Photo by: Taj Falconer
Kevin Cahill Wins Eddie Robinson Award as Top Coach in the FCS
12/4/2025 10:23:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Kevin Cahill has won the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top head coach in the FCS, Stats Perform announced Thursday. Cahill has led the resurgence of Lehigh football, guiding the Mountain Hawks to back-to-back Patriot League championships and two consecutive FCS playoff appearances.
The Eddie Robinson Award, named for the legendary Grambling State head coach, is now in its 39th year and is selected by a national voting panel that covers all 13 FCS conferences.
Cahill will be honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show, Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tenn.
In three seasons, Cahill has established The Nest at Lehigh and successfully built a student athlete-led program that focuses on "process" over "outcome" while reestablishing a championship culture that has allowed Lehigh to now win a league-leading 14 Patriot League championships.
Lehigh was 2-9 in Cahill's first season in 2023, but the commitment to the process resulted in the second-largest turnaround in the FCS in 2024. The Mountain Hawks won nine games, closed the regular season with five consecutive victories, and after defeating Lafayette to win the Patriot League championship and automatic playoff berth, Lehigh defeated Richmond on the road for the program's first playoff victory in 13 years.
The turnaround netted Cahill Patriot League Coach of the Year honors in 2024. He was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, finishing 10th in the final voting.
This year, Cahill guided the Mountain Hawks to a 14th consecutive Patriot League championship. Lehigh won the title with a 42-32 win at rival Lafayette on Nov. 22.
At 12-0, Cahill guided the Mountain Hawks to their sixth undefeated regular season in program history. Lehigh's 12 wins tie the school record held by the 1977, 1998 and 2000 squads, while its in-season 12-game winning streak matches the longest in school history. The Mountain Hawks have also won an FCS-best 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to last season.
The undefeated regular season and second straight league title led to Lehigh, under Cahill's direction, to win the Dick Biddle Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year award.
"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Kevin Cahill, and one that reflects the incredible work of our entire football coaching staff," said Lehigh Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. "The success of our football program is a testament to Kevin's leadership and his commitment to developing excellence both on and off the field, which has had a tangible and positive impact on Lehigh University as a whole."
Cahill is the second Lehigh head coach to win the Eddie Robinson Award, joining Pete Lembo who received the award in 2001 after guiding the Mountain Hawks to their last undefeated regular season. He emerged from a group of 15 finalists, announced Nov. 24. Cahill received 136 points, including 12 first-place votes, edging North Dakota State's Tim Polasek by seven points. Lehigh and North Dakota State are the only two undefeated teams in the FCS.
The Mountain Hawks are seeded fifth in the NCAA FCS Playoffs and will host a playoff game at Goodman Stadium for just the third time in program history, and the first time in 21 years.
Lehigh hosts Villanova Saturday at noon in a second round playoff contest.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
The Eddie Robinson Award, named for the legendary Grambling State head coach, is now in its 39th year and is selected by a national voting panel that covers all 13 FCS conferences.
Cahill will be honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show, Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tenn.
In three seasons, Cahill has established The Nest at Lehigh and successfully built a student athlete-led program that focuses on "process" over "outcome" while reestablishing a championship culture that has allowed Lehigh to now win a league-leading 14 Patriot League championships.
Lehigh was 2-9 in Cahill's first season in 2023, but the commitment to the process resulted in the second-largest turnaround in the FCS in 2024. The Mountain Hawks won nine games, closed the regular season with five consecutive victories, and after defeating Lafayette to win the Patriot League championship and automatic playoff berth, Lehigh defeated Richmond on the road for the program's first playoff victory in 13 years.
The turnaround netted Cahill Patriot League Coach of the Year honors in 2024. He was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, finishing 10th in the final voting.
This year, Cahill guided the Mountain Hawks to a 14th consecutive Patriot League championship. Lehigh won the title with a 42-32 win at rival Lafayette on Nov. 22.
At 12-0, Cahill guided the Mountain Hawks to their sixth undefeated regular season in program history. Lehigh's 12 wins tie the school record held by the 1977, 1998 and 2000 squads, while its in-season 12-game winning streak matches the longest in school history. The Mountain Hawks have also won an FCS-best 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to last season.
The undefeated regular season and second straight league title led to Lehigh, under Cahill's direction, to win the Dick Biddle Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year award.
"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Kevin Cahill, and one that reflects the incredible work of our entire football coaching staff," said Lehigh Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. "The success of our football program is a testament to Kevin's leadership and his commitment to developing excellence both on and off the field, which has had a tangible and positive impact on Lehigh University as a whole."
Cahill is the second Lehigh head coach to win the Eddie Robinson Award, joining Pete Lembo who received the award in 2001 after guiding the Mountain Hawks to their last undefeated regular season. He emerged from a group of 15 finalists, announced Nov. 24. Cahill received 136 points, including 12 first-place votes, edging North Dakota State's Tim Polasek by seven points. Lehigh and North Dakota State are the only two undefeated teams in the FCS.
The Mountain Hawks are seeded fifth in the NCAA FCS Playoffs and will host a playoff game at Goodman Stadium for just the third time in program history, and the first time in 21 years.
Lehigh hosts Villanova Saturday at noon in a second round playoff contest.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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