Football
Kashurba, Mike
Mike Kashurba
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach
- Email:
- mdk218@lehigh.edu
- Phone:
- 610-758-6979
Mike Kashurba enters his eighth season on the Lehigh coaching staff. He serves as Lehigh’s special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. From 2019-2022 Kashurba served as Lehigh’s defensive coordinator, while also coaching the safeties.
Last year, Kashurba’s safety group helped Lehigh rank among the nation’s leaders in total defense and passing defense. Nick Peltekian had 74 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions, earning All-Patriot League recognition for his work at safety and as a punt returner. Newcomer Mason Moore stepped in next to Peltekian and added 57 tackles and two interceptions, while sophomore DJ Brown and first-year Mekhai Smith were key contributors in the safety rotation.
On special teams, kicker Nick Garrido made 9-of-10 field goals and 43-of-44 extra points, while first-year Connor Poole averaged nearly 41 yards per punt and had 25 touchbacks on kickoffs. In the return game, Jaden Green averaged 25 yards per kickoff return. Lehigh successfully recovered a surprise onside kick for the second consecutive season and the Mountain Hawks blocked a potential game-tying field goal attempt as time expired to secure a key league victory at Holy Cross.
The 2023 season saw safety Nick Peltekian emerge as a top performer on the defense, leading the Mountain Hawks in tackles while earning second team All-Patriot League honors. Peltekian also broke out as a punt returner, scoring Lehigh’s first punt return touchdown in 15 years with a 57-yard return at Bucknell.
Also on special teams, punter Ben Banks-Altekruse ranked second in the league in net punting average, and Lehigh’s kickoff unit successfully executed a surprise onside kick to open the season.
In four years as defensive coordinator, Kashurba oversaw one of the Patriot League’s top defensive units. The Mountain Hawks were exceptionally tough against league foes, allowing just 22 points per game and 330 yards of offense per game in 21 league contests over the last four seasons, seven points and 78 yards fewer than they did against non-league opponents.
The 2022 season saw Lehigh’s defense rank second in the Patriot League in sacks and rank third against the rush. Four members of Kashurba’s defense garnered All-Patriot League recognition, with safety TyGee Leach earning first-team laurels for the third consecutive season. Linebackers Mike DeNucci and Nate Norris were second team honorees, along with defensive lineman Mikhari Sibblis. DeNucci also was named to the Midseason Watch List for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Kashurba’s defense was one of the stingiest in the Patriot League in 2021. Four members of the Lehigh defense earned All-Patriot League honors, with safety TyGee Leach garnering first team accolades for the second consecutive season. Leach tied for the team lead in tackles, while Spencer Roof, Donovan Thomas and Logan Jones all emerged as key players at the safety position.
The abbreviated spring 2021 campaign saw Lehigh’s defense keep the Mountain Hawks in all three games. Lehigh ranked seventh in the FCS in scoring defense and total defense and the Mountain Hawks were also ranked in the top 10 against the rush. Three members of Lehigh’s defense earned All-Patriot League honors, led by first-team defensive back TyGee Leach. Linebacker Pete Haffner and cornerback LaTreil Wimberly also earned all-league laurels.
Leach and senior team captain Divine Buckrham anchored the safety group, with sophomore Mitch Lawhead and freshmen Donovan Thomas, Spencer Roof and Corey Melzer all gaining valuable experience during the spring season.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, Kashurba oversaw a unit that experienced a major turnaround in 2019. The Mountain Hawks allowed 14 fewer points and 100 fewer yards per game than in the previous season. Lehigh boasted the Patriot League’s top rush defense, allowing 130.5 yards per game and ranked second in both scoring defense (21.4 ppg.) and total defense (346.3 ypg.).
Lehigh’s defense brought pressure in 2019. The Mountain Hawks ranked third in the Patriot League with 29 sacks, up from just 15 the year before. Five Lehigh opponents were kept under 100 yards rushing, including Merrimack, which was limited to minus-25, marking the first time the Mountain Hawks allowed negative rushing yards in a game since 2002.
Individually, four members of Lehigh’s defense garnered All-Patriot League recognition. Linebacker Keith Woetzel was a first team All-League honoree and a third team All-American. Safety Sam McCloskey and linebacker Pete Haffner were second team selections. Freshman defensive back Jack Bush was recognized for his special teams work.
Kashurba’s high-energy approach helped foster improvement in the Mountain Hawks’ defense in 2018. With Kashurba coaching the linebackers in his first season on staff, Lehigh allowed six fewer points and more than 30 fewer yards per game defensively, with the linebackers playing a major role in the turnaround. Junior Keith Woetzel led the Mountain Hawks with 89 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, while senior Mark Walker and sophomore Pete Haffner combined for nearly 100 tackles and six tackles for loss.
Kashurba brought a wealth of Patriot League experience to Bethlehem. He spent six years coaching in the league prior to his arrival at Lehigh. From 2014-17, Kashurba coached at Holy Cross, where he served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach, while coaching alongside Tom Gilmore. In his first two seasons, the Crusaders defense showed improvements of eight points and 75 yards per game allowed. His defensive units ranked in the top three in the Patriot League in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and third down efficiency. Kashurba mentored eight All-Patriot League performers at Holy Cross.
Prior to his stint at Holy Cross, Kashurba spent two seasons as the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach at Bucknell, where he worked primarily with the Bison safeties. The Bison led the Patriot League in total defense in his first year in Lewisburg and in 2013 topped the Patriot League in total defense and scoring defense. He coached three all-league performers in his two seasons at Bucknell.
Kashurba spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Allegheny College, serving as defensive coordinator in his final six seasons. At Allegheny, Kashurba mentored 21 All-North Coast Athletic Conference selections, with his defense consistently ranking among the best in the conference. Kashurba’s first football coaching position came as Mansfield’s secondary coach in 2002.
As an undergraduate, Kashurba was a two-sport standout at Grove City College, where he was an all-conference defensive back and started at quarterback in his senior season. Kashurba was also a two-year captain and four-time all-conference shortstop for Grove City’s baseball team and served as a student assistant in 2002.
Kashurba graduated from Grove City with a bachelor’s degree in business and communications and a minor in political science in 2002. He added a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from California (Pa.) University in 2011. Kashurba and his wife, Katrina, have two sons, Niko and Kolden.
Last year, Kashurba’s safety group helped Lehigh rank among the nation’s leaders in total defense and passing defense. Nick Peltekian had 74 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions, earning All-Patriot League recognition for his work at safety and as a punt returner. Newcomer Mason Moore stepped in next to Peltekian and added 57 tackles and two interceptions, while sophomore DJ Brown and first-year Mekhai Smith were key contributors in the safety rotation.
On special teams, kicker Nick Garrido made 9-of-10 field goals and 43-of-44 extra points, while first-year Connor Poole averaged nearly 41 yards per punt and had 25 touchbacks on kickoffs. In the return game, Jaden Green averaged 25 yards per kickoff return. Lehigh successfully recovered a surprise onside kick for the second consecutive season and the Mountain Hawks blocked a potential game-tying field goal attempt as time expired to secure a key league victory at Holy Cross.
The 2023 season saw safety Nick Peltekian emerge as a top performer on the defense, leading the Mountain Hawks in tackles while earning second team All-Patriot League honors. Peltekian also broke out as a punt returner, scoring Lehigh’s first punt return touchdown in 15 years with a 57-yard return at Bucknell.
Also on special teams, punter Ben Banks-Altekruse ranked second in the league in net punting average, and Lehigh’s kickoff unit successfully executed a surprise onside kick to open the season.
In four years as defensive coordinator, Kashurba oversaw one of the Patriot League’s top defensive units. The Mountain Hawks were exceptionally tough against league foes, allowing just 22 points per game and 330 yards of offense per game in 21 league contests over the last four seasons, seven points and 78 yards fewer than they did against non-league opponents.
The 2022 season saw Lehigh’s defense rank second in the Patriot League in sacks and rank third against the rush. Four members of Kashurba’s defense garnered All-Patriot League recognition, with safety TyGee Leach earning first-team laurels for the third consecutive season. Linebackers Mike DeNucci and Nate Norris were second team honorees, along with defensive lineman Mikhari Sibblis. DeNucci also was named to the Midseason Watch List for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Kashurba’s defense was one of the stingiest in the Patriot League in 2021. Four members of the Lehigh defense earned All-Patriot League honors, with safety TyGee Leach garnering first team accolades for the second consecutive season. Leach tied for the team lead in tackles, while Spencer Roof, Donovan Thomas and Logan Jones all emerged as key players at the safety position.
The abbreviated spring 2021 campaign saw Lehigh’s defense keep the Mountain Hawks in all three games. Lehigh ranked seventh in the FCS in scoring defense and total defense and the Mountain Hawks were also ranked in the top 10 against the rush. Three members of Lehigh’s defense earned All-Patriot League honors, led by first-team defensive back TyGee Leach. Linebacker Pete Haffner and cornerback LaTreil Wimberly also earned all-league laurels.
Leach and senior team captain Divine Buckrham anchored the safety group, with sophomore Mitch Lawhead and freshmen Donovan Thomas, Spencer Roof and Corey Melzer all gaining valuable experience during the spring season.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, Kashurba oversaw a unit that experienced a major turnaround in 2019. The Mountain Hawks allowed 14 fewer points and 100 fewer yards per game than in the previous season. Lehigh boasted the Patriot League’s top rush defense, allowing 130.5 yards per game and ranked second in both scoring defense (21.4 ppg.) and total defense (346.3 ypg.).
Lehigh’s defense brought pressure in 2019. The Mountain Hawks ranked third in the Patriot League with 29 sacks, up from just 15 the year before. Five Lehigh opponents were kept under 100 yards rushing, including Merrimack, which was limited to minus-25, marking the first time the Mountain Hawks allowed negative rushing yards in a game since 2002.
Individually, four members of Lehigh’s defense garnered All-Patriot League recognition. Linebacker Keith Woetzel was a first team All-League honoree and a third team All-American. Safety Sam McCloskey and linebacker Pete Haffner were second team selections. Freshman defensive back Jack Bush was recognized for his special teams work.
Kashurba’s high-energy approach helped foster improvement in the Mountain Hawks’ defense in 2018. With Kashurba coaching the linebackers in his first season on staff, Lehigh allowed six fewer points and more than 30 fewer yards per game defensively, with the linebackers playing a major role in the turnaround. Junior Keith Woetzel led the Mountain Hawks with 89 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, while senior Mark Walker and sophomore Pete Haffner combined for nearly 100 tackles and six tackles for loss.
Kashurba brought a wealth of Patriot League experience to Bethlehem. He spent six years coaching in the league prior to his arrival at Lehigh. From 2014-17, Kashurba coached at Holy Cross, where he served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach, while coaching alongside Tom Gilmore. In his first two seasons, the Crusaders defense showed improvements of eight points and 75 yards per game allowed. His defensive units ranked in the top three in the Patriot League in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and third down efficiency. Kashurba mentored eight All-Patriot League performers at Holy Cross.
Prior to his stint at Holy Cross, Kashurba spent two seasons as the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach at Bucknell, where he worked primarily with the Bison safeties. The Bison led the Patriot League in total defense in his first year in Lewisburg and in 2013 topped the Patriot League in total defense and scoring defense. He coached three all-league performers in his two seasons at Bucknell.
Kashurba spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Allegheny College, serving as defensive coordinator in his final six seasons. At Allegheny, Kashurba mentored 21 All-North Coast Athletic Conference selections, with his defense consistently ranking among the best in the conference. Kashurba’s first football coaching position came as Mansfield’s secondary coach in 2002.
As an undergraduate, Kashurba was a two-sport standout at Grove City College, where he was an all-conference defensive back and started at quarterback in his senior season. Kashurba was also a two-year captain and four-time all-conference shortstop for Grove City’s baseball team and served as a student assistant in 2002.
Kashurba graduated from Grove City with a bachelor’s degree in business and communications and a minor in political science in 2002. He added a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from California (Pa.) University in 2011. Kashurba and his wife, Katrina, have two sons, Niko and Kolden.
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