By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – June 21, 2013) Morrisville State College Athletic Director Gregory Carroll announced Friday morning, Curt Fitzpatrick head coach of the Mustang football program for the upcoming 2013 season.
“This is a very exciting time to be connected to athletics at Morrisville State and I could not ask for a better individual to be leading our football program,” stated Carroll. “Curt brings some tremendous attributes to our program and is a proven winner, having been a key piece of the transformation of programs at both St. John Fisher and Utica College. His insights will be invaluable as we move Morrisville football forward.”
Fitzpatrick, a native of Central New York, comes to Morrisville State from Utica College where he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the past five seasons. Prior to his stint with the Pioneers, he spent two seasons as the quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, St. John Fisher College.
“I am very excited to get the opportunity to become head football coach at a school as dynamic as Morrisville State College,” said Fitzpatrick. “Throughout the interview process I got a clear sense of the strong desire that the administration, staff, and players shared in building a winning football program, and I am truly honored that they have provided me the opportunity to lead the program forward.”
In his time with the Pioneers, his balanced, no-huddle offense elevated Utica’s program as one of the top ranked offenses in the Empire 8 Conference, acquired national attention, and along the way set numerous new school records in various categories year after year.
Alone last season, Fitzpatrick guided the offensive unit to the top of the conference leader boards in six different categories, including points per game (34.2) and yards per game (465.0), set 10 offensive school records, and coached the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Andrew Benkwitt. Throughout the season, the offensive unit, under his direction, ranked in the top 25 nationally in six major statistical categories.
Throughout his time at Utica, Fitzpatrick has coached 16 all-Conference players, and last season led three to D3football.com All-East Region Offensive accolades.
Off the field he developed an accountability program for the football program centering on academic and community success, in addition to administering the off-season strength and conditioning program.
In two seasons as quarterbacks coach at St. John Fisher, Fitzpatrick led a passing attack that compiled over 5,300 yards in the air and 55 touchdowns. Over the course of two seasons, the Cardinals amassed a 23-4 overall record, were Empire 8 Champions twice, was the top ranked team in New York State both seasons, and reached the NCAA tournament each season, making a Final Four appearance in 2006 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2007.
Fitzpatrick had a stellar playing career for the Cardinals where he served as team captain and was a four-year letterman at quarterback. In his final season, he earned Empire 8 All-Conference honors and set passing records for Fisher in touchdowns (30) and yards (2,366) while leading the program to a 10-2 overall record and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.
Following graduation from St. John Fisher with a bachelor’s degree in management in 2004, Fitzpatrick returned to his hometown to coach the quarterbacks and wide receivers at Fulton High School in 2005 where they captured the OHSL Class A League Championship.
From 2006 to present, Fitzpatrick has been actively involved in camps and clinics from both the coaching and director positions. He has also served as a guest speaker at several clinics throughout New York State and New England area, including the most recently held New York State High School Football Coaches Association Clinic and Capital District National Football Foundation “Clinic of Champions.”
He was also a contributing member for X&O Labs football research site, and authored articles “Exclusive: Utica College’s One Back Power Run Game” and “Getting the Most Out of Your 3×1 Passing Game: Taking Advantage of the Single Receiver.”
Fitzpatrick earned his master of science degree in athletic administration in 2012 from Ohio University.
Fitzpatrick in looking forward said that he “will build the program on recruiting and developing high character student-athletes, and succeed by competing every day to be the best everyone involved can be, both on the field and as members of the Morrisville community.”
“We will have a program that everyone associated with Morrisville State College can be proud of,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m excited to put together a great staff and begin working on the season ahead.”
“There is tremendous enthusiasm about football here right now among players, staff and community members,” said Carroll. “We are excited for the upcoming season.”