Pete Lembo named as new football head coach

Pete Lembo will be the new head coach of the UB football team, UB Athletics announced Sunday. 

The announcement of Lembo’s hiring comes not even a week after the departure of the program’s previous head coach, Maurice “Mo” Linguist, who accepted a coaching position at Alabama.

The 53-year-old Staten Island native most recently served as an associate head coach and special teams coordinator for South Carolina. During Lembo’s three seasons with the Gamecocks, the team finished 25th nationally in kickoff coverage in 2021 and earned the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s special teams ranking in 2022. 

Despite Lembo’s limited time as a player, his coaching career spans over 30 years, with successful stints at various respected institutions. Known for successfully rejuvenating teams from the depths of consecutive losing seasons, he is now tasked with steering UB football back on track following a disappointing 3-9 season. 

His arrival at UB won’t be his first taste of Mid-American-Conference play. From 2011-15, Lembo acted as the head coach for Buffalo’s divisional adversary, Ball State. Under his leadership, the program thrived. He led his team to break over 60 school records and was the first coach in their history to win 30 games in four seasons.

With a proven track record — and numerous praises from respected coaches and analysts alike — Lembo’s arrival could be a new beginning for UB football. 

Lembo’s introductory press conference is set to take place at noon on Jan. 23 at the Murchie Family Fieldhouse. 

The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com