Pete Lembo

Success on special teams played a major role in a historic 12-win season at Memphis in 2019. The Tigers won their first outright conference championship since 1969 and landed a berth in the Cotton Bowl - recognizing them as the top Group of Five program in the country. Memphis spent much of the season as the top ranked special teams unit in the country as per ESPN's Special Teams Efficiency rankings. The Tigers finished the 2019 regular season ranked second among 130 FBS programs as per ESPN. Championship Analytics, Inc. gave the Tigers their highest rating in the FBS for "Special Teams Points Added" and overall productivity. Memphis ended the 2019 season ranked 6th in the FBS in the overall special teams rankings compiled by the data analysts at Football Outsiders.

The Tigers ranked 7th among FBS teams in average yards per kickoff return at 26.22 while leading the country in total kickoff return yardage. Memphis also ranked first in average starting field position after kickoff returns (33.3 yard line), 7.6 yards per return better than the 2019 FBS average. The Tigers had ten kickoff returns that allowed their offense to start drives beyond the 40 yard line.

Senior Antonio Gibson finished 8th in the nation in yards per return (28.0) and was named the AAC's Co-Special Teams Player of the Year for his efforts. Gibson had several explosive returns in 2019, including a 97-yard return for a touchdown in a critical AAC West showdown against SMU at the Liberty Bowl. Senior cornerback Chris Claybrooks had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game against Cincinnati, helping the Tigers earn a rematch versus the Bearcats a week later in the AAC championship. Claybrooks averaged an impressive 30.7 per kickoff return in 2019. In an important mid-season conference game against Tulane, the Tigers had three explosive returns, all by Claybrooks. Earlier in the season, Cornerback Gabe Rogers returned a kickoff 99 yards against Navy, cutting the Midshipmen's lead and giving the Tigers critical momentum in a key AAC West contest. The Tigers finished the 2019 regular season ranked first in the AAC in yards per kickoff return.

The aggressive-minded Tiger special teams finished 2019 tied for 6th in the FBS in blocked kicks. Memphis blocked two punts as well as two field goal attempts. Memphis made statistical improvements in other important areas such as net punt and kickoff coverage defense in 2019 under Lembo's direction. The Tigers only allowed one opponent kickoff return to cross the 30 yard line in 14 games. Memphis also converted a fake punt against Tulsa, recovered a surprise onside kick versus Louisiana-Monroe and scored a 2-point conversion on a muddle huddle play in the same game. Red-shirt Sophomore punter Adam Williams averaged 44.8 yards per punt, including ten punts of over 50 yards and 13 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Patterson's holder, junior Preston Brady, received the Mortell Award as the nation's most outstanding holder for his performance in 2019. The versatile Brady also recovered an onside kick to seal the victory against 16th ranked SMU and scored a 2-point conversion on a muddle huddle play against Louisiana-Monroe.

For his efforts, Lembo was nominated for the annual Broyles Award, recognizing the top assistant coach in the country. Lembo was also selected as one of three finalists for the Footballscoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year for the 2019 season.

Despite a rebuilding season at Rice University in 2018, Lembo was able to improve the Owls special teams from 114th the previous year to 17th in ESPN's Special Teams Efficiency rankings. Rice ranked 6th in the FBS in kickoff return defense, allowing just 16.12 yards per return. This was also the least yards per return allowed at Rice University since the 1999 football season. The Owls ranked 14th nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 24.41 per return. This was the best average per return at Rice since the 1973 season. In net punting, Rice set a school record and finished 17th in the FBS, netting an impressive 40.11 per punt. Rice's challenging out-of-conference schedule in 2018 featured quality opponents including LSU, Wake Forest, Houston and Hawaii.

Under Lembo's guidance, senior punter and kickoff specialist Jack Fox was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2018. Fox finished the season ranked 8th in the FBS in punting, averaging 45.45 yards per punt. Fox broke a school record with a long punt of 76 yards vs. North Texas. He had 26 punts of over 50 yards and placed 31 punts inside the opponent's 20 yard line. Fox also successfully executed two fake punts in 2018. Fox was later invited to participate in the NFL Combine. Senior place kicker Haden Tobola, who only connected on one field goal the previous season, made 10 of 11 kicks in 2018 and ranked 3rd in the entire FBS in field goal percentage. Senior kick returner Austin Walter ranked 10th in the FBS in kickoff return average with 25.8 per return.

Perhaps the most notable improvement was the Memphis field goal unit. Junior kicker Riley Patterson, who was a modest 15 of 20 in 2018, made an impressive 92 percent of his field goals in 2019 (23 of 25). Patterson made several kicks of over 50 yards and was named first team All-AAC for his efforts. In the conference championship game against Cincinnati, Patterson hit two field goals of 50 or more yards, playing a critical role in the Tigers' 29-24 victory. In Memphis's Cotton Bowl loss against #10 Penn State, Patterson had six field goals - setting both a Cotton Bowl record as well as a record for field goals in NCAA bowl game history.

Maryland ranked 11th out of 130 FBS programs in ESPN's Special Teams Efficiency rankings in 2017 after ranking 17th in his first year in College Park. The Terps also ranked third in the Big Ten in punt returns and fourth in kickoff returns in 2017. Maryland had a punt return for a touchdown against Rutgers in 2016 and a kickoff return for a touchdown against Ohio State in 2017.

On December 22, 2015, Lembo joined the coaching staff at The University of Maryland. During his tenure with the Terps, Lembo's special teams were one of the top punt and kick blocking units in the country, tying for fifth nationally with nine blocks in two seasons. The Terps were stellar in kickoff return defense in 2016 and 2017, ranking second and third in the Big Ten (25th and 21st nationally).

On December 19, 2010, Pete Lembo resigned as head football coach at Elon University to take the head coaching job at Ball State University. His contract at Ball State paid $450,000 per year, the 5th highest in the Mid-American Conference, and #119 among all college football coaches. He earned $514,250 in 2015. Lembo resigned December 22, 2015 to become the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Maryland. He compiled a 33-29 record in five seasons with the Cardinals.

During Lembo's tenure, the Phoenix were ranked in the FCS top 25 polls from October 20th, 2007 through October 9th, 2010, for 34 straight weeks. Elon peaked as high as #3 in the nation in October of 2008. Lembo's teams defeated nationally ranked opponents seven times from 2006 to 2010. The Elon program had just one win versus the FCS (I-AA) top 25 prior to that stretch. Elon knocked off nationally ranked Georgia Southern in back-to-back years (2007 and 2008) and secured a victory at #7 Wofford in 2007, defeating the highest ranked opponent since being classified in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

Under Lembo, Phoenix quarterback Scott Riddle (2007-2010) set NCAA records for the most passing yards by a freshman (3,738) and passing per game in a career (with 339.8). Riddle also tied the record for the most touchdown passes as a freshman (31). Riddle is fifth on the all-time list of FCS quarterbacks with 13,264 passing yards in his career.

Lembo was the head football coach at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina for five seasons, from 2006 until 2010. His coaching record at Elon was 35–22. The Phoenix went 14–42 in the five seasons prior to Lembo's arrival. Lembo led the Phoenix to a 9–3 record (7–1 Southern Conference) and their first appearance in the FCS playoffs in 2009. His Elon teams set over 120 NCAA, Southern Conference and school records. He is one of only two football coaches in the Division I era at Elon to secure a winning career record. Two of Lembo's former assistant coaches at Elon - Rich Skrosky and Tony Trisciani - have since become head coaches for the Phoenix.

Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins (2006-2009) holds NCAA records for the most passes caught in a career (395), career yards receiving (5,250), catches per game (8.78), the most games with 100 or more yards receiving (28) and the most games catching a touchdown pass (34). Some of these records were previously held by legendary receiver Jerry Rice. Hudgins is second all-time in catches in a single season (123 in 2009) and third in touchdown catches (with 52). Hudgins and teammate Michael Mayers hold the FCS record for most catches by a duo in a season (207 in 2007). Elon wide receiver Aaron Mellette ranked third in the FCS in catches per game in 2010 and was later drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

Lembo became one of the youngest head coaches in all of Division I when he was named head coach at Lehigh University in February 2001. The Mountain Hawks managed at least eight wins in each of his five seasons as head coach. Lembo is the winningest head coach in Lehigh school history with a .759 winning percentage. His conference record of 26–7 (.788) puts him third among all Patriot League coaches in terms of winning percentage. Lembo's teams won two Patriot League championships and made two appearances in the FCS playoffs.

In 2001, Lembo led Lehigh to an undefeated regular season and an upset win over Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. That season, Lehigh also won the prestigious Lambert Cup, was named the ECAC team of the year and finished ranked 5th in the nation. In 2002, the Mountain Hawks upset the University of Buffalo, an FBS level team from the Mid-American Conference. This marked Lehigh's first victory over an FBS (I-A) team since 1987. The Mountain Hawks reached #2 in the national polls in September 2002, the highest ranking in program history. Lehigh defeated 9th ranked Fordham in September, 2003. In 2004, Lehigh defeated 18th ranked Colgate and won the Patriot League before facing eventual national champion James Madison in the first round of the FCS playoffs. The Mountain Hawks also knocked off undefeated Harvard in 2005, in a battle of top 15 ranked teams.

Three of Lembo's student-athletes at Lehigh earned AP all-American recognition during his tenure as head coach. Defensive back Abdul Byron was selected in 2001, defensive end Tom Alfsen in 2004 and tight end Adam Bergen was a two-time selection in 2003 and 2004.

Lembo attended Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, where he was a starter on the varsity football squad. He graduated in 1988. He attended Georgetown University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1992, and the University at Albany, SUNY, graduating with a Master of Arts in Public Administration in 1994. While at Georgetown, Lembo was a four-year starter at center and served as team captain of the Hoyas in 1991.

Peter Lembo (born April 16, 1970) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the Assistant Head Football Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at the University of Memphis, a position he assumed in January 2019. Prior to coming to Memphis, he was the Associate Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at Rice University. Before joining the coaching staff at Rice University, he was the Head Football Coach at Lehigh University from 2001 to 2005, at Elon University from 2006 to 2010, and at Ball State University from 2011 to 2015. He was also the Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at the University of Maryland for two seasons. Lembo enjoyed success in each of his three stops as a head coach and accumulated a 112–65 career record over a 15-year period. His 79–36 record in ten seasons at the FCS level makes him one of the winningest coaches in the history of that classification.