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HAMILTON – Colgate officially introduced Dan Hunt as its 29th head football coach in a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

Hunt was gracious in his acceptance speech, thanking his predecessor, Dick Biddle, and his family among others after assuming the title of Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Football Coach. Hunt's wife, Susanne, and sons Ryan and Sean were in attendance on the front row of seating.

"To be able to follow a coach the caliber of Dick Biddle, and to hold the position named after Fred Dunlap, is an honor that words fall short of describing," Hunt said. "Today is the pinnacle of my coaching career – so far – and I'm certain I would not be standing here without the help of many people."

Hunt spoke of the special nature of Colgate University, mentioning the beautiful campus and first-class education, as well as the football program's history of success and legendary coaches. But he said the human side of Colgate is its biggest asset.

Colgate's Greatest Resource
"It's the people of Colgate who make this place so special. It's working Little League signups with Doug Hicks; it's watching professor Ken Belanger coach my sons in youth basketball. It's watching Coach Dunlap tap in for par – or birdie – on the 18th at Seven Oaks while I'm having lunch.

"It's the Maroon Council members who bend over backward to make sure our players succeed both on and off the field, both while they're here and after they've graduated. It's watching our own team lift up a young cancer survivor after practice, having him break down the team and then playing a game in his honor.

"Colgate's greatest resource always has been and always will be its people, and when you're surrounded by great people you cannot help but be successful."

Director of Athletics Victoria M. Chun '91, MA'94 noticed in Hunt not just strong leadership skills but also his appreciation for being mentored by legendary coaches.

"My trust in Coach Hunt made this not only an easy decision, but there is no doubt in my mind this is the right decision," Chun said. "He is a proven recruiter and fantastic teacher, a master strategist and a tireless worker who embraces academics and a wonderfully close community.

"He has been by Coach Biddle's side since 1996, the year of the 'Turn-Around Team' that rebounded our program form 0-11 to 6-5. Coach Hunt's fast-paced, innovative and aggressive play-calling is known nationally. His strength as an offensive coordinator was in adapting his game plans to the personnel in the huddle and the opponent on the field."

Chun called Biddle a true legend in every sense of the word.

"Dick Biddle won, but he won the right way," she said. "He fostered and mentored young men to work hard and study hard. He instilled in them that they were representing something bigger than themselves. Dick gave everything he had to this program and to the University, and he expected the same from those he coached."

Proudest Moments
Biddle talked of his reflection over the past 24 hours of what it meant for him to hold the Colgate head football coaching position over such a long and productive tenure.

"This is quite an honor," he said. "This is something I never thought would happen. This is one of the proudest moments in my life for my wife and me.

"It's been an honor to be the head football coach at Colgate. The biggest honor to me has been being around the student-athletes I was fortunate enough to coach, both as an assistant many years ago and as head football coach for the past 18 years."

Biddle said he had received scores of emails, texts, Tweets and messages from former players since Monday's announcement that he was retiring.

"It's going to take me a while to answer every one of them; I'm going to make sure I do that. But the compliments they gave me, it was astounding. Not only was it about football; it was about work ethic, doing things the right way, how much they appreciated what I did.

"I tried to coach everybody at Colgate like they were my son, like I would want my son to be coached."

Biddle also paid tribute to the coaches at Colgate, relating a story of women's soccer coach Kathy Brawn watching one of his early practices and noticing a change coming in the team's fortunes.

"Those are the things you appreciate as a coach," Biddle said. "Colgate is very fortunate to have coaches like that working with the student-athletes. They're all successful and they all do a great job."

Transition and Tradition
Douglas Hicks, Colgate University Provost and Dean of the Faculty, said Hunt and Biddle represent the very best about Colgate Athletics and about Colgate University as a whole.

"This is a great moment of transition and tradition for Colgate Football," Hicks said. "We are so pleased to have had such a terrific leader in Dick Biddle for 18 years. He's someone who took us to the national championship game in 2003 when we were a non-scholarship sport – one of the great moments in Division I-AA football and one of the great moments for Colgate Athletics.

"But it's been an entire career that Coach Biddle has offered here and shown the best of Colgate Athletics, including tremendous support for the academic mission of the University and tremendous support for our student-athletes.

"And this great moment of transition, to have Dan Hunt taking over with a well-earned promotion to become the head football coach at Colgate. We are really privileged today to see a transition, a key moment for Colgate football, and I'm privileged to be a part of it."


What They Are Saying about Dan Hunt

Jeffrey Herbst
President
Colgate University

Sean Ryan
Quarterback Coach
New York Giants
(former Colgate football assistant coach)

"Dan is a coach who is dedicated and loyal to the players he coaches and those he coaches with. Dan pushes the players he coaches to be the best they can be on the field, but it's also clear he cares about them just as much off the field. That combination is evident to the players and anyone who has ever worked alongside him and it's what makes Dan such an asset to his team and the college community.

"He is an innovative coach who is always looking for ways to improve the program he works with. In short, Dan is a smart, dedicated coach that any program in the country would be fortunate to have."

Kevin Kelly
Head Coach
Georgetown University

"It's an outstanding hire and a logical choice. Dan has done a terrific job recruiting and as an offensive coordinator at Colgate and will continue the tradition of Colgate Football."

Marty Fine
Head Coach
Bryant University
(former Colgate football assistant coach)

"Dan will be a terrific head coach. He has the technical knowledge as well as the people skills to blaze a great path for the future of Colgate football.

"I wish Dick and Sheila the very best in the new adventure they are about to begin. I truly believe the years working with and for Coach Biddle were some of the best professional experiences of my career and I cannot thank him or Colgate enough for the help to me. Many of my colleagues and all of his former players share in these types of sentiments."

What They Are Saying about Dick Biddle

Jeffrey Herbst
President
Colgate University

"Coach Biddle has left an outstanding legacy at Colgate. We are extremely grateful for his many successes on the field and the impact he has had on so many students. We wish him and his family well as they enter this next stage of life." Carolyn Schlie Femovich
Executive Director
Patriot League

"Dick has provided tremendous leadership for the Colgate football program and is highly respected by all in the League. Colgate's great success on the field during Dick's tenure, contention for the League title and success in NCAA postseason are a clear demonstration for how well his teams are coached and prepared for competition. We will miss Dick's quiet, but fierce competitiveness and all he has contributed to Patriot League football over the past 18 years as head coach.

"Our thanks to Dick for all he has given to his student-athletes, to Colgate and the Patriot League. We wish Dick and Sheila much happiness in the years ahead."

Fred Dunlap '50
Former Head Football Coach
Colgate University

"Dick had a great run at Colgate. He took over an 0-11 team and came within two points of winning the Patriot League Championship his first year. He did this with solid coaching and by force of his personality and demeanor. Dick went on to successfully lead the Raiders over a span of 18 seasons. Over that time, his leadership and organization brought great pride to Colgate football."

Mark Murphy '77
President and Chief Executive Officer
Green Bay Packers
(former Colgate football student-athlete and Director of Athletics)

"I'm really happy for Dick and Sheila. What he accomplished at Colgate is really remarkable, and he can leave with great pride. In his first year as a head coach, I could tell he would be successful. Although he is relatively quiet, he was greatly respected by everyone associated with the program. He leaves a tremendous legacy, and all his players are better people because they played for him."

Frank Tavani
Head Football Coach
Lafayette College

"I have the utmost respect for Dick Biddle as a coach and colleague, but more importantly I am grateful to have him as a friend. I hate to see him leave the sidelines, but I wish him the very best in retirement."

Dave Clawson
Head Football Coach
Bowling Green State University
(former Fordham head coach)

"Dick Biddle had a remarkable 18-year run as the head coach at Colgate University. His teams were always physical and well-prepared. During my time in the Patriot League, he was always one of the most respected coaches in the conference and the country. I congratulate Dick on a great career."