Pete Thamel: Buffalo targeting South Carolina special teams coach Pete Lembo for head coach opening

The University of Buffalo is reportedly targeting South Carolina special teams coordinator and associate head coach Pete Lembo to become its next head coach. ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided more details on the developing situation.

“Lembo brings a strong history in the MAC, as he went 33-29 at Ball State in five years as head coach and a 23-17 league record over that time,” Thamel wrote on X. “Buffalo AD Mark Alnutt prioritized head coaching experience in his search. And he’s expected to land on a coach with extensive time as a MAC head coach.”

Lembo has spent four seasons in South Carolina. He was named the Gamecocks’ associate head coach/special teams coordinator on Dec. 27, 2020. In the 2023 campaign, the Gamecocks converted 12-of-14 field goal attempts.

Additionally, South Carolina blocked four kicks, two field goal attempts and two punts. The Gamecocks finished 23rd in the nation in net punting, ranking 18th in punt return defense. While South Carolina’s special teams unit was solid in 2023, Lembo grabbed the nation’s attention last season.

In 2022, Lembo was named a Broyles Award Assistant Coach of the Year Semifinalist, a FootballScoop Special Teams Coach of the Year Finalist and earned Phil Steele’s Special Teams Coach of the Year accolades for his unit’s overwhelming success.

In the campaign, the Gamecocks tied for third in the country with six blocked kicks and tied for second with five blocked punts. Under Lembo’s guidance, SC scored five special teams touchdowns – two blocked punt returns, one kick return, one fake punt and one fake field goal.

Junior punter Kai Kroeger was an All-American and first-team All-SEC selection. Long snapper Hunter Rogers earned second-team All-SEC honors.

Before joining South Carolina, Lembo spent two seasons as the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Memphis. Again, he was nominated for the Broyles Award. He’s also had massive success coaching special teams at Rice and Maryland.

As Thamel mentioned, Lembo also has extensive experience as a head coach. He was the HC at Ball State for five seasons, guiding the program to a 33-29 during his tenure. He was the first head coach in Ball State history to win at least 30 games in his first four seasons.

During his time with the program, the Cardinals set over 60 school records, including season marks for points (501), total offense (6,199 yards), passing yards (4,214), TD passes (35) and total TD (64) in 2013.

In total, the 53-year-old coach boasts a 112-65 record. If Lembo heads to Buffalo, he will replace Maurice Linguist, who is now the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Alabama.