combined for a 61.4 percent completion percentage, which sits No. 2 on the program's single-season list. More impressively, the Lions accomplished the feats after incumbent starter Joe Green, who set a school record completing 64.5 percent of his passes in 2022, missed the final five contests of the season due to injury.

He previously served as an assistant coach on Bagnoli's staff at his alma mater, Penn, for five seasons. As an assistant, he helped the Quakers win Ivy League Championships on three occasions in addition to the two conference crowns he won as a student-athlete in 1993 and 1994.

Columbia opens the 2023 campaign at Lafayette on Saturday, September 16. The Lions begin their home slate on Saturday, September 23, when they welcome Georgetown to Robert K. Kraft Field to battle for the Lou Little Cup.

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