Selflessness and sacrifice lead Famili to success

Senior Lehigh men's soccer player Ali Famili has spent four years working towards one goal: winning a Patriot League Championship. He's spent the last four seasons doing whatever it takes to get his team where it needs to be, even if that meant making personal sacrifices.

Famili has played a different position in each of his years as a Mountain Hawk, and in some cases, several different positions in a single season. His team-first attitude has not only bettered the team, but has also made him a better player and set him up for future success.

"It's really important for a leader to take on a lot of different roles on the team," said head coach Dean Koski. "At this level and in our league we're going to need somebody to play more than one role. By happenstance, by choice and by default, Ali has had to assume every position in his career other than goalkeeper. Even if we needed him in goal, I think he'd do pretty well."

Famili, an Orefield, Pa. native and Parkland High School graduate, grew up coming to Lehigh soccer games. His mother and brother are both Lehigh alumni, and Famili thought he wanted to be an engineering major coming into college. Famili attended Lehigh soccer camps and his club coach in high school was former Lehigh assistant Michael Benn.

"Coach Benn was asking me if I would be interested in coming to Lehigh and I said without a doubt," said Famili. "Lehigh was one of my first choices, so as soon as I got in and they started recruiting me I knew it was a done deal. Everything kind of lined up and I knew that it was the right choice for me."

Famili was recruited as a central midfielder and center back. When he got to Lehigh as a freshman, it quickly became clear that he would be needed elsewhere on the pitch. Famili started all 18 games of his rookie campaign at left back. 8511

"It was very different for me, especially being a right-footed player," said Famili. "It was something really new for me, but having Kevin Strunk, a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, next to me made it really easy for me to acclimate. With him, Cameron Omsburg and Jordie Ciuffetelli back there, with Ciaran Nugent in net, they all helped me transition to left back and have some success there."

Famili began his sophomore year as a center attacking midfielder after finding success at that position on his summer team. After a few games, Koski and the coaching staff thought Famili's talents could be put to use elsewhere, so the then sophomore transitioned to center back. Famili ended up earning first team All-Patriot League recognition following the season.

Famili started as a center back during his junior campaign before moving to center attacking mid and then ending the season as an outside mid.

"That was completely different because I had never played outside mid in my life," said Famili. "Coach Koski helped coach me through that and helped me adjust to that position."

This season, Famili once again began as an outside midfielder, but over the last few games has been playing as an outside back because that's what his team needed him to do.

"I think Coach Koski has a lot of trust in me and my ability, and he believes in me," said Famili. "Without him coaching me through all of the changes, I would have never been able to play that many positions."

"As a senior and a leader he has been so willing to step into a new role, even if it has been late in the season or at the expense of his own individual success," said Koski. "It's been very important to us that he put the team first."

Famili hasn't only adjusted to different areas on the pitch, however. The senior has spent time a few different majors and colleges at Lehigh before settling in as an Earth and Environmental Science major.

"I've had to adjust to a lot of things growing up," said Famili. "Coming to Lehigh, I thought I wanted to be an engineer, but then the semester after that I realized engineering wasn't for me and switched into business. I adapted to that quickly then realized business wasn't for me and switched into earth and environmental science. That's really where I found what I wanted to do."

As a co-captain this season, Famili has helped lead his team back to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since his freshman year. His experiences at different positions have made it easier for his younger teammates to relate to him.

"Moving around from position to position has helped my leadership skills a lot," offered Famili. "Other captains tend to be a center back or a center mid and they've played those positions their whole life, but they can't really relate to players that play other positions like I can now that I've played all of those positions. I can give more in-depth advice to kids that have played those positions and I can help them out.

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"Guys also trust me a lot more knowing that I've played different positions," he continued. "They'll come to me and ask me questions about what they should do in certain circumstances. It's just nice being able to help them because they know I've been in their shoes before and they have that trust in me."

The development of his leadership skills is just one of the aspects that Famili will take away from his Lehigh soccer experience to apply to his life in the real world. Famili's team-first attitude is sure to benefit him following graduation and once he begins a professional career.

"Learning to work as a team with the people around you and all trying to achieve one common goal by working together is so important," said Famili. "I've realized how important it is to do that not only on the soccer field, but also in a professional setting. A lot of times you're going to need help from the people around you and you need to know how to use your resources to help you be successful in life."

"Ali has learned over his four years that you put the team first," said Koski. "If you work in Corporate America, it's the company first and you do what's in the best interest of the company. I think Ali is very prepared to make the transition into the real world because he realizes it's not just about him, but it's about something bigger than him."

Lehigh is now primed and ready to return to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2011, but Famili has already left a legacy with his younger teammates that will live well beyond the postseason and his graduation. In the coming years, he hopes that others will echo his team-first mentality in order to better the team as a whole.

"It's important to be open to change," said Famili. "A lot of guys aren't willing to change anything and they like consistency in their lives, particularly on the soccer field. A lot of times the team is going to need you to play another position to make the team better. I would just tell them to be open to it, give it a chance and trust that Coach Koski has a plan for them."

Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus #6 Lafayette on November 15, 2025 , Tie , 1, to, 1

Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus #4 Boston University on November 11, 2025 , Win , 1, to, 0

Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Lafayette on November 4, 2025 , Tie , 1, to, 1

Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Colgate on October 31, 2025 , Tie , 0, to, 0

Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Boston University on October 25, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0

Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Seton Hall on October 21, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 5

Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Bucknell on October 18, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 1

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Selflessness and sacrifice lead Famili to success

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