Fifteen Guys Who Might be Lehigh's Next Football Coach (and Five More)

If you've been following my Twitter account, you might have caught some "possibilities" as Lehigh's next head football coach like Lou Holtz, Brett Favre and Bo Pelini.  The chance that any of those three guys actually are offered and accept the Lehigh head coaching position are somewhere between zero and zero.  (The full list of my Twitter "possibilities" are all on this thread on the Lehigh Sports Forum.)

However the actual Lehigh head football coaching search is well underway, with real names and real possibilities.

I've come up with a list of fifteen possible names, some which I've heard whispered as candidates, others which might be good fits at Lehigh for a variety of reasons.

UPDATE: I have found five more names of possible head coaches that I am adding to this list below.

Who are the twenty people?  Here they are, in alphabetical order.

Rob Ash

Current Position: Available (former head football coach, 247-137-5 lifetime record)

Resume: Former president of AFCA, former head football coach at Drake and Montana State.  In 2010 and 2011 his Montana State teams made the FCS Playoffs, but was fired after the 2015 season after a 5-6 record.  In 2016 he served as an offensive assistant for Bret Bielima at Arkansas.  He is also currently employed as the Director of Coaching Development at Championship Analytics, Inc.

Area Connection: In the early 1980s Ash coached at Juanita College (D-III) with a familiar name from this are -  Frank Tavani.

How he fits: Ash would be an experienced hand in the scholarship FCS world and ran a great, clean program at Montana State after they had off-the-field issues.  Few candidates would bring such a combination of connections and experience.

Likelihood: Ash is 67 years old and may be quite happy in his job at Championship Analytics - however, he may also be itching to get back into coaching.

Andrew Aurich

Current Position: Associate Head Coach, Run Game Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator & Offensive Line Coach, Princeton

Resume: Aurich has done a little of everything at Princeton, from running backs to tight end coaching to special teams, and last season was promoted to associate head coach after James Perry left for Bryant.  As recruiting coordinator, he is in a big way responsible for building Princeton's undefeated 10-0 team last season.

Area Connection: Aurich was a former player at Princeton and has plenty of NJ connections.  One of the more interesting things he did was spend a year on Greg Schiano's staff when Schiano was head coach of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

How he fits:  Aurich has been a phenomenal recruiter for the Tigers and knows how to get high-academic football players to come to Princeton.  He knows the Lehigh Valley well, having recruited RB Chuck DiBilio to Princeton.

Likelihood: Is Aurich ready to make a move beyond his Alma Mater?  

Dave Cecchini

Current Position: Head Coach, Valparaiso (17-38, 5 seasons)

Resume: Offensive coordinator at Harvard, The Citadel, and Lehigh before taking over as Crusader head coach

Area Connection: Former Lehigh player, former Lehigh assistant (once under Andy Coen)

How he fits: Many Lehigh alumni have very fond memories of "Chick" as a former player and assistant coach.  Almost got the job in 2006, but his friend Andy Coen got the job instead but nevertheless came back later as an offensive coordinator.  Cecchini's offense brought Lehigh to the FCS playoffs twice.

Likelihood: It's likely that many alumni would be thrilled with him coming back to South Mountain, but how interested is Cecchini in returning after setting up a life and a full-blown football program in Indiana?

Jim Clements

Current Position: Head Coach, Kutztown (37-18, 5 seasons)

Resume: Former head coach at Del Val (D-III). He is the winningest coach in Delaware Valley history with an overall record of 66-24 from 2006-13, including a perfect 10-0 regular season in 2011. He also guided Kutztown to the D-II Playoffs this season.

Area Connection:  Has extensive ties to the area as former Del Val head coach and is a PA resident.  He followed Drew Folmar as Kutztown head coach after Folmar left to become Lehigh's offensive coordinator.

How he fits: Clements has made his name at Kutztown with defense.  His defense held opponents to 19.5 points per game in 2017, the best mark for the program since 1996, and less than 200 passing yards per game for the first time in 10 years.

Likelihood: If Joe Sterrett is looking to the well at Kutztown for his new head coach and is willing to go outside the traditional Lehigh head coaching tree, Clements is an interesting combination of experience and success at the sub-D-I level.

Tim Cramsey

Current Position: Offensive Coordinator, Marshall (1 season)

Resume: Former New Hampshire quarterback and has had extensive experience as an offensive coordinator at multiple stops (New Hampshire, Sam Houston State, Montana State, FIU, Nevada, Marshall).  At Sam Houston State, Cramsey's offense led the FCS in total offense (538.1 yards per game), scoring offense (43.3 points per game) and passing offense (362.7 yards per game).

Area Connection: He's a former football player at Allentown Central Catholic High School, where he quarterbacked the football team to their first ever state championship.

How he fits: Lehigh fans' mouths would water at getting such a brilliant offensive mind as their head coach, and he would bring a deep understanding about what it takes to compete for FCS National Championships.

Likelihood: Does Tim Cramsey want to settle down and "come home"?  If he does, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Don Dobes

Current Position: Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator/LB coach, Dartmouth (9 seasons)

Resume: Dobes is a 40-year veteran of college coaching and has transformed Dartmouth's defense into one of the best in the Ivy League (and the nation).  His defenses have routinely been near the top of FCS in terms of scoring defense and overall defense.  After he returned to Dartmouth from Princeton in 2010, the Big Green defense went almost overnight from a sieve to a brick wall.

Area Connection: Dobes has spent time at Princeton and Temple as a defensive coach, and has as his recruiting area New Jersey and Pennsylvania, so he knows this area extremely well on the recruiting front.  He also was Tom Gilmore's position coach when he was at Penn.

How he fits: For fans of defense, the hope would be his presence would hopefully transform the defense overnight into one of the best in the Patriot League overnight.  Add to that "Air Lehigh", and that could be an interesting combination.

Likelihood: He's not someone that leaps to mind when it comes to "Air Lehigh", but it seems like he would be an incredible asset to Lehigh on the defensive side of the ball.  His Dartmouth defense the last few years has given many teams fits.

Mark Fabish

Current Position: Offensive Coordinator/TE coach, Columbia (4 seasons)

Resume: A former Penn Quaker, Fabish had been a continual presence on Al Bagnoli's offensive staffs at both Penn and Columbia.  He guided an offense in 2017 that revamped a dispirited and ineffecient offense and turned it around, averaging 359.3 yards of total offense per game and 240.8 yards passing per contest.

Area Connection: A former player at the New Jersey high school football powerhouse Bergen Catholic, and would be familiar to Andy Coen through his time at Monmouth, Penn and Columbia.

How he fits: The job Fabish did at Columbia was very impressive.  He wouldn't be building from that low a base but he has experience molding an offense into an efficient unit.

Likelihood: A little bit outside the box, but would be a strong candidate.  Would Al Bagnoli let Lehigh get him?

Carmen Felus

Current Position: Co-offensive coordinator/QB coach, Stony Brook (3 seasons)

Resume: Felus has had success everywhere he's been offensively, from head coach at Juanita College (D-III) to offensive coordinator at Stony Brook the last three years.  He helped guide the 2017 offensive unit average 28.5 points per game and post four players on the first team All-CAA Football team. Felus also helped guide Seawolves' QB Joe Carbone to one of Stony Brook's most successful seasons ever, with a school record 204 completions and the second most yards (2,470) and touchdown passes (23).

Area Connection: Not only was he head coach at Juanita College, he also played college football for two years at Lock Haven as well.

How he fits: Felus knows scholarship football and would bring some experience being a "head guy" to the Mountain Hawks.  Lehigh saw the capabilities of a Felus-led offense up close when they lost 59-29 to the Seawolves in the 2016 playoffs.  Felus' offense used a stable of running backs to wear down opponents.

Likelihood: He's a bit outside-the-box but also checks a lot of boxes, too, in terms of local presence, scholarship recruiting, and head coaching experience.

Michael Ferzoco

Current Position: Assistant coach/WR coach/Pass Game Coordinator, New Hampshire (11 seasons)

Resume: Has coached in all areas of New Hampshire's offense and special teams.  Under the tutelage of Ferzoco, UNH WR Neil O’Connor was named to a total of five All-America Teams and was a Walter Payton Award finalist in the 2017 season. O’Connor had 97 receptions for 1,396 receiving yards and 10 TDs.

Area Connection: None

How he fits: He's definitely one of the architects of UNH's prolific offense over the years and a part of their tremendous run qualifying for the FCS Playoffs as well.  Knows a thing or two about recruiting for FCS schools and knows Massachusetts recruiting like the back of his hand.

Likelihood: Has to be considered an outsider due to his lack of links to the area, but Joe would be well-advised to give him a look, based on what he's done at New Hampshire.

Drew Folmar

Current Position: Offensive Coordinator/QB coach, Elon University (2 seasons)

Resume: Three seasons as Lehigh offensive coordinator.  Coached QB Nick Shafnisky and QB Brad Mayes and orchestrated Patriot League-winning offense.  Before that he was head coach at Kutztown for one season.

Area Connection: Former Lehigh offensive coordinator and PA resident.  Went to college at Millersville (PA).

How he fits: A former member of the Lehigh coaching tree and knows all the players up here well.  Can take the logical next step in this young coaching candidate's career.

Likelihood: Does Folmar really want to come back to Lehigh?  His sights might be for a coordinator job at an FBS program.  But becoming Lehigh's head football coach also offers a lot of visibility.  Hiring him would instantly provide good vibes from the Shafnisky years.

Tom Gilmore

Current Position: Defensive Analyst, Wake Forest (1 year)

Resume: Former head coach at Holy Cross (14 seasons, 72-81) and was a coordinator under head coach Kevin Higgins at Lehigh before being hired away by the Crusaders.  Gilmore was twice named Patriot League Coach of the Year, in 2006 and in 2009.

Area Connection: Gilmore was a former Penn football standout and was born in Philly.

How he fits: Gilmore knows the Patriot League backwards and forwards and is a fiery leader.  He knows about The Rivalry and the emotions involved in winning that game.

Likelihood: The way he was deposed mid-season by Holy Cross certainly would have to be something that would need to be addressed in some fashion.  Would his way of doing things work at Lehigh in 2018?  Would make Holy Cross/Lehigh games must-see TV.

Al Golden

Current Position: Detroit Lions assistant coach (3 seasons)

Resume: Had a meteoric coaching rise through the ranks where he ended up as the head coach at Temple and then the University of Miami (FL).  Put in a tough position by the prior administration at the U through NCAA violations, but Golden in retrospect did a phenomenal job, going 32-25.  Despite the relative success, an 0-5 record against Florida State and a 58-0 loss to Clemson ended up being his final call at the U.  After that he found his way onto the Detroit Lions' coaching staff.

Area Connection: He's a former Penn State player, former Temple head football coach, and was born and raised in New Jersey.  He even was a high school coordinator once at Red Bank (NJ).

How he fits: He's a complete outside-the-box hire, but a true coaching star that would immediately bring star power at interest to Lehigh.  By all accounts he was a tremendous recruiter for Temple and Miami.  If he delivered half of that closing ability to Lehigh it would be a tremendous asset.

Likelihood: Would Golden be up for the challenge of coaching a smaller high-academic football program close to his old stomping grounds?  Golden would be able to mold a successful, high-academic scholarship football program in his own likeness in friendly territory.

Kevin Higgins

Current Position: Assistant head coach/WR coach, Wake Forest, 5 seasons

Resume: The head football coach at Lehigh under arguably the most dominant stretch of Lehigh football in history, 1998-2000.  During that stretch the Mountain Hawks went 32-1 during the regular season and made the playoffs three times, winning iconic games at both Richmond (1998) and Western Illinois (2000).  In 1998, Higgins' team was 1st and goal away from upsetting the eventual I-AA National Champions UMass.

Area Connection: Former assistant coach to Hank Small and former Lehigh head football coach.

How he fits:  For Higgins it would be a return to the place and the venue for some of his biggest successes as a head football coach.

Likelihood: Higgins will turn 63 in December, so it seems unlikely he'd come back for another round at Lehigh.  However, 67 year old Mack Brown was just hired at North Carolina, so all bets would appear to be off.

Nate Milne

Current Position: Head Coach, Muhlenberg, (11-2, 1 season)

Resume: Milne was the Mules' offensive coordinator for three years before getting promoted to head football coach.  From there he guided the Mules to their first Centennial crown since 2010 and their best season in program history, which ended in the D-III quarterfinals against perennial powerhouse Mount Union (NJ).

Area Connection: Probably wouldn't even have to sell his house.

How he fits: He set up a prolific offense in a very short period of time at Muhlenberg, and you can't get more local than here.

Likelihood: He's never held a Division I job, nor recruited for scholarship football, but his success across the Lehigh river is hard to ignore.

Justin Roper

Current Position: Offensive coordinator/QB coach, Slippery Rock, 3 seasons

Resume: Has a long, interesting career where as a QB (Oregon, Montana) and coach (Valdosta State, Slippery Rock) he's found himself working with a wide variety of people, from Chip Kelly to A.J. Green.

Area Connection: None

How he fits: Roper has been a master at recruiting quarterbacks into a prolific passing system.  In 22 games Slippery Rock has scored 30 or more points on 17 occasions with a 37.8 points per game average, and three quarterbacks have started at least one game in the past two seasons on Roper’s watch in Don King III, Tanner Garry and Augustus Necastro. The trio combined to complete 62.2 percent of their passes (519-for-834) for 6,399 yards and 59 touchdowns.

Likelihood: One of the best offensive minds of the PSAC, but you wonder if a lack of a local presence might hurt his chances.  Still, his offense would be exciting to watch.

Warren Ruggerio

Current Position: Offensive coordinator/QB coach, Wake Forest

Resume: Dave Clawson's right-hand man on offense for many years at both Bowling Green and Wake Forest, Ruggerio has been an offensive coordinator for 26 years at 6 different universities.

Area Connection: Along with Clawson, who was an assistant at Lehigh, Ruggerio also was offensive coordinator with Pete Lembo when he was at Elon.

How he fits: He's coached an all-American QB at five of his last six coaching jobs, and it would make Lehigh Nation extremely excited to see him mold young Mountain Hawk QBs.

Likelihood: He's an intriguing X factor.  He's long overdue to be a head coach somewhere, and he would have a litany of former Lehigh coaches to vouch for him.  Is he interested?

Adam Scheier

Current Position: Available (last: Special Teams Coordinator, Texas Tech)

Resume: Scheier is a long-time assistant coach who has climbed up the coaching ranks and spent time on a variety of different coaching staffs.  He really grew to prominence with his special teams units under Dave Clawson, and soon afterwards he found himself on the coaching staffs of Urban Meyer at Ohio State and Cliff Klingsbury at Texas Tech.  When Klingsbury was fired, Scheier was swept out, too.

Area Connection: Scheier was a former special teams coach for Lehigh for both Pete Lembo and Andy Coen.  He did double duty on South Mountain, also coaching wide receivers and running backs at different times.

How he fits: He's a direct member of the Lehigh coaching tree with the added bonus of having been around in the world of power college football.  Plus the timing couldn't be more perfect.

Likelihood: Could Texas Tech's folly be Lehigh's gain?

Bob Solderitch

Current Position: Available (last: Assistant HC/OL, William and Mary)

Resume: During his 28 seasons on campus, W&M assistant head coach and offensive line mentor Bob Solderitch has made a positive impact on several generations of Tribe linemen, maintaining a legacy of success he helped create as an all-conference center for the Tribe.  A graduate of W&W, Solderitch returned to Williamsburg in 1996 to take over the offensive line and eventually assumed the duties of assistant head coach in 2000. In what is a tribute to his dedication to the program, a private donor provided funding to have the staff room in the Laycock Football Center named in his honor.

Area Connection: Solderitch is a graduate of Whitehall High School, where he was an all-district lineman and member of two East Penn Conference championship teams (1980-81).

How he fits: With Laycock's retirement, this fiery offensive line coach was an unfortunate casualty when head coach Mike London was hired by the Tribe.  Solderitch could instantly become a mentor and fiery leader of Lehigh's trenches.

Likelihood: Could the timing here, again, be perfect?  For years nobody might have thought a guy like Solderitch, a great OL coach and scholarship lineman recruiter, would be available.  But here he is, and with a chance to possibly "return home".  Might he be a good fit?

Tony Trisciani  UPDATE: Trisciani was just announced as Elon's new head football coach.  He is off the list.

Current Position: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Elon, 2 seasons

Resume: Trisciani came to Elon from Villanova, where he was defensive coordinator under Andy Talley.  In his first year back at Elon (he was there before in 2006 with Pete Lembo), Trisicani guided a defense that produced a pair of all-conference players in linebacker Warren Messer and defensive back Chris Blair. Messer also claimed All-America honors.

Area Connection: Not only was he a former Lehigh assistant coach under Lembo as well, he also was head football coach at Whitehall for three years in between stints at Division I schools, making the playoffs all three years and getting to the district championship game in 2010.

How he fits: Few candidates click as many Lehigh Valley boxes as Trisciani, who seems to love being in the Lehigh Valley as well as being a top-notch defensive coach.

Likelihood: Trisciani seems to be a very strong candidate - if there is a slight question, it's who he might bring in to run the offense, since he's seen as a "defensive guy".

Sam Venuto

Current Position: Offensive Coordinator, Villanova (24th season)

Resume: In more than two decades on the Villanova coaching staff under both Andy Talley and Mark Ferrante, Venuto has been instrumental in the Wildcats being among the top FCS programs in the nation and a perennial CAA Football contender. He's regarded as one of the top offensive coordinators in FCS football.

Area Connection: Venuto in my mind has been Talley's and Ferrante's secret weapon when it comes to recruiting the New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania areas.  He knows every high school in this area.

How he fits: Venuto is a stellar recruiter and great offensive mind, which makes him a natural at Lehigh.  Armed with scholarships, it's intriguing to think what he might build here.

Likelihood: Venuto might not be interested in the challenge of molding a Lehigh football program in his image.  But if I were Joe Sterrett, I'd be on the phone asking him if he is.