Hall of Fame
Joe VanCura is one of four Alfred University football players to gain NCAA Kodak First Team Small College All-America honors.
Born in the Bronx, VanCura played football, basketball and baseball at Goshen (NY) Central School. He was captain and MVP during his senior year.
At AU, Joe played four year of football (1973-76) and three years of lacrosse (1974-76). He was an outstanding defensive player with 48 tackles one season and 58 in another along with blocked punts, sacks and one touchdown.
VanCura captained both the football and lacrosse teams and was named to the All-East Small College team of the year in addition to his All-American honors.
Joe always remembers the 16-0 victory over Hobart in 1975 when Hobart came into the game 5-0 and AU was 1-3. Hobart was averaging 330 yards per game. VanCura and the Saxons held them to 33.
He was named All-American in the position of defensive end.
VanCura was a science teacher at Pittsford Central School 1977-81. He was assistant coach at the University of Rochester for one season and lacrosse coach at Pittsford. He also helped with the junior high basketball team and the JV lacrosse team. He was the coordinator of learning disabled science program at the Mendon Center Junior High School.
Since 1981, he has been an industrial sales engineer for R.P. Fedder Corp., environmental control equipment and filtration recovery equipment.Â
Wife Maureen Costello '81. Children Katherine Lynn, Joseph Edward and Tyler Jacob.