After seven seasons leading the Bison, sources tell FootballScoop head coach Dave Cecchini has been informed he will not return to the program in 2026.
The change comes following a 5-7 season in 2025 that included wins over Marist and VMI to start the season 2-1 after a season opening loss to Air Force. Wins later in the season came over Saint Francis, Richmond, and Fordham.
Cecchini had been the head coach at Bucknell since 2019, and had previously served as the head coach at Valparaiso for five seasons prior.
During the 2021 spring campaign, Cecchini was voted the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for leading Bucknell to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game. In addition, Cecchini was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Coach of the Year.
Cecchini was also a finalist for the award in 2017, when he was the head coach at Valpo.
Cecchiniβs 2024 team rewrote the Bucknell record book in a number ways. The Bison placed third in the Patriot League, their highest finish since 2019. The team set new single-season standards for passing completions, passing yards, touchdown passes, passing yards per game, total yards and total points.
Just five days ago, Bucknell announced a strong signing class of eight early signees that included three offensive lineman, three defensive backs, a defensive lineman and a receiver.
He left Valpo following the 2018 season with a 17-38 mark for the head coaching opportunity at Bucknell, where he went 24-48 building the program.
Before becoming a head coach, he led productive offenses as the offensive coordinator at Harvard (FCS - MA), The Citadel (FCS) and Lehigh (FCS - PA).
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.