Lembo departs for head coaching position at Elon
12/19/2005 1:30:00 PM | Football
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Pete Lembo has resigned his position as Lehigh University head football coach to take on the responsibilities as the head coach at Elon University, located in Elon, N.C. The move comes after Lembo spent eight total seasons on
“It has been a privilege to be a part of the Lehigh football family for the last eight years,” Lembo said. “Lehigh is a special place and my family and I will always cherish the friendships we formed while I worked here."
In five seasons at the helm, Lembo compiled some impressive credentials. He posted a 44-14 overall record, and his .759 winning percentage is the highest among all Lehigh coaches. In Patriot League play, Lembo led the Mountain Hawks to a 26-7 mark – more wins than any league school during that time span. He guided Lehigh to a pair of Patriot League titles and two NCAA Division I-AA playoff berths. Lehigh was nationally ranked in all five seasons, and the Mountain Hawks finished in the final top 25 national poll in four of Lembo’s five seasons.
In his first season as Lehigh’s head coach in 2001, Lembo won the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the nation’s top Division I-AA head coach, after leading Lehigh to an undefeated regular season and a Lambert Cup trophy. Just four years later, during the 2005 campaign, Lembo, 35, became the fastest coach in Lehigh history to win 40 games.
Prior to taking over the reigns in 2001, Lembo spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Lehigh.
“I would like to publicly thank Pete Lembo for his commitment and service to
Lembo heads to
“Building the Elon football program will be a completely different challenge than trying to maintain a successful program here at Lehigh,” Lembo explained. “I am very excited about the opportunity to do so, and believe this will be a healthy change for my family and me."
Lembo leaves behind a program that remains a perennial power on the Division I-AA level. Over the last eight seasons, no team in I-AA football has won a higher percentage of its games than the Mountain Hawks. Since 1998, Lehigh has won 81.3% of its contests, capturing at least a share of five Patriot League crowns.
Since the inception of the Patriot League (formerly Colonial League) in 1986, Lehigh has won more league games (76) and league titles (seven) than any other team.
Lehigh’s national search for a new head football coach is already underway.
