TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) head football coach Ralph Isernia's contract has been extended for five years, through December 31, 2027, it has been announced. The news was originally shared by President Jackson in a memo to the campus community on December 23. That message can be read by clicking HERE.

Rensselaer earned its seventh consecutive playoff appearance in 2021 - the longest streak in school history - and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Playoffs for the second time in three seasons (the 2020 campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The team tied the school record for wins in a season (11-2), including victories in the Transit Trophy Game at WPI (24-10) and Dutchman Shoes Trophy Game at Union (19-17), and garnered its third Liberty League title in four years. RPI won two NCAA Tournament games on the road before being eliminated by the then-No. 1 team in Division III. 

Isernia and his staff led the team to final national rankings of No. 13 and No. 14 by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), respectively. They were recognized with year-end Coaching Staff of the Year awards by the Liberty League, D3football.com and the ECAC.

The 2018 campaign was also one of the most successful for the program as RPI registered 10 victories, a Liberty League title and and qualification into the NCAA Playoffs for the second consecutive year - a first in the program's history. Rensselaer advanced to the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, finished nationally-ranked in both the D3football.com Poll (11th) and the AFCA Poll (12th) and was named the ECAC Division III Team of the Year. Isernia and his staff garnered post-season Coach of the Year awards from the Liberty League and D3football.com and he was the recipient of the department's Marvin Anderson Award, as voted on by his peers.

The team's head coach since March of 2013, Isernia has led the Engineers to a 61-29 record (.678 winning percentage) in eight seasons (9 years). The team has won six Dutchman Shoes Trophy Games and five Transit Trophy Games, earned seven post-season appearances, including three bids to the NCAA Playoffs, and captured a pair of ECAC Bowl titles. 

Coach Isernia's full bio can be read by clicking HERE.