Ithaca College Announces Departure of Head Football Coach Michael Toerper
But here's where it gets controversial: a landmark era for the Bombers is ending as Toerper moves on to a high-profile defensive coordinator role at Cornell University. Over the last four seasons, he led Ithaca’s program through a stretch many fans consider among the best in recent memory, reshaping competition standards and elevating both on-field success and player development.
Ithaca’s director of intercollegiate athletics, Aaron Bouyea, praised Toerper’s impact, noting championship-level performance, award-winning student-athletes, and an ongoing commitment to raising the program’s overall standard. The college extends its best wishes as Toerper embarks on this next chapter.
Toerper spoke warmly about his time with the Bombers, expressing deep gratitude for the opportunity to lead and shape excitable young men. He described his seven seasons on South Hill as some of the fondest memories his family has gathered, emphasizing the collective effort that underpinned the program’s accomplishments and affirming that the future remains bright for Ithaca College football.
As the transition unfolds, IC football enters a period of strength and continuity. The program has gained sustained momentum in recent years—spurred by on-field success, growing recruiting strength, and robust player development—positioning the Bombers well for continued achievement in this new era.
Key achievements under Toerper include his tenure as Ithaca’s 11th head coach beginning in 2022, which featured two Liberty League championships, an NCAA postseason quarterfinal appearance, and an undefeated regular season in his first year (the program’s first perfect regular slate in nearly four decades). The 2022 campaign culminated in a 12–1 record, an outright Liberty League title, and a Cortaca Jug victory at Yankee Stadium. His work earned him multiple coaching honors, including AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year, D3football.com Region 2 Coach of the Year, and Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
Throughout his seven seasons, Toerper posted the best overall winning percentage in Ithaca football history at .778 (35–10), with a formidable 23–2 mark in Liberty League play. Under his guidance, seven players won Liberty League Players of the Year honors, and the program collected six All-America distinctions. Notably, 2023 graduate Derek Slywka signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent and later joined the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.
The 2023 season saw the Bombers defend the Liberty League title and earn a postseason berth with a 9–3 record. In 2024, Ithaca posted an 8–2 finish, capped by a Cortaca Jug victory—the program’s first triumph in the storied rivalry since 2022.
Prior to his head coaching role, Toerper served as Ithaca’s defensive coordinator from 2017–2019, a period marked by consistently strong defensive outputs (eight wins in each of his three seasons) and three All-American defenders, including Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year Pat Minogue.
With Toerper’s departure, Ithaca College will conduct a national search for the program’s next head coach immediately to ensure a smooth transition and continued competitive momentum for the Bombers.
