ITHACA, N.Y. -- Dr. Nicki Moore, the Meakem Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education, announced Sunday that there will be a change in leadership of the Cornell Football team, effective immediately. David Archer '05, a former Big Red captain and the longest-tenured head football coach at Cornell in more than 60 years, has spent the past 11 years at the helm of his alma mater.
Moore stated, "David Archer has dedicated tremendous energy and passion into trying to make Cornell a winning football program since he arrived as a student-athlete in 2001. The university, department, and program have benefited greatly from his commitment to student-athlete welfare and advocacy in enhancing their experience." Moore continued, "David has become a trusted colleague and advisor to me since I took the helm 11 months ago, and I am deeply grateful for the time we have had to work together. He will always be a cherished member of the Big Red family, and we thank him for the many positive contributions he has made in leading the program.
A national search for Archer's successor will begin immediately, assisted by Parker Executive Search. Associate head coach and The John B. and Ann M. Rogers '45 Defensive Coordinator Jared Backus will serve as the team's interim head coach.
Archer ranks as one of the longest-tenured head coaches in Cornell history and one of the most impactful on and off the field. Archer became the nation's youngest Division I head coach when he was named to the position in January 2013 and then spent 11 years directing the Big Red, including successfully navigating the program through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Big Red tied for fourth in the Ivy in 2019, its best finish since 2006, and handed conference champ and 12th-ranked Dartmouth its lone loss of the season, giving Cornell its first win over a ranked Ivy team on the road since 1950 (No. 13 Penn) and its highest ranked opponent overall since 1939 (No. 4 Ohio State). The Big Red went 5-5 in 2022, matching the program's best win total since 2005, and was unbeaten in non-conference play for the first time since 2007. It defeated the eventual Ivy champion in two of the past four seasons.
In all, Archer assisted in developing 63 All-Ivy League selections, as well as three Ivy League Rookies of the Year and four FCS All-Americans. The Big Red set 26 total individual and team school records during his tenure.
A nominee to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in 2023, Archer has been a campus leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, a co-founder of the DEI Athletic Committee and spearheaded the creation of "Campus Partner's Creating Pathways Luncheons." His work in building a diverse and representative coaching staff led him to be asked to serve as a hiring consultant to the University police department and College of Veterinary Medicine. Archer has been an effective advocate for improving the mental health availability for student-athletes and staff. He created and implemented "Huddle Together for Mental Health" in partnership with Cornell Health, Visions Federal Credit Union, and NAMI-FL to deliver impactful programming to nearly 200 people and secure $5,000 in gifts to NAMI-FL. Cornell Athletics was honored as affiliate of the year for its collaborative work on the project.
Archer championed academic excellence with his players, resulting in a 97 percent graduation success rate as posted by the NCAA, besting the overall campus rate. Archer achieved a yearly APR higher than the national average, including a perfect score in the 2014-15 academic calendar year. Four players earned spots on the CoSIDA Academic All-America squad, with two being finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's "Academic Heisman."
"Cornell University has been home to me since I was a college freshman, and I have a deep love of this place and this program," Archer said. "I want to thank the many people involved who have given me the opportunity to be the Roger J. Weiss '61 Head Coach - Andy Noel and Susan Murphy for hiring me in 2005, and Vice President Ryan Lombardi and Director of Athletics Dr. Nicki Moore for continuing to support me throughout my tenure. It's been a great honor and I've done my best to meet the University's mission and goals.
My players and staff have put in tireless work and led with their whole hearts, and I'm eternally grateful for all they've given and sacrificed for Cornell football and for me.
Though I'm proud of the many things we've accomplished, unfortunately the results on the field dictate that it is time for new leadership. I look forward to my role as a positive, supportive alumnus of the program that I love so much and will always cheer for the Big Red."
"Big Red football has not had the on-field success I believe it can achieve," Moore said. "The culture of the program is strong, the alumni are supportive and there is a deep hunger to translate the many successes off the field to the scoreboard. I'm eager to begin the search to find the next leader of Cornell football."
