On Monday, Dec. 2, Colgate University Director of Athletics Yariv Amir ’01 announced that Stan Dakosty, the head coach of Colgate football, would be leaving his position, with the team in search of a new face to revive the program’s hopes at a championship for next season.
The 2024 season for the Raiders was something of a disappointment, as the team finished 2-10, which was a far cry from the playoff hopes that seemed closer than ever at the start of the season.
Former Coach Dakosty leaves behind a strong legacy both as a player and a coach for the Raiders, and many of the players on the team expressed their gratitude for his mentorship both on and off the field of play.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank [Dakosty] for all he’s done for this program and community. He is a tremendously great person and cared about every single one of us,” junior quarterback Zach Osborne said.
Looking towards the future, Osborne examined the culture that he hopes the new head coach will become a steward of.
“With this new change coming into the program means a great new person to be incorporated into our established culture. The culture of Colgate football is a tough, gritty, set-the-tone type of guy, and that is something that is going to be looked for in a new head coach. I’m hopeful that whoever does come in recognizes the talent that’s in our room and on our team but, most importantly, sets the standard for the program from day one,” Osborne said.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Stearney also weighed in on what he hopes the new coach will bring to the table in terms of tangible results for the team.
“I look forward to an energetic, experienced, confident coach who not only leads from the front, but also teaches and holds everyone within the program accountable. Excellence in everything we do is paramount from off-season conditioning and nutrition, to spring practice and summer camp. Winning the Patriot League is the goal. This school and the alumni that have set the standard many years before us and deserve a spark of energy from the program that will lead us back to a winning culture and Patriot League championships. Nothing short of that is acceptable,” Stearney said.
Junior linebacker Cole Kozlowski spoke about the process of integrating the new coach into the current environment of the team. He praised his teammates for a commitment to making it a seamless process.
“Our bond throughout this program is so strong to where a new coach can easily insert himself into our culture. The leaders of this team will do everything in their power to make this process as smooth as possible,” Kozlowski said.
Going further, Kozlowski spoke about the need for the new head coach to take control of the locker room and establish his vision for the program early on.
“I hope the new coach can gain the respect of the program right away by instilling confidence into individuals,” Kozlowski said.
“We are looking to communicate openly with this new staff and integrate aspects that our locker room prides itself on. We are an eager, young and talented team looking to be coached hard and held accountable,” Stearney added.
Stearney also asserted his enthusiasm for the new coach and his commitment to the success of the program as the Raiders look to turn the page heading into their 2025 campaign.
“I hope this new coaching staff can further develop me for the remainder of my two years left here. I’m committed to Colgate and the future of this program. [I am] eager and excited to get to know this new staff and hit the ground running,” he said.
Osborne summed up both his personal and team aspirations for next year as well. He reflected on the significance of what might be his potential final season in the pads and why he believes the new coach will light a fire under the Raiders that might just stoke some championship glory.
“This potentially might be my last year of college football or playing football in general. I want it to be as memorable as possible. This team can and will win a Patriot League championship and bring Colgate football back to where it was,” Osborne said. “The mindset from players to coaches is all going to be locked in for the next year. The techniques that we incorporate into our everyday lives will determine how good we will be, but also having a new head coach gives a sense of proving to all of us. Everything in life is earned — it’s never given. If things are given to you, then the easy road is taken, but if you earn something, it shows the hard, gritty road that was taken. With a new head coach, there’s a lot to us as players we will need to prove again, which lights a fire inside of me to be ready for this offseason.”
