Rich Lackner

Head Football Coach

Alma Mater	Carnegie Mellon, '79
Bachelor's Degree	history
Overall Record	156-64-2 (22)
Record at Carnegie Mellon	156-64-2 (22)

During the past two decades, Carnegie Mellon University has fielded one of the most successful football programs in NCAA Division III. It is no coincidence that Rich Lackner's association with the Tartans' program has spanned that same period.

In May 2003, Lackner was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the Bob Prince Award during the Catholic Youth Organization's 29th annual dinner.

Named head coach in 1986, Lackner has directed the Tartans to a 156-64-2 (.705) record, nine conference championships and two NCAA playoff berths. Lackner passed Walter Steffen, who guided Carnegie Tech to an 88-53-8 mark from 1914-32, on Sept. 19, 1998 as the Tartans defeated Bethany College, 38-7.

Lackner is quick to point out the contributions of his top two assistants, defensive coordinator Terry Bodnar and offensive coordinator Rich Erdelyi, who have been with the program since 1986.

Carnegie Mellon has risen to unprecedented prominence in the University Athletic Association (UAA) under Lackner. The Tartans own eight UAA titles and have an impressive conference record of 45-16 (.738). Lackner has been named the UAA Coach of the Year five times, in 1990, '91, '93, '97 and most recently in 2006 after leading the Tartans to an 11-1 season, the most wins in school history and their sixth appearance in the NCAA playoffs. He was also named All-South Region Coach of the Year by D3football.com in 2006.

Lackner's ties to Carnegie Mellon football date back much further than his head coaching tenure, however. He was an assistant coach from 1979-85 and was a standout linebacker for the Tartans from 1975-78. From the time he first stepped onto Carnegie Mellon's campus as a freshman, Lackner has never experienced a losing football season. In total, he has been a part of 33 consecutive non-losing seasons, 14 conference championships, six NCAA playoff appearances, two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Bowl Championships and a 238-82-4 (.738) record from 1975-2007.

As a student, football player and coach, Carnegie Mellon has always been the right place for Lackner.

"I think a person is always inclined to stay at a place where the situation is a good one," Lackner says. "That's been the case with Carnegie Mellon and myself. This is an outstanding academic institution so I knew I'd get a good education. We also have a great football tradition here. The program is able to attract quality kids who are bright and enthusiastic and fantastic to coach."

Lackner himself had an exceptional athletic and academic career at Carnegie Mellon. A four year starter at linebacker, he was a three-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference pick as well as the PAC's 1976 Defensive Player-of-the-Year. In 1978 Lackner was named to the Pittsburgh Press All-District Team and received a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Award. Also a model student, he was twice named an Academic All-American.

During his playing career, Carnegie Mellon had a four-year mark of 28-7-1 and won PAC titles in 1977 and 1978. The Tartans advanced to the NCAA Playoffs in 1978, marking their first postseason appearance since the 1939 Sugar Bowl.

Following his 1979 graduation with a bachelor's degree in history, Lackner remained with head coach Chuck Klausing as an assistant coach. Seven years later, Lackner was named head coach when Klausing left to join Mike Gottfried's staff at Pitt.

A Pittsburgh native, Lackner graduated with honors from Mt. Lebanon High School, one of Pennsylvania's perennial football powers. As a senior he led Mt. Lebanon to the WPIAL Class AAA title game with a 9-2 record.

Lackner and his wife, Cindy, have two children, Nick, 27, who is a graduate of John Carroll University and holds a MSc Degree from Columbia University and Kimberly, 25, who is a 2005 graduate of Carnegie Mellon.

"It has been my privilege and honor to coach football at Carnegie Mellon University since my graduation in 1979. I am very proud of the fine student/athletes that have come thru our program and have gone on to do great things in their fields (medicine, engineering, education, business, etc.). I am truly blessed!"

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