What Is 2015 Albany Great Danes football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2015 Albany Great Danes football team represented the University at Albany in the NCAA Division I FCS football season. They finished with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), narrowly missing the FCS playoffs.

Key Facts

The team finished the 2015 season with a 7-5 overall record
They went 5-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) conference play
Head coach Greg Gattuso was in his second year leading the program
Quarterback Will Fiacco threw for 2,239 yards and 17 touchdowns
Albany played their home games at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, NY

Overview

The 2015 Albany Great Danes football team represented the University at Albany in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Competing as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), the team was led by second-year head coach Greg Gattuso and played its home games at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium.

The Great Danes showed significant improvement from their 2014 campaign, posting a winning record and finishing in the upper half of the CAA standings. Despite strong offensive performances and a balanced roster, they narrowly missed qualifying for the FCS playoffs due to tiebreaker rules and strength of schedule.

Overall record: The team finished the 2015 season with a 7-5 win-loss tally, marking a one-game improvement from the previous year.
Conference performance: In CAA play, the Great Danes went 5-3, placing them in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings.
Head coach: Greg Gattuso entered his second season as head coach, continuing to build the program’s identity with an aggressive defensive scheme.
Quarterback stats: Will Fiacco started most games and threw for 2,239 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions.
Home stadium: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium, located on the UAlbany campus, has a capacity of 8,500 and underwent renovations in 2013 to enhance fan experience.

Season Performance

The 2015 campaign featured a mix of high-scoring games and defensive standouts, with the Great Danes demonstrating resilience in close matchups. The team opened the season with a win over Lafayette and later secured key conference victories over rivals like Stony Brook and Maine.

Season opener: On September 5, 2015, Albany defeated Lafayette 24-17 in a hard-fought non-conference game.
Key win: A 38-31 victory over Stony Brook on October 31 helped solidify their playoff hopes late in the season.
Defensive leader: Linebacker J.D. Cole recorded 107 total tackles, leading the team and ranking among FCS leaders.
Running game: The Great Danes averaged 186.3 rushing yards per game, powered by running back Kyle Kennedy, who rushed for 702 yards.
Passing efficiency: The team ranked 23rd nationally in passing efficiency, thanks to Fiacco’s consistent decision-making and receiver chemistry.
Final game: Their season concluded with a 35-28 loss to New Hampshire on November 21, eliminating them from playoff contention.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2015 Albany Great Danes with the previous season and two peer programs in the CAA to contextualize their performance.

Team	Year	Overall Record	Conference Record	Playoff Appearance
Albany	2015	7-5	5-3	No
Albany	2014	6-6	4-4	No
New Hampshire	2015	8-4	6-2	Yes
James Madison	2015	8-4	6-2	Yes
Stony Brook	2015	4-7	2-6	No

The table illustrates that while Albany improved from 2014, they fell just short of the postseason despite outperforming several CAA peers. Their 5-3 conference record was identical to James Madison’s, but tiebreakers and fewer quality wins kept them out. The Great Danes showed growth but needed stronger results against top-tier opponents to advance.

Why It Matters

The 2015 season was a pivotal step in establishing Albany as a competitive force in the FCS, particularly within the challenging CAA. The team’s development under Gattuso laid the foundation for future success, including a playoff appearance in 2017.

Program momentum: The winning record helped boost recruiting and fan engagement, increasing attendance at Casey Stadium.
Player development: Several underclassmen gained valuable experience, including future All-CAA performers.
Conference competitiveness: The CAA is one of the strongest FCS leagues, making a 5-3 record a notable achievement.
Coaching impact: Gattuso’s leadership emphasized discipline and defense, shaping the team’s identity for years to come.
Recruiting boost: Strong performances attracted higher-rated recruits to the program in subsequent years.
Foundation for success: The 2015 season directly contributed to Albany’s 2017 FCS playoff berth, their first since 2012.

Ultimately, the 2015 Albany Great Danes did not reach the national stage, but their season represented meaningful progress in the program’s long-term trajectory, proving they could compete with top FCS programs week in and week out.