Alfred University Men's Football

  Hired at AU: May of 2014 Prior to AU: Assistant Coach at Alfred University (1999-2013) D3Football.com All-East Region Coach of the Year:  2016 Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year: 2016 Playing Career: Ursinus (1995-1998) Alma Mater: Ursinus '99 Recruiting Areas: NY: Section 5, 6; FL: Palm Beach Area   Bob Rankl was appointed 27th Head Coach of the Alfred University football team prior to the 2014 season after serving 15 years as an assistant for the Saxons. Since taking over the team, Rankl has become one of the most successful coaches in the nearly 125-year-old program becoming the fastest coach to earn 40 wins at the helm.  Since the 2014 season, the Saxons have totaled eight seasons with a .500 or better regular season record. During the 2016 season specifically, the team finished with a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season, claiming the Empire 8 Conference crown and becoming the first team in Empire 8 history to go through a season unbeaten. The Saxons were the top seed in their region of the NCAA tournament, and hosted three games. AU defeated Bridgewater (MA) State and Western New England in the first two rounds before falling to Mount Union in an Elite 8 shootout at Yunevich Stadium. The Saxons won a school-record 12 games and were named winners of the Lambert Cup as the top Division III team in the East. It marked the first time since 1971 that an Alfred University team earned the Lambert Cup. As part of the historic season, Rankl and Alfred University were named as the 2016 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. Rankl was also named ECAC North Coach of the Year, D3football.com East Region Coach of the Year, and AFCA Division III Region 1 Coach of the Year. Under Rankl, the Saxons have been selected to compete in the ECAC Championship on five occasions, winning in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Most recently, the football program competed in the 2025 ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl against WestConn.  The football program has achieved both team and individual success under Rankl. There have been 100 All-Empire 8 selections, along with 19 All-Region honorees and nine All-Americans. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, A.J. LiCata was named as the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year. LiCata was also named as the 2016 Jay Berwanger Division III Player of the Year by the Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association, and was a semi-finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy. The Gagliardi Trophy is an annual award that recognizes excellence in Division III football, taking into account athletics, academics and community service. Two seasons later, Raeqwon Greer received Defensive Player of the Year honors for Alfred University. On the offensive end, Tyler Johnson was selected as the 2016 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year. For the special teams unit, Trevor Monk received 2017 Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year recognition. Rankl has additionally coached the likes of Joe Copp, who broke the all-time career tackles record (443) as part of the 2024 season.   Prior to being appointed head coach of AU, Rankl served as the defensive line coach from 1999-2000 for the Saxons, before transitioning to coaching the offensive line and coordinating the Saxons' running game from 2001-2013. Rankl was instrumental in helping the Saxons reach the postseason 10 consecutive years (2004-2013), including six ECAC Bowl Championships, two Empire 8 Championships and appearances in the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, reaching the national quarterfinals in 2010. During that time, AU set 19 different school records on offense. During Rankl’s tenure, AU has had one of the most potent ground games in the region. Nine different Saxons have rushed for more than 1,000 yards under Rankl’s tutelage, including five of the top seven career rushing leaders at AU.    Prior to coming to Alfred in 1999, Rankl enjoyed a standout playing career at Division III power Ursinus, where he was a four-year starting defensive lineman. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Ursinus in 1999 and received his master’s degree in education from AU in 2001. He lives in Hornell with his wife, Torri, their son, Tyler, and daughter, Shaylynn.   NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2016 ECAC Bowl Championship Appearances: 2024, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014 Empire 8 Championships: 2016   Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalists: 1 All-America Honors: 9 All-Region Honors: 19 ECAC Defensive Player of the Year Honors: 2 Empire 8 All-Conference Honors: 100 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year Honors: 1 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year Honors: 3 Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year Honors: 1 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honors: 19   Alfred University Overall Record Empire 8 Record Postseason Year-End Finish 2025 4-6 (.400) 2-5 (.286) N/A 6th (of 8) 2024 7-4 (.636) 5-2 (.714) 0-1 ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl Runner-Up 2023 4-6 (.400) 2-4 (.333) N/A 4th (of 7) 2022 2-8 (.200) 1-5 (.167) N/A 6th (of 7) 2021 5-5 (.500) 4-2 (.667) N/A 3rd (of 7) 2020 1-1 (.500) 1-1 (.500) N/A N/A 2019 5-5 (.500) 2-4 (.333) N/A 5th (of 7) 2018 7-4 (.636) 4-3 (.571) 1-0 ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl Champions 2017 8-3 (.727) 5-2 (.714) 1-0 ECAC James Lynah Bowl Champions 2016 12-1 (.923) 8-0 (1.000) 2-1 NCAA Tournament Quarterfinalist 2015 8-3 (.727) 5-3 (.625) 1-0 ECAC Robert M Whitelaw Bowl Champions 2014 5-5 (.500) 3-5 (.375) N/A 7th (of 9) Overall Totals 68-51 (.571) 42-36 (.538) 5-2 (.714) --

Hired at AU: Summer of 2021 Prior to AU: Wrestling Coach at Berea-Midpark Football Coach/Wrestling Coach at Claymont Alma Mater: Baldwin Wallace Hunter Miles joined the Alfred University football staff prior to the 2021 season. The special teams unit has improved under Miles' leadership. He has coached the likes of Colin McGovern '28, who owns the top two marks for single-season yards per punt following the 2025 and 2024 seasons. In kickoff returns, Miles coached Dion Anderson, who broke the program record for single-season yards per kickoff return (31.11) during the 2024 season.  Before joining AU, Miles coached high school wrestling for five years between Berea-Midpark and Claymont High School. While at Claymont, Miles additionally assisted the football staff for one season. Miles has dedicated his passion to athletics to helping execute four different Super Bowls and one NCAA National Championships.  Miles previously graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with his degree in sports management with a minor in athletic coaching.

Alma Mater: SUNY Brockport A local resident to Alfred University, Coach Koehler begins his role within the Saxons’ football staff as a physical education & adaptive PE teacher at Canisteo-Greenwood Central School since 2017. During his time there, he was also the Athletic Director from 2018 until 2021. Since 2018, Koehler was also a varsity football assistant coach for Canisteo-Greenwood, coaching as the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, defensive line and wide-receiver coach.   He has had multiple coaching experiences throughout Steuben County and even into Allegany County, coaching basketball, baseball and football between schools such as Hornell High School, Canisteo-Greenwood and Whitesville Central School since 2011.   Coach Koehler earned his bachelors at SUNY Brockport as well as his physical education teacher certification K-12 with New York State Coaching Certification and is a New York State Certified Teacher. Afterwards, he went on to earn his masters in athletic administration from Ohio University.  

Hired at AU: Summer of 2023 Before AU:  Football Coach at Hornell High School Alma Mater: Alfred University '02 The Alfred University football team announced the addition of Erik Werner to their coaching staff as a tight ends coach prior to the 2023 season. Werner played football with Alfred University from 1998-01 on the offensive line and as a tight end, serving as a team captain during his senior season. He graduated from AU in 2002 with his bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in secondary education. Werner later received his master's degree in mathematics education from SUNY Geneseo in 2005. Following graduation, Werner was hired as the tight ends/long snapper coach for the Saxons prior to the 2002 season. Werner additionally spent 19 years with the Hornell High School football staff. He served as the head coach of the program from 2012-22, winning the Sectional Championship in 2012 and 2017.  

Recruiting Areas: NY (Sections 1, 4, 9), FL: (Miami/Fort Lauderdale)   Hired at AU: Summer of 2013 Alma Mater: Alfred University '12 Bonacquisti, Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach, has been a member of the Saxon coaching staff since 2013 and has served in a variety of roles. He was a graduate assistant from 2013-15 and has since been promoted to an assistant coach and eventually an assistant head coach position in 2019. Bonacquisti has experience coaching All-American talent that includes two-time honoree A.J. LiCata ‘18 and Nick Milgate ’20. Following the 2016 season, Licata was named as the Division III Player of the Year, otherwise known as the Jay Berwanger award. Following the 2019 season, Milgate earned D3football.com All-America Third Team honors to go with All-East Region First Team recognition. Bonacquisti additionally coached linebacker Joe Copp '25. As part of the 2024 season, Copp broke the AU Football program record with 443 career tackles. Two years prior, Copp finished seventh in the nation in 2022 with 121 total tackles, while finishing second in the nation with 122 total tackles during the 2023 season.    Bonacquisti is a 2012 graduate of Alfred University, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology. He later earned a master's degree of education with a certificate of advance study in school counseling. His wife currently teaches math at Hornell High School. The married couple has two daughters, Maxley and Luella.  While at AU, he was a four-year member of the football team (2008-11), starting at inside linebacker his junior and senior seasons. He finished his career with 121 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception.  

Steve Donlon joined the Alfred University football coaching staff as a running backs coach prior to the 2024 season. Donlon has worked to improved the Alfred University backfield. He has coached the likes of Max Freeman IV '24, who owns the fifth-most career rushing yards (3,053) and ninth-most career rushing touchdowns (25) in program history. During the 2025 season, Tommy Nyquist '28 rushed for the second-most yards (285) in a single game against Morrisville, while totaling the seventh-most yards (236) in the first-ever Alfred Cup matchup at Alfred State College.  Before his start at AU, Donlon spent the last 24 years coaching at the high school level. Most recently, Donlon served as the head coach of Canisteo-Greenwood, putting together a 30-9 record across four seasons. Following the 2023 season, Donlon was named as the Section V Coach of the Year after Canisteo-Greenwood secured their first-ever sectional championship. Donlon has a familiar history with Canisteo-Greenwood, serving as a linebackers coach from 2000-07.  Before his time at Canisteo-Greenwood, Donlon was listed as the wide receivers/defensive backs coach of Hornell High School from 2008-19. He was part of a staff that won three consecutive state championships from 2009-11, while finishing as a state runner-up during the 2012 season. During that span, Hornell won 51 straight contests.  Donlon graduated from St. Bonaventure in 2002 and is a graduate in history and education. He lives with his wife Kelly and his three children Ryann, Katen and Brogan.