Earlier today, and just four days before their 2012 season opener against Colgate, UAlbany announced that the Great Danes' offensive coordinator Ryan McCarthy has been promoted to associate head football coach. McCarthy is in his 11th season with the UAlbany football program and fifth as offensive coordinator.

"Ryan McCarthy is an outstanding football coach," said Bob Ford, who will kick off his 40th season as the Great Danes’ head coach on Saturday. "He is extremely organized and one of the best recruiters around. Ryan is highly respected by both the staff and the squad. He will do an outstanding job as our associate head coach," stated Ford.

Promoted to the position of offensive coordinator in the spring of 2008, McCarthy has instructed some of the best players in UAlbany's history. In the past four seasons, tailback David McCarty became the school's all-time rushing leader with 4,287 yards, quarterback Vinny Esposito finished his career as the program's No. 2 passer with 5,692 yards, and wide receiver Tim Bush recorded a Great Danes-best 147 career receptions.

Last season, McCarthy put together the best offense in the Northeast Conference, as the Danes finished first for both total and scoring offense. In addition, quarterback Dan Di Lella broke the program’s season record with 2,859 total offensive yards and 2,804 passing yards gained en route to the NEC championship title.

In 2008, the Great Danes won the Northeast Conference and Gridiron Classic, while UAlbany's offense led the league in total yards (363.2 ypg). In addition David McCarty finished second in the nation in rushing among the Division I FCS leaders with 1,852 yards, and Vinny Esposito put together the second-best marks for season passing yards and total offense in the program's history.

McCarthy worked with the program's wide receivers for two seasons from 2003-04 and the offensive line in the 2002 campaign. He has also tutored the quarterbacks for the last seven seasons.

While on staff, UAlbany has won five NEC titles (2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2011).

"It is an honor to be named the Associate Head Coach at the University at Albany," said McCarthy. "I want to personally thank Coach Bob Ford and Dr. Lee McElroy for their continuous support.

"Our coaching staff has been fortunate that we have been surrounded by a strong support staff and talented, driven student-athletes that have allowed us to achieve a relatively consistent level of success," added McCarthy.

McCarthy, 34, was the quarterbacks coach at Siena College prior to arriving on the UAlbany campus. He recruited a four-state region, including New York and Massachusetts.

An honorable mention All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) quarterback at SUNY-Cortland, McCarthy passed for 2,266 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior and established a school record with 223 completions. He also received the ECAC Division III Offensive Player of the Week award.

McCarthy, who hails from Wilder, Vt., earned a B.S. in physical education from Cortland. He received a master's from UAlbany in the spring of 2004. McCarthy was an all-state high school athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He has volunteered at the Lauren's First and Goal Camp, a one-day clinic that raises funds for pediatric brain tumor research.

McCarthy and the rest of the UAlbany football team kick off the 2012 season Saturday when the Great Danes play host to Colgate University at 6:00 p.m. at University Field.

The preceding information was provided by UAlbany Athletics.

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