Albany, N.Y. ? The University at Albany Alumni Association will honor head football coach Bob Ford with its Citizen of the University Award on Friday, June 1.  The presentation will take place at the Gala Awards Banquet, which begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Desmond Hotel & Conference Center.  The dinner and awards are part of the Association's Alumni Weekend.

            The Citizen of the University Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the University by a non-alumnus or alumna through leadership, service or a special gift.  The list of previous recipients includes former UAlbany basketball coach Richard “Doc” Sauers.

            Ford, who has been UAlbany's only head coach since football was reinstated at the club level in 1970, has guided the program through a transition to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) level.  He has a 34-year varsity record of 208-136 at the school, and his 217 career victories ranks second among active NCAA FCS coaches.

            Coach Ford's teams won a pair of Northeast Conference championships in 2002 and 2003.  His UAlbany squads have a 78-41 record for a .655 winning percentage over the last 11 years.  In 2006, the Great Danes posted a 7-4 record and recorded their first-ever wins over national top-25 squads.  As a Division II program, UAlbany captured the 1997 and 1998 Eastern Football Conference championships.  The '97 team established a school record with an 11-1 campaign.  Ford received the Gordon White-Herschel Nissenson Division II Coach of the Year Award by the Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association.

            Ford has been a member of the American Football Coaches Association's Board of Trustees for 13 years and served as the AFCA president in 2000.  He received the New York State Athletic Administrators Distinguished Service Award in 2005.