Buffalo’s previous head coach, Maurice Linguist, left the Bulls to become an assistant on Kalen DeBoer’s staff at Alabama. That led to Pete Lembo taking over at Buffalo.
After going 3-9 overall in 2023, the Bulls quickly turned things around and went 9-4 overall in 2024. But they took a step back in 2025, going 5-7 overall. The Bulls hope to be better in 2026 with Lembo back as their head coach.
Here’s more info about him:
What’s Buffalo Head Coach Pete Lembo’s Salary?
Lembo made $790,500 in total pay in 2025, according to USA Today.
Pete Lembo’s Coaching History
| Years | Team | Position |
| 2024-present | Buffalo | HC |
| 2021-23 | South Carolina | AHC/ST |
| 2019-20 | Memphis | AHC/ST |
| 2018 | Rice | AHC/ST |
| 2016-17 | Maryland | AHC/ST/TEs |
| 2011-15 | Ball State | HC |
| 2006-10 | Elon | HC |
| 2001-05 | Lehigh | HC |
| 1998-2000 | Lehigh | Assistant |
| 1997 | Hampden-Sydney | Assistant |
| 1994-96 | Dartmouth | Assistant |
| 1992-93 | UAlbany | GA |
What’s Buffalo Head Coach Pete Lembo’s Record?
Lembo is 47-40 in the FBS as a head coach. Except for the last two seasons at Buffalo, all of those games are from his days as Ball State’s head coach from 2011-15. He’s 1-2 in bowl games.
How Old Is Buffalo Head Coach Pete Lembo?
Lembo is 55 years old.
Buffalo Head Coach Pete Lembo’s Background
Lembo has a good amount of head coaching experience at different levels. From 2001-15, he was the head coach at Lehigh, Elon, and then Ball State.
He went 44-14 at Lehigh from 2001-05 and is the program’s winningest coach there after securing two Patriot League championships. He was the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and the Patriot League Coach of the Year.
Lembo was 35-22 at Elon from 2006-10. He was the Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2007.
Lembo was 33-29 at Ball State from 2011-15. He was the first Cardinals coach to win 30 games in the first four years of his tenure. They broke several school records, like single-season marks for points and yards, during Lembo’s time there.
He was then an assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, and tight ends coach at Maryland from 2016-17. After that, he was an assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Rice (2018), Memphis (2019-20), and South Carolina (2021-23).
He began his coaching career at UAlbany as a graduate assistant in 1992. He was also an assistant at Dartmouth, Hampden-Sydney, and Lehigh before becoming Lehigh’s head coach in 2001.
