Longtime Cazenovia High School Head Football Coach Thomas Neidl was named the running backs coach at Utica College in the Summer of 2015. Neidl, a retired Cazenovia physical education teacher, joined the Utica staff after spending 25 years at the helm of the Cazenovia Lakers football program.
Neidl brings a wealth of knowledge to Utica College after compiling a 178-55-1 record during his tenure as the head coach of the Lakers. He led Cazenovia to seven Section III Championships, 13 Divisional Championships, a Regional Championship and a Class C State Semifinal appearance in 1996. He was also named the All-Central New York Football Coach of the Year twice (1997 and 2013) by The Post-Standard and Syracuse.com and he was a 15-time Divisional Coach of the Year recipient.
Neidl stepped down as the all-time winningest football coach in Cazenovia’s school history. He also boasts the third best all-time winning % among Section 3 football coaches, just behind Jerry Walzack (Doldgeville) and Tom Hoke (RFA).
His 36-year football coaching career at Cazenovia spanned from 1979 through 2014. He served as an assistant coach at various levels before being named head coach of the Lakers in 1990.
Neidl also served as the head coach of the Lakers’ track and field team for 34 years and taught physical education at Caz for 32 years.
Neidl is originally from nearby Rome, NY and is a Rome Catholic High School graduate. His educational background also includes a bachelor’s in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree from SUNY Brockport.
He currently resides in Cazenovia with his wife Lynn. He has one son, Terry, and one grandson, Hunter.
