NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Tony Reno, Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Football has announced he will be stepping down for health reasons from his role as head coach, effective immediately. The University supports Reno in his decision, which he believes is in the best interest of Yale Football.
 
"Given my current health situation, I have made the decision to step down as head coach of Yale Football," said Reno. "When I arrived at Yale 14 years ago, I could never have imagined what this journey would become. The relationships formed, the moments shared, and the people I have been privileged to be surrounded by have changed my life and my family's lives forever. I am deeply grateful to the players, the coaches, and the staff who gave everything they had to Yale Football.
 
"From the very beginning, I spoke about honoring the proud tradition of Yale Football and fully embracing the responsibility that comes with leading this program. Together, we pursued excellence and built something truly meaningful. I am incredibly proud of the foundation we laid and confident in the future of Yale Football. Serving as the head coach of this program has been the greatest honor of my life."
 
Reno was named Yale's head coach in January 2012 and is one of the most accomplished leaders in program history. Over his 14-year tenure, he guided Yale to five Ivy League championships and led the Bulldogs to victories over Harvard in seven of the last nine meetings. With 83 career victories, he ranked second all-time among Yale head coaches, trailing only legendary Carm Cozza.

"Coach Reno's leadership has been truly transformational," said Victoria M. "Vicky" Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. "His impact on Yale Football, our department, and the university extends far beyond championships and wins—it lives in the countless people he has inspired. Coach Reno led with integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, giving his whole heart to this program every day. He cared deeply about his players as people, challenging them to excel on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Coach Reno's devotion to Yale and to the young men he coached was total, and his legacy will endure for generations. We are profoundly grateful to Tony and his wife, Toni, and their children Dante, Angelina, and Vince for all they have given to our Yale community."

Reno's most recent campaign further cemented his standing among the nation's top coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). In 2025, Team 152 earned an Ivy League title and the conference's first automatic qualifier to the NCAA FCS playoffs, finishing the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in league play. In the opening round of the FCS playoffs, Yale defeated Youngstown State in a thrilling 43-42 victory in Ohio. Yale became the first FCS team to come back from a halftime deficit of 28 or more points and win since 2000. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked No. 13 nationally in NCAA FCS rankings.

Yale paired offensive efficiency with defensive dominance, ranking second in the Ivy League in scoring offense and first in scoring defense. Reno and his staff were recognized as the 2025 Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year for their efforts.
National and regional honors have followed Reno throughout his tenure. In 2025, he was named Jack Grinold Division I Coach of the Year by the New England Football Writers, marking his second time receiving the award. He became the fourth Yale coach to receive the award, joining Jordan Olivar, Carm Cozza, and Jack Siedlecki, and the third to earn it multiple times.
 
Recent seasons have showcased the program's consistency and competitive edge. Yale surged late in the 2024 campaign, winning five of its final six games and closing the season with a dramatic victory over Harvard. The Bulldogs finished 7-3 overall and led the Ivy League in rushing offense. In 2023, Yale claimed a share of the Ivy League championship after winning seven of its final eight games, securing the program's 18th league title.
 
Reno was named Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2022 after leading Yale to an outright conference championship with an 8-2 record. That season, the Bulldogs topped the league in scoring offense and ranked among the Ivy's best defensive units. Earlier milestones include a 9-1 season in 2019 and a double-overtime victory over Harvard, as well as Yale's breakthrough 2017 campaign, which delivered the program's first outright Ivy League title in 37 years. That team finished nationally ranked, produced 20 All-Ivy selections, and clinched the championship in front of more than 52,000 fans at the Yale Bowl.
 
Under Reno's leadership, Yale student-athletes have consistently excelled at the highest levels of collegiate football. Six Bulldogs have earned the Asa S. Bushnell Cup as Ivy League Player of the Year during his tenure, and three have been named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. His program has also produced NFL talent, with five Yale players selected in the NFL Draft over the past seven years and numerous others signing professional contracts. Among them, Foyesade Oluokun emerged as one of the NFL's most productive defenders, leading the league in tackles in both 2021 and 2022.
 
Before his appointment as head coach, Reno spent more than a decade on the Yale staff under Jack Siedlecki, rising to assistant head coach and contributing to the Bulldogs' 2006 Ivy League championship.
 
A national search for the program's next Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Football will begin immediately.