Cahill Tabbed as ECAC Coach of The Year; DeNucci, Padezanin Earn All-ECAC
12/19/2024 2:37:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Three members of the Lehigh football program were recognized Thursday as the ECAC announced its FCS Football All-ECAC team and major awards. Head coach Kevin Cahill was named the ECAC FCS Coach of the Year and fifth-year offensive lineman George Padezanin and graduate student linebacker Mike DeNucci were selected to the All-ECAC team.
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To be eligible for ECAC honors a student-athlete or coach must have been first team all-league or a major award winner within their respective leagues. The ECAC honors are the first for the Lehigh program since linebacker Keith Woetzel was first team All-ECAC in 2019.
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Cahill adds ECAC Coach of the Year honors to his Patriot League Coach of the Year laurels. He was also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the FCS Coach of the Year, finishing 10th in the final balloting. Cahill led the Mountain Hawks to a 9-4 record and Lehigh's league-leading 13th Patriot League championship. The Mountain Hawks' seven-win improvement over 2023 marked the second largest turnaround in FCS football. Lehigh also won its first playoff game since 2011, defeating Richmond 20-16 in the first round on Nov. 30.
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Padezanin adds ECAC honors to a resume that includes first team All-Patriot League and honorable mention Associated Press All-American. The anchor of Lehigh's offensive line, Padezanin started all 13 games for the Mountain Hawks at center. He was a key contributor to an offensive line unit that led the Patriot League and ranks 12th nationally in rushing offense, with the Mountain Hawks averaging 201.8 yards per game. The Mountain Hawks also rank in the top 15 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, with Lehigh yielding just 1.15 per game.
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One of the leaders of a defense that ranked among the best in the FCS, DeNucci was a first team All-Patriot League linebacker who earned his third career all-league plaudit. DeNucci was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He started all 11 regular season games, registering 80 tackles, while adding 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. DeNucci finished second on the Mountain Hawks in tackles, despite missing Lehigh's two playoff games due to injury. With four tackles in the Lafayette game, DeNucci became the fifth Lehigh player to reach 300 career tackles.
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Other ECAC major award winners included Monmouth quarterback Derek Robertson (Offensive Player), New Hampshire defensive lineman Josiah Silver (Defensive Player), Morgan State running back Jason Collins Jr. (Offensive Rookie) and CCSU defensive back Christopher Jean (Defensive Rookie).
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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To be eligible for ECAC honors a student-athlete or coach must have been first team all-league or a major award winner within their respective leagues. The ECAC honors are the first for the Lehigh program since linebacker Keith Woetzel was first team All-ECAC in 2019.
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Cahill adds ECAC Coach of the Year honors to his Patriot League Coach of the Year laurels. He was also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the FCS Coach of the Year, finishing 10th in the final balloting. Cahill led the Mountain Hawks to a 9-4 record and Lehigh's league-leading 13th Patriot League championship. The Mountain Hawks' seven-win improvement over 2023 marked the second largest turnaround in FCS football. Lehigh also won its first playoff game since 2011, defeating Richmond 20-16 in the first round on Nov. 30.
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Padezanin adds ECAC honors to a resume that includes first team All-Patriot League and honorable mention Associated Press All-American. The anchor of Lehigh's offensive line, Padezanin started all 13 games for the Mountain Hawks at center. He was a key contributor to an offensive line unit that led the Patriot League and ranks 12th nationally in rushing offense, with the Mountain Hawks averaging 201.8 yards per game. The Mountain Hawks also rank in the top 15 nationally in fewest sacks allowed, with Lehigh yielding just 1.15 per game.
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One of the leaders of a defense that ranked among the best in the FCS, DeNucci was a first team All-Patriot League linebacker who earned his third career all-league plaudit. DeNucci was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He started all 11 regular season games, registering 80 tackles, while adding 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. DeNucci finished second on the Mountain Hawks in tackles, despite missing Lehigh's two playoff games due to injury. With four tackles in the Lafayette game, DeNucci became the fifth Lehigh player to reach 300 career tackles.
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Other ECAC major award winners included Monmouth quarterback Derek Robertson (Offensive Player), New Hampshire defensive lineman Josiah Silver (Defensive Player), Morgan State running back Jason Collins Jr. (Offensive Rookie) and CCSU defensive back Christopher Jean (Defensive Rookie).
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Players Mentioned
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