A New Head Phoenix Rises

Mike Vivenzio / Reporter

Elon University announced the signing of a new head football coach over the winter break. Pete Lembo, formerly of Lehigh University, was named as Paul Hamilton's successor, who resigned following the 2005 season.

Lembo comes from a winning tradition at Lehigh where he has never won less than eight games in a season. He has been ranked in the top 25 in four of his five seasons at the helm for Lehigh, peaking at number two. Lembo's career record is 44-14 and, at 35 years old, is the second youngest Division I-AA coach. Lembo's biggest task is going to be getting the student body interested in Elon football again. However, Lembo does not see this as a challenge.

"My take is that there is a tremendous amount of interest in the program," Lembo said. "The reception that my staff and I have received over the last few weeks has been nothing short of overwhelming. It has made the transition very easy, and I have learned quickly that this is a very caring community where football is very important."

Lembo inherits a team in transition. Returning are eight offensive starters, including number one receiver Michael Mayers and three defensive starters, including All-American linebacker Chad Nkang. However, one position that is certainly the focus of off-season attention will be quarterback.

"Whether it's quarterback or any other position, everyone starts with a clean slate," Lembo said. "Everything you do everyday is an ongoing competition."

Lembo is very excited about the chance to work with Nkang and he knows what Nkang can do on the field, but said that he is "anxious to see what he brings to the table as far as leadership skills."

Lembo brings a new style of football to Elon, one that the university has not seen.

"Our football philosophy is to be multiple, be aggressive and play a lot of people," Lembo said. Lembo runs a no huddle style of offense, an offense that last season for Lehigh averaged over 30 points per game. His defensive philosophy is simple: get pressure on the quarterback.

"All of this adds up to a style of football that is very exciting whether you are a player or a fan," Lembo said. With so many players lost last season and one of the biggest concerns being the depth of the football team, Lembo has put extra emphasis on recruiting.

"This past weekend we had 10 recruits on campus and got commitments from six of them, so we are very pleased," Lembo said. "We are not going to recruit anyone that we do not feel will help us win Southern Conference Championships. I am personally on a mission to build this program into one where every single person in this community can take pride in," Lembo said. " The goal is for it to be a program and not a team. Programs can build and maintain a high level of success, teams come and go."

Contact Mike Vivenzio at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.

Mike Vivenzio / Photographer
New coach Pete Lembo, who is currently on the road recruiting, hopes to turn around two consecutive three-win seasons as the new head football coach. They have already had six new recruits signed for next fall as the Phoenix hope to compete within the Southern Conference for years to come.