Isernia era gets started at RPI

RPI first-year football coach Ralph Isernia works during first day of practice Thursday at ECAV in Troy.

TROY — The Ralph Isernia era at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute officially got under way on Thursday, as the Engineers football team conducted their first practice of the 2013 season.

Isernia, who was hired in March, was quick to point out that this is not about him.

“This is about our team,” he said. “And our team is going to be fashioned from the upperclassmen and the guys who have been here before.”

Entering this season, RPI will have its fourth head coach in as many seasons, dating back to 2010, when Joe King called it quits. That doesn’t even include one coach who didn’t end up coaching a single game for the Engineers.

Isernia isn’t concerned about the past — he’s excited for the future.

“I do know that we have some great guys on our football team,” he said. “We have tremendous talent, and we have guys with an unyielding work ethic. There are some great effort guys here and you can win with guys like that.”

Isernia is replacing acting head coach Bob Bodor, who led the team to a 5- 4 finish in 2012. Bodor was expected to return to his position as defensive coordinator, but he left the program and has recently been replaced.

Another person who will have to be replaced is Mike Hermann. A twotime league Player of the Year, Hermann was invited to San Diego Chargers training camp, but he was waived two weeks ago.

“Mike was a tremendous player,” Isernia said. “I think that goes without saying, but you don’t replace one guy with one guy. You replace one guy with 11 guys.”

The Engineers start camp with senior Brendan McGlynn at quarterback. Isernia is telling all the quarterbacks that they don’t have to make the flashy plays that Hermann did in his career, just get

‘It’s going to be a challenge, there’s no doubt about it. But

anything worth going after in life needs to be a challenge.”

Ralph Isernia RPI head coach the ball into the hands of their playmakers.

Isernia likes what he sees from the upperclassmen, who came together when things got difficult last year, with another coaching change.

“They didn’t miss a beat,” he said. “You can see they love being around each other. They’re just like brothers.”

Isernia came to RPI from Ferrum College, in Southwestern Virginia, where he was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He is a native of New York and his wife, Lynn, is a Russell Sage grad. He liked what RPI had to offer, both on and off of the field.

“I think that RPI has the best combination of world- class academics and Division I facilities,” he said. “We have a Division I management structure here in the athletic department — all things you don’t see at the Division III level. I think we have the best combination in all of Division III football.”

Isernia is looking to return the Engineers to the postseason. In the past four seasons, RPI has a record of 20-17 (. 541).

The previous four years all ended in postseason games and produced an overall mark of 31- 9 (. 775), including one NCAA trip ( 2007).

“It’s going to be a challenge, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “But anything worth going after in life needs to be a challenge.”

Isernia is just beginning his first season, but the expectations are to win a championship.

“If you don’t have those expectations, I really think you’re selling yourself short,” he said.