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| Alma athletics photo |
Steven Rackley, director of athletics at Alma, announced Thursday, Nov. 16, that head football coach Greg Pscodna will not be returning to the sidelines for the Scots.
Pscodna has been head coach for six seasons. He is 49-78 all-time as a Division III head coach.
"I appreciate all that Greg has done for Alma College and for all that he and his wife, Susan, have devoted to the football program," Rackley said." "He has been a valuable member of our athletics department for both student-athletes and staff. I have never seen a football coach so invested in the well-being of all of the other programs like Greg has been."
Pscodna compiled a record of 20-40 in six seasons at the helm, including a 4-6 mark in 2017. After back-to-back 1-9 campaigns in 2012 and 2013, the Scots began an upward climb under his leadership, winning two games in 2014, followed by a 5-5 season in 2015. The 2016 campaign was Pscodna's most successful, as Alma went 7-3 to post the program's best record since 2004, and reach the seven-win mark for only the 14th time in the 125-year history of the football team. With 21 seniors on the roster, the hopes were high for 2017, but after a 3-1 start the Scots suffered four losses in their final five games. Alma also dropped five straight games against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association schools after a homecoming win over Kalamazoo to finish sixth in the league.
"Finding Alma College's next football coach is my top priority and will be my sole focus at this time," Rackley said. "I want to find a proven coach that embraces our values as a school, understands how to bring quality student-athletes to Alma College, and someone who can develop the program into one of the elite teams in the MIAA."
A search for Pscodna's replacement will begin immediately. During the search process, assistant football coach Mark Merlo, a member of the football staff since 2010, will be responsible for leading Alma's ongoing recruiting efforts for the 2018 class. The rest of the coaching staff will continue to work in their positions and assist with recruiting until a new head coach is hired.