Penn legend Al Bagnoli officially named Columbia coach

It’s official: Al Bagnoli is going to Columbia.

After the Columbia Spectator reported on Sunday that Penn football’s all-time winningest coach had agreed to take the reins of the Lions’ football program, Columbia’s athletic department officially confirmed Monday that Bagnoli had been chosen as the Light Blue’s next head coach.

“Over the past decade Columbia Athletics has built a new winning tradition, enhancing the collegiate experience for thousands of student-athletes and our campus community,” Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger said in an email to the media. “Our hiring of a uniquely accomplished teacher and coach like Al Bagnoli sends a powerful signal that we intend to ensure that Columbia football is part of that new winning tradition.”

The 62-year-old coached the Red and Blue for 23 seasons from 1992 through 2014, amassing an incredible nine Ivy League championships, including two stretches of three Ancient Eight titles in four years in the early 2000s. When Bagnoli announced last spring that he would retire after the 2014 season, he also indicated that he would accept a position within Penn Athletics.

Bagnoli knew virtually nothing but success while with the Red and Blue. The head coach at Union for 10 years before he came to Penn in the early 1990s, Bagnoli’s final season with the Quakers was also his first year with a losing record.

On the other hand, throughout Bagnoli’s period of success at Penn, the Lions have been one of the worst program’s in the country. Since Columbia beat Cornell in Nov. 2012, the Light Blue have gone winless, losing 21 consecutive matchups through the end of the 2014 season, the longest active losing streak in the country.

“It is with great appreciation and excitement that I begin a new chapter in my coaching life at Columbia,” Bagnoli said. “I eagerly await the opportunity to work alongside a talented group of student athletes, a passionate alumni base and a dedicated university administration.”

A few weeks after the end of last season, Pete Mangurian — fresh off his third season as Columbia’s coach and second straight 0-10 campaign — resigned in the midst of allegations of player abuse and misconduct. As a result, when Columbia hired Peter Pilling as its new athletic director earlier this month, the former Vice President of IMG College emphasized that finding a football coach to make the program competitive was “priority number one.”

Although unexpected, the result of that search is the first source of excitement for the Lions’ fanbase in a long time.

“Al Bagnoli is one of the most successful coaches to ever work in the Ivy League,” Pilling said in an email. “He is a proven winner whose record speaks for itself, and who teaches his student-athletes to win on the field, in the classroom and in life.

“We are thrilled that he has decided to commit his widely admired leadership to building the long-term success of Columbia football.”

After the Quakers wrapped up their season in November, Bagnoli formally handed control of the program over to defensive coordinator and head coach-in-waiting, Ray Priore.

“We are sad to see Al leave, but remain extremely excited about the future of our program,” Priore said in a statement. “Our goal is the same, and that is to bring Penn back to the top of the Ivy League.”

Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Grace Calhoun, who oversaw Bagnoli’s efforts as Director of Special Projects over the past two months, also wished the coach well in his new job.

“We are thankful for Al Bagnoli’s 23 years of success and service to the University of Pennsylvania,” Calhoun said in a statement. “He will always hold a special place here at Penn. We wish him the best.”

Bagnoli will be formally introduced as the Lions’ coach in a press conference at Columbia on Tuesday.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.