Bio

Rich Lackner is synonymous with Carnegie Mellon football and has been a part of the program for the last five decades. Lackner started his Tartan career as a player from 1975-78, served as an assistant coach from 1979-85 and became the head coach in 1986. During his playing career, he was a three-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) pick as well as the PAC’s 1976 Defensive Player-of-the-Year. In 1978, Lackner was named to the Pittsburgh Press All-District Team and received a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Award. Also a model student, he was twice named an Academic All-American. The team compiled a mark of 28-7-1 and won PAC titles in 1977 and 1978 during his playing career. The Tartans advanced to the NCAA Playoffs in 1978, marking their first postseason appearance since the 1939 Sugar Bowl. As a head coach, Lackner has directed the Tartans to a 216-118-2 record, 11 conference championships and two NCAA playoff berths. He is Carnegie Mellon’s all-time winningest coach, the 79th football coach in NCAA history to amass 200 wins, and one of 18 active head coaches among all divisions with 200 career victories. He was the 34th coach ever to win all 200 games at the same institution, and the 11th to do so at the Division III level. Lackner is fourth among active Division III head coaches in total career wins. Throughout his time as a Tartan, the program has an overall record of 298-136-4 record from 1975-2018.