Following impressive runs as the head coach at Lehigh (44-14 in five seasons), Elon (35-22 in five seasons), and Ball State (33-29 in five seasons), Pete Lembo is set to enter his third season in charge at Buffalo.
After inheriting a 3-9 team from Maurice Linguist (who left the post for an assistant coaching job at Alabama), Lembo led the Bulls to an impressive 9-win debut season back leading a MAC program.
Last year, the Bulls just missed bowl eligibility with a 5-7 campaign to push Lembo's record to 14-11 in two seasons.
After already replacing both coordinators this off season, Buffalo is now adding a coach from the FCS ranks to fill an important role on the offensive side of the ball..
Sources tell FootballScoop Lembo is hiring Western Illinois (FCS) assistant Andrew Feiertag as a new assistant offensive line coach for the Bulls.
Feiertag arrives after previously serving as the assistant offensive line coach on Joe Davis' staff with the Leathernecks.
A former offensive lineman in the MAC, Feiertag played his college ball at Toledo after initially starting off at the Junior College level at Hudson Valley CC (JC - NY).
He joins new offensive line coach Cooper Williams as well as new offensive coordinator Tony Tokarz, both of whom arrive in the MAC after time on staff at Florida State. Tokarz most recently coached the Seminoles quarterbacks and previously worked with Lembo at Memphis in 2019, while Williams served as assistant offensive line coach in Tallahassee.
The addition of Tokarz and Williams are just a few of the new additions to Lembo's staff this off season, as he was also tasked with replacing defensive coordinator Joe Bowen, who left to join the ranks of the ACC as Pat Narduzzi's linebackers coach and run game coordinator. To fill the defensive play caller spot, Lembo promoted safeties and nickels coach Brian Dougherty to the critical post.
While their full schedule has not yet been revealed, Buffalo currently has non-conference games scheduled against first-year Albany (FCS - NY) head coach Tom Perkovich - who is making the jump to FCS after successful run at the DIvision III level - as well as trips to take on Willie Simmons and FIU and first-year Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell and Penn State before wrapping up their non-conference slate in late September against Robert Morris (FCS - PA).
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.