Lehigh loses defensive coordinator Dave Kotulski to Stanford

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Lehigh announced today that football defensive coordinator Dave Kotulski has accepted a job as the inside linebackers coach at Stanford University.

Kotulski had been at Lehigh for six seasons and was instrumental in turning around the program to a point where Lehigh won back-to-back Patriot League championships and a pair of FCS playoff games.

Lehigh nearly lost its offensive coordinator Dave Cecchini as well. Cecchini was a finalist for the head coaching position at Yale, and some outlets reported that he had the job in January. That report was prematre and that position eventually went to Tony Reno.

So, good news, Cecchini will remain as offensive coordinator.

Here's the official release from Lehigh on Kotulski:

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Andy Coen announced Thursday that defensive coordinator Dave Kotulski has accepted a position as the inside linebackers coach at Stanford University. Kotulski spent the last six seasons at Lehigh leading a defense that ranked as one of the Patriot League’s best and one that helped the Mountain Hawks capture outright league titles in each of the last two seasons.



“I am very happy for Dave, his wife Cissy and for their children,” Coen said. “This is truly a great opportunity and one which I believe is very well deserved. Everyone associated with Lehigh football will certainly miss Dave, not only as a coach but as a person and a friend. Dave has done a great job leading our defensive staff and our players while building one of the top defenses in FCS football. I want to thank Dave for all his contributions in making Lehigh football a nationally ranked program. I wish him and his family all the best at Stanford.”

Last season, Kotulski’s defensive unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in rushing defense, total defense, scoring defense and sacks. Kotulski’s Lehigh defenses showed a strong ability to both stop the run and rush the passer. The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in sacks in each of the last three years, and topped the Football Championship Subdivision with 39 sacks in 2009.

Dave Kotulski

As Lehigh’s inside linebackers coach, Kotulski mentored a number of successful student-athletes. Kotulski played a major role in the emergence of Mike Groome ‘12 as an All-Patriot League and All-America linebacker for the Mountain Hawks. Groome was the 2011 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and captained the Mountain Hawks to their tenth Patriot League crown. In 2010, Groome developed alongside All-Patriot League performer Al Pierce ’11, who was named Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Lehigh-Lafayette Game. In addition, Kotulski mentored Matt Cohen ’10, an All-American who was named Patriot League Player of the Year in 2009, as well as two-time All-America inside linebacker Tim Diamond ’09.



Kotulski is no stranger to the Football Bowl Subdivision, having enjoyed stints at both Utah State and the University of Utah. He also enjoyed stops at the FCS level at Holy Cross, Bucknell and Saint Mary’s (Calif.).



Lehigh captured its tenth Patriot League football championship in 2011 and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time in ten years. A search for Kotulski’s replacement is already underway.

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