Brad Lambert (born January 14, 1965) is an American college football coach who is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wake Forest University. He was the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers until November 18, 2018, and helped transition the 49ers football program from conception through a two year stint in the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2015, when the program joined the rest of the 49ers' sports in programs in Conference USA.
 Lambert at 2017 C-USA Media Days | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive coordinator |
| Team | Wake Forest |
| Conference | ACC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | January 14, 1965 Hoxie, Kansas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1983–1986 | Kansas State |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1988–1989 | Oklahoma (GA) |
| 1990 | Marshall (DE) |
| 1991–1995 | Marshall (DB) |
| 1996–1998 | Georgia (ST/DL) |
| 1998–1999 | Georgia (LB) |
| 2000 | Georgia (DB) |
| 2001–2007 | Wake Forest (LB) |
| 2008–2010 | Wake Forest (DC/DB) |
| 2011–2018 | Charlotte |
| 2019 | Marshall (DC/LB) |
| 2020 | Marshall (DC/S) |
| 2021 | Purdue (co-DC/LB) |
| 2022–present | Wake Forest (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 22–48 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
Playing career
editKansas State
editLambert played defensive back for the Kansas State Wildcats, lettering for four straight seasons and graduating in 1987. He earned second-team all-Big Eight honors his freshman season. He also was an all-Big Eight Academic choice from 1984 to 1986.[1]
Coaching career
editOklahoma
editLambert began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Marshall
editLambert's first assistant coaching position was under head coach Jim Donnan with the Marshall Thundering Herd from 1990 to 1995. While at Marshall, Lambert participated in four NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Games with Marshall winning the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.[1][2]
Georgia
editLambert continued to work for Coach Donnan when the latter became head coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, coaching there from 1996 to 2000. At Georgia Lambert coached in the 1998 Outback Bowl, the 1998 Peach Bowl, the 2000 Outback Bowl, and the 2000 Oahu Bowl. Georgia compiled a 40–19 record during Lambert's time with the Bulldogs.[1][2]
Wake Forest
editAfter the 2000 football season, Lambert accepted the linebacker coaching position under head coach Jim Grobe with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In 2007 Lambert was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Demon Deacons. At Wake Forest Lambert was part of the 2006 ACC Championship Game team. He coached 2008 Butkus Award winner Aaron Curry, who would go on to play in the NFL and eventually serve as an assistant coach for Lambert at Charlotte.[1][2][3]
Charlotte
editLambert was hired as the first-ever head football coach for the Charlotte 49ers on March 1, 2011[4][5] In his first game, Lambert led the 49ers to a decisive 52–7 victory at home over the Campbell Fighting Camels.[6] Lambert led the 49ers to a 5–6 record in their inaugural season.[7] On September 4, 2015, Lambert led the 49ers to their first FBS victory, over the Georgia State Panthers.[8] The team failed to have a winning season during its first four seasons, finishing the 2017 season with a 1–11 record and going 12–36 over the course of four FBS seasons. Lambert was released by Charlotte on November 18, 2018 effective after the season, after going 22–48 in six seasons.[9]
Marshall
editLambert returned to Marshall to serve as a defensive assistant and likely defensive coordinator. After his contract terms with Charlotte were negotiated, Thundering Herd coach Doc Holliday named Lambert his defensive coordinator.[10]
Purdue
editLambert was hired as a co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Purdue in 2021.[11]
Wake Forest (second stint)
editIn 2022 Lambert returned to Wake Forest, replacing Lyle Hemphill as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Personal
editLambert is married and has three children.[1]
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte 49ers (NCAA Division I FCS independent) (2013–2014) | |||||||||
| 2013 | Charlotte | 5–6 | |||||||
| 2014 | Charlotte | 5–6 | |||||||
| Charlotte 49ers (Conference USA) (2015–2018) | |||||||||
| 2015 | Charlotte | 2–10 | 0–8 | 7th (East) | |||||
| 2016 | Charlotte | 4–8 | 3–5 | 5th (East) | |||||
| 2017 | Charlotte | 1–11 | 1–7 | 7th (East) | |||||
| 2018 | Charlotte | 5–7 | 4–4 | 4th (East) | |||||
| Charlotte: | 22–48 | 8–24 | |||||||
| Total: | 22–48 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Brad Lambert, Head Coach, Charlotte 49ers". Archived from the original on March 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Brad Lambert, Defensive Coordinator, Wake Forest Demon Deacons".
- ^ "49ers football promotes Johnson Richardson to assistant coach, adds Aaron Curry". UNC Charlotte. March 6, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
- ^ Scott, David (March 1, 2011). "49ers get their football coach". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ "Brad Lambert hired at Charlotte". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
- ^ Charlotte 49ers pummel Campbell in football opener, 52- Archived October 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine 7
- ^ "CharlotteFBSeasonStats" (PDF). Charlotte Athletics. November 9, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "49ers Capture Historic Win in FBS Debut". Charlotte 49ers. September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- ^ The Charlotte Observer (subscription required)
- ^ "Marshall football: Brad Lambert enjoying his return to Herd coaching staff". The Herald-Dispatch. April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ "Source: Purdue hiring Marshall's Brad Lambert as co-defensive coordinator". ESPN. January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.