Following a national search, head coach Paul Vosburgh of the St. John Fisher College football team is pleased to announce the addition of Ian Pace to the Cardinals’ coaching staff effective December 2020. Pace, who has coached at the collegiate level for over 10 years, will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator.
“We are very excited to announce the hiring of Ian Pace as our offensive coordinator,” said Vosburgh, who has guided the Cardinals for 30 years and has claimed nearly 200 wins in that span. “Ian brings a wealth of knowledge to our program, and he is a person of great character. His experience and passion for the game will be a great asset to our team and our student-athletes as we carry forward our tradition of excellence. We are very excited to have both he and his wife Samantha as part of our Fisher family.”
Pace comes to Fisher having most recently been on the coaching staff at Division III Centre College where he guided the Colonels’ offensive line and managed all gameday operations including run play calls and quality control. Prior to his stint at Centre, Pace worked the sidelines at Mississippi State University as the quality control coordinator for the team’s tight ends where he helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2019 Music City Bowl. While in Starkville, Pace led all tight end position meetings and coached Farrod Green who was selected to participate in the NFLPA Bowl and currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.Â
"I’m extremely humbled, honored, and enthusiastic to be named the new offensive coordinator at St. John Fisher College,” added Pace who earned a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham before obtaining a Master’s of Science degree from Bowling Green University. “I would like to thank Director of Athletics Bob Ward, Vice President for Enrollment Management Jose Perales, Assistant Athletic Director Jennifer Granger, and the rest of the hiring committee: coaches Bari Mance, Brandon Potter, and athletic facility manager Chris Bowman. I’m extremely excited and very appreciative of coach Vosburgh for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to joining the St. John Fisher Football family. It is an unbelievable opportunity to help contribute to a program with a rich tradition and promising future. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work."
Before making the jump to the SEC, Pace was an integral part of a coaching staff at Fordham University that transformed the Rams into a perennial power. Over his six seasons at Fordham, Pace was a part of nearly 50 wins, a Patriot League title, and three straight NCAA FCS Championship appearances. Upon Pace’s arrival in The Bronx in 2013, the Rams turned a 6-5 team into a 12-2 juggernaut that set a school record for wins in a season and won its first-ever NCAA FCS home playoff game after defeating Sacred Heart in the opening round, 37-27. In 2014, the Rams continued to roll after going 11-3 on the gridiron. The team would go on to win its first conference crown since 2007 en route to another second round appearance in the NCAA Championship. The following season, Fordham posted a 9-3 record and was once again among the league’s top offenses as the Rams made their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA FCS Championship.
During his time at Fordham, Pace, who served as the team’s recruiting coordinator and tight end coach, was directly responsible for recruiting and signing 27 student-athletes. Pace coached and developed several high-caliber players over his six seasons including three who would go on to play in the NFL, along with six All-Conference selections and two All-Americans.
Pace began his coaching career at Bowling Green University in Ohio as a graduate assistant where he helped coach the Falcons to two Bowl appearances over four seasons. While at Bowling Green, he was responsible for scouting all opponents while also assisting in the team’s recruiting operations. He helped mentor six academic all-conference selections during his tenure and played a role in the development of an NFL prospect.
12/28/20
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