The 2023 AFCA Division 3 Coach of the Year, Curt Fitzpatrick joins this week's episode as we talk in-depth about his successful football career. Coach Fitzpatrick currently leads the #2 ranked team in the country- the Cortland Red Dragons. Fitzpatrick made history in 2023 becoming the first coach to lead SUNY Cortland to a national title.

Curt talks about his playing career, as one of the best players to play at St. John Fisher University, and the impact this had on his coaching career. After his playing career, Fitzpatrick was the assistant at both, Utica University and St. John Fisher. 2013 would be the first head coaching job for Fitzpatrick where he spent the next seven seasons leading the Morrisville Mustangs. Under Fitzpatrick, Morrisville would have 4 winning seasons including one NJAC championship.

Since taking the Cortland job in 2020, Fitzpatrick has developed Cortland into an elite program- only losing four games in the last five seasons. Cortland is picking up right where they left off last year, as they're currently ranked #3 in scoring offense, averaging over 50 points per game.

Hear about his journey being apart of multiple Empire 8 teams, what the Cortaca rivalry is like, and the 2023 run to the national championship.

This episode is available wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to the podcasts YouTube channel @Notevend2 for more sports content.

Enjoy the episode!

Sneak Peek- 00:00-00:56

Updates- 00:56-01:51

Intro- 01:51-04:58

Opinions about Division 3 Model (Student first?)- 04:58-09:38

Intro- 09:38-11:20

Changing Playbook for Conference Play- 11:20-12:45

Curt's Playing Career Impacting Coaching Career- 12:45-14:41

Career at St. John Fisher College, Favorite Memories at SJFC- 14:41-19:39

Early Days Coaching at SJFC and Utica University- 19:39-24:24

Building the Culture at Morrisville College, Favorite Memories at Morrisville- 24:24-28:52

Leaving Morrisville to Take Cortland HC Job- 28:52-33:14

Cortland Athletics Department Culture- 33:14-35:33

Developing Four-Vert Offensive Scheme- 35:33-39:21

Player-Coach Relationship Dynamic(s)- 39:21-43:08

Cortaca Rivalry, Best Moments- 43:08-48:27

Break- 48:27-48:35

Realization the 2023 Roster was Special- 48:35-53:54 2023

NCAA Playoff Run- 53:54-58:20

National Championship against North Central- 58:20-01:05:10

How National Championship Changes Cortland Football/Coach Fitzpatricks Career- 01:05:10-01:08:00 2024

Season so Far, Expectations for the Rest of the Season- 01:08:00-01:10:47

What Separates SUNY Cortland Apart- 01:10:47-01:14:30

Rapid Fire (Funniest Players Coached, Ranking Food in Areas Coached, Pregame Routines), Coaching Cole Burgess and JJ Laap- 01:14:30-01:20:09

Ideal Lineup as a QB- 01:20:09-01:22:03

Outro- 01:22:03-01:22:54