 In 2004, he was a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.With a victory over the Fordham Rams in the 2006 Liberty Cup, he became the first Columbia head football coach since Aldo T. "Buff" Donelli in 1957 to win his debut.When the Lions beat Georgetown the following week, he became the first since Hall of Famer Lou Little to start his career 2–0.