Photo by: Hannah Ally
Lehigh Extends Contract of Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach Kevin Cahill
12/9/2025 12:15:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh University Murray H. Goodman '48 Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson has announced that Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach Kevin Cahill has agreed to a multi-year contract extension.
Cahill recently completed his third season leading the Mountain Hawks, earning the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award winner as the National FCS Coach of the Year. In just three years, Cahill has overseen the resurgence of Lehigh football, turning a 2-9 program into a 9-4 Patriot League champion in just his second season; and then guiding the Mountain Hawks to a record-setting 12-1 campaign in 2025.
Under Cahill's leadership, Lehigh has now won back-to-back Patriot League titles, giving the Mountain Hawks a league-best 14 football championships. Lehigh reached the second round of the FCS playoffs in consecutive years, with the 2024 squad winning at Richmond for the program's first playoff win since 2011, and this year's squad earning the No. 5 seed in the FCS playoffs, as nearly 9,000 fans packed Goodman Stadium Saturday for Lehigh's first home playoff game in 21 years.
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 made Lehigh the most successful program in Patriot League football.
"In addition to all that Kevin has done to build a successful football program on the field, what has impressed me most is that Kevin is so clearly an educator and mentor," said Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble '82. "He has become a deeply connected member of the campus community, helping all students feel a part of Lehigh and connected to Lehigh Athletics. This extension and Kevin's continuing commitment to our student-athletes is wonderful not just for Lehigh football, but equally for Lehigh University."
"What Kevin has accomplished in his first three seasons at Lehigh is remarkable, culminating in an undefeated regular season and the well-deserved honor of the Eddie Robinson Award," Gibson said. "He has restored Lehigh football's winning tradition, delivering our first playoff victory since 2011 and giving our community a historic home playoff atmosphere this past weekend. Beyond the competitive success his teams have experienced, Kevin is an outstanding educator who values Lehigh's mission of developing true scholar-athletes. I look forward to working with him and his outstanding staff build upon this incredible momentum."
"I want to acknowledge President Joseph Helble and thank Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson for providing this special opportunity," Cahill said. "The strength of our program lies in the direct alignment between the vision for Lehigh football and the vision for Lehigh University. This alignment is key to our future success. I am deeply thankful to have the chance to continue growing and advancing Lehigh football."
Cahill was recognized as Patriot League Coach of the Year, the ECAC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award in 2024. This year, with Lehigh posting a 12-0 regular season, its sixth undefeated regular season all-time, Cahill was named Region 1 Coach of the Year by the AFCA and was honored for leading the newly-rebranded Dick Biddle Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year.
Last week, Cahill was announced as the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top head coach in the FCS. He became the second Lehigh head coach to win the Eddie Robinson Award, joining Pete Lembo, who received the award in 2001.
Lehigh recently announced the endowment of its football head coaching position. A commitment made through the lead gift from Andy '79 and Marybeth Vandergrift for $2.5 million will support the head coach and be formally named the Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach.
In his first three seasons, Cahill has mentored 27 All-Patriot League selections, including the league's Offensive Player of the Year (Luke Yoder) and Defensive Player of the Year (Tyler Ochojski) in 2025.
Lehigh's 12 victories in 2025 match the program record for wins in a season, shared with the 1977, 1998 and 2000 squads, while its 12-game winning streak ties the longest in-season winning streak in school history. The Mountain Hawks have won 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to the 2024 season, the longest active streak in the FCS.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Cahill recently completed his third season leading the Mountain Hawks, earning the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award winner as the National FCS Coach of the Year. In just three years, Cahill has overseen the resurgence of Lehigh football, turning a 2-9 program into a 9-4 Patriot League champion in just his second season; and then guiding the Mountain Hawks to a record-setting 12-1 campaign in 2025.
Under Cahill's leadership, Lehigh has now won back-to-back Patriot League titles, giving the Mountain Hawks a league-best 14 football championships. Lehigh reached the second round of the FCS playoffs in consecutive years, with the 2024 squad winning at Richmond for the program's first playoff win since 2011, and this year's squad earning the No. 5 seed in the FCS playoffs, as nearly 9,000 fans packed Goodman Stadium Saturday for Lehigh's first home playoff game in 21 years.
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 made Lehigh the most successful program in Patriot League football.
"In addition to all that Kevin has done to build a successful football program on the field, what has impressed me most is that Kevin is so clearly an educator and mentor," said Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble '82. "He has become a deeply connected member of the campus community, helping all students feel a part of Lehigh and connected to Lehigh Athletics. This extension and Kevin's continuing commitment to our student-athletes is wonderful not just for Lehigh football, but equally for Lehigh University."
"What Kevin has accomplished in his first three seasons at Lehigh is remarkable, culminating in an undefeated regular season and the well-deserved honor of the Eddie Robinson Award," Gibson said. "He has restored Lehigh football's winning tradition, delivering our first playoff victory since 2011 and giving our community a historic home playoff atmosphere this past weekend. Beyond the competitive success his teams have experienced, Kevin is an outstanding educator who values Lehigh's mission of developing true scholar-athletes. I look forward to working with him and his outstanding staff build upon this incredible momentum."
"I want to acknowledge President Joseph Helble and thank Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson for providing this special opportunity," Cahill said. "The strength of our program lies in the direct alignment between the vision for Lehigh football and the vision for Lehigh University. This alignment is key to our future success. I am deeply thankful to have the chance to continue growing and advancing Lehigh football."
Cahill was recognized as Patriot League Coach of the Year, the ECAC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award in 2024. This year, with Lehigh posting a 12-0 regular season, its sixth undefeated regular season all-time, Cahill was named Region 1 Coach of the Year by the AFCA and was honored for leading the newly-rebranded Dick Biddle Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year.
Last week, Cahill was announced as the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top head coach in the FCS. He became the second Lehigh head coach to win the Eddie Robinson Award, joining Pete Lembo, who received the award in 2001.
Lehigh recently announced the endowment of its football head coaching position. A commitment made through the lead gift from Andy '79 and Marybeth Vandergrift for $2.5 million will support the head coach and be formally named the Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach.
In his first three seasons, Cahill has mentored 27 All-Patriot League selections, including the league's Offensive Player of the Year (Luke Yoder) and Defensive Player of the Year (Tyler Ochojski) in 2025.
Lehigh's 12 victories in 2025 match the program record for wins in a season, shared with the 1977, 1998 and 2000 squads, while its 12-game winning streak ties the longest in-season winning streak in school history. The Mountain Hawks have won 17 consecutive regular season games dating back to the 2024 season, the longest active streak in the FCS.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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