Monday, February 28, 2011

49ers land Wake's Lambert

Brad Lambert, a longtime top lieutenant of Wake Forest's Jim Grobe, is the Charlotte 49ers' first football coach, a university source confirmed this morning.

The 49ers will introduce Lambert, 46, on Tuesday at a noon news conference. Lambert will need to hit the ground running for a program that begins play in 2013. He can begin recruiting players immediately for an incoming redshirt freshman class in 2012. Lambert can hire two assistant coaches this year before filling out his staff in 2012.

Lambert -- who has no head coaching experience -- has been at Wake Forest since 2001 and served as the Deacons' defensive coordinator since 2008. He began his stint at Wake as linebackers coach before being promoted three seasons ago.

Lambert will make a base salary of $175,000. The 49ers appear to be following the same pattern of Old Dominion, which began its football program in 2009 and hired Bobby Wilder -- a longtime assistant at Maine who had no previous head coaching experience. The Monarchs have gone 17-5 in their first two seasons (9-2 in '09, 8-3 in '10) competition that closely mirrors what Charlotte will play (a mixture of Division II and FCS competition).

Charlotte will play at the FCS level, but plans to move up to FBS (formerly Division I-A) eventually.

Lambert, who played at Kansas State, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 1988-89. He went on to Marshall (1990-95) and Georgia (1996-2000) before moving to Wake Forest.

Lambert coached many of the best defensive players in Wake Forest history, including linebackers Aaron Curry (Seattle Seahawks), Jon Abbate (All-ACC) and Stanley Arnoux, as well as defensive back Alphonso Smith.

Lambert and wife Angie have three children, daughter Lucy and sons Layne and Beau.

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What kind of recruiter is Lambert? Here's a link to a Rivals'com database that will give you some idea.

88 comments:

Anonymous said...

..............

Anonymous said...

wooo freaking hooo

Tim Collie said...

Can't wait to hear Dubois put a damper on enthusiasm tomorrow. He will annc we look forward to a bowl game in 2089.

Anonymous said...

MIC
KEY
MOUSE

Anonymous said...

@ Tim - A bowl game in 2089 seems like a much better timeline than the silliness I've seen from UNCC to this point. I'll be impressed if UNCC is D1A by that point.

Anonymous said...

So you had Mike Minter (SPLASH), even Chuck Amato (Recruiter, Semi-splash) and then you take a WF Def. Coord. who's defense was ranked almost dead last in the country - Ranked 110th.....wow! Just wow!

Wolfpack 4 Life said...

Who?!?!?!?!? Good luck with the fundraising, recruiting, etc.

I would say that I can't believe that UNCC didn't at least give Amato a chance - great recruiting and fundraising and enthusiasm over the top!! But it is Judy Rose and she will stand in no one's shadow - not even for the good of the school or its football program.

What a shame!

Anonymous said...

Not my first choice, but I have full support for Brad Lambert.

Welcome to niner nation COACH.

John said...

Who is this guy? How come UNCC isn't going after Amato?

You know, I wasn't very excited about this program to begin with. But since I am a graduate I decided to throw a little support and see what would happen. I am not going to pay thousands of dollars in PSL's to watch a crappy coordinator, I was already doing that at Wake Forest.

Good luck to UNCC, but I wish they would of gotten somebody good for this program which seemed like a step in the right direction for the little commuter school that could.

Anonymous said...

@ 10:50

We'll be in CUSA by 2020. I guarantee it.

Anonymous said...

Mike Minter = JOKE.

49RFBN said...

Welcome to Niner Nation Coach Lambert. We have a lot of work ahead of us.

Anonymous said...

What do we know about this guy - Nothing. But who are we to judge before he even takes the field with the first team.

I'm excited for the niners. The whole idea of adding football has to be creating a stir on campus.

Anonymous said...

Who did this? Judy Rose? You IdEE-its!

You needed a name coach, you cheap azzes! Yeah, this will really excite high school players to become a 49er. Just like the no-name basketball coach! If you actually hired a coach people are familiar with, you may be able to parlay his status into a money-making situation.
I swear Judy Rose has an agenda and it is to make sure the women's programs dominate the mens in sports. Well Judy, it is working. Maybe if you could sabotage the football program, you would be able to convince everyone it was a bad idea in the first place. Judy Rose, I can read you like a book; why don't you go to some all-girls school...or just go away. The 49ers men basketball and football programs will never thrive with you as the AD!

Anonymous said...

Incredibly confused about why we didn't even interview Amato, but we're giving the job to someone whose defense got ripped apart by just about every team they played last year.

I like the Alan Major hire, I am not liking this one. Oh well, prove it to us Coach Lambert.

tyro niner said...

Do we not at least give this guy a chance and the support he needs? I've never seen such a fickle bunch. If you are a true 49er fan you will support Lambert and our program.

Anonymous said...

nice hire !!!

Anonymous said...

Didn't Stanford drop 70 on WF this past season?

Since I am one of the few purchasing a PSL I will give the guy a chance but it is kind of disappointing. I agree with a previous poster that at this stage of the game it is all about recruiting and I don't think this guy will see too well.

Talking about coaches, I have about had it with Majors. I don't care how many people we lost.....you do not lose to Gardner Webb and Coastal Carolina you do not get trounced by Davidson.

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone want Amato with his incredibly questionable ethics?

Lambert is well known in high schools, and has been a very successful recruiter for Wake. One bad year is no reflection of the years of accomplishment under his belt. Don't underestimate his wealth of knowledge, his coaching network, and dedication to the game.

Anonymous said...

Very dumb not at least interviewing Chuck Amato. He would have AT the LEAST brought in the talent...then on to the next one as he retires. I guess the AD at UNC-C is a moron? Maybe a Lee Fowlup replica???

Anonymous said...

Lambert may not be a "household" name but be honest. UNC Charlotte doesn't really have the funding to hire a name coach like Amato. Really do you think someone like Amato was going to "donate" his services? I say build slowly if you have to and trust Judy. She has done pretty good so far with what she has to work with...no funds.

Jim Anderson said...

@anon 12:25

Judy has been here 20 yrs. When she took over the program was on the rise. The program has gone significantly backwards and is funded just fine with student fees. She hasn't earned a lick of trust. Also it is HER JOB to market the program and garner support - which she gets a grade of F for.

Anonymous said...

12:25.....you are freakin' clueless. Amato knows the salary and applied VERY PUBLICALLY for the job.....geez.

Anonymous said...

@ anon 12:31pm

He also publically applied for Gardner Webb, and there's a reason they didn't want him either.

Anonymous said...

Let's be honest, Lambert is the best a nobody team could ever hope to get in a state that is already full of FB programs that struggle to do well. App State has FCS covered, and Wake, Duke, UNC, State, and ECU are already more D1A teams than the state can support.

No one in CLT cares about UNCC from a sports standpoint. Look at basketball games.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't in on the hiring process, and I trust the people making the decision know a little more about football and what a good head coach is, than I do. So, I'll refrain from comment one way or another, and let hindsight be my luxury in a few years. Meanwhile, can't wait to do some tailgating at UNCC. Go Niners!

Kevin McAllister Class of 1989 said...

Football will be here soon, now we have a schedule, a stadium under construction, and now a coach. Along the way we hear the same folks with sour grapes about everything. As an alum, I am not happy with our basketball program, but I am willing to give the coach a few recruiting classes. As far as football, the only football I remember was 1985 intramural with those stupid forward pass rules. Glad we have football on the horizon. What are u folks going to complain about next? By the way, I don't want Amato, if he wasn't good enough for NCSU, he is definitely not good enough for us!!! Welcome Coach Lambert!

Anonymous said...

I have a simple answer for all that keeps asking about why Amato didn't get a shot. She's called Judy Rose. She doesn't want someone in her athletic department that would put her in her place. Too bad we missed out on such a great recruiting coach.

Dowless said...

Welcome to Niner Nation coach. Hope the fair weather fans in Charlotte don't get you down.

bosox1820 said...

Coach Lambert is a great hire for a new program.He will be a endless worker who will hire a great staff to work with him.He has a lot of connections to recruiting,and number 1 he is honest man who will get the job done.

Anonymous said...

This will save lots of much needed money as they try to find more of it to build, market and equip the football program! Coaches are overated and mostly overpaid, You get what you pay for Judy, hope you have started your training program for a new FB Coach... but wait... UNC-Concord doesn't have any experience in that area, do you. At least Georgia State had the sense to bring on a seasoned, Big Name Coach in Bill Curry to launch into the unknown. Judy, you appear to have botched this, or no one else wanted it and you couldn't handle Chuck the Chest taking center state?

Anonymous said...

Recruiting? You don't need an ace recruiter when you are going to start out as a low level FCS team.

Anonymous said...

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Huggins said...

Why Judy, why? I have been one of the few Judy Rose supporters, especially as of late but why this hire? I just hope that I Judy and the new coach proves my feeling wrong. Amato would have been exciting and now I wish that Amato never came out and said he wanted to be the coach. That way my expectations for an exciting "draw" for a coach wouldn't have been so high. I will be in the stands no matter what, but...

Anonymous said...

Seriously??!! Why would anyone want to be identified with a moron like Amato??? NCSU couldnt wait for him to get out of there! He is nothing but a clown with some particularly shady ethics. On the other hand, Lambert is a great find!! You should be thankful to have a man of faith and character to lead your football team - not to mention a terrific coach!

Anonymous said...

Seriously??!! Why would anyone want to be identified with a moron like Amato??? NCSU couldnt wait for him to get out of there! He is nothing but a clown with some particularly shady ethics. On the other hand, Lambert is a great find!! You should be thankful to have a man of faith and character to lead your football team - not to mention a terrific coach!

Anonymous said...

Who? Lambert? Lambert who? I love these people who say "give this guy a chance," or "you're not being a supportive 49ers fan."

If we're being so nice and giving anyone a chance, let's hire Barney! The kids will love him! We can use The Wiggles as the coaching staff. At least people know them. Hey, we need to back anyone and everyone without a thought in the world. Whatever Judy Rose does or tells us, we're just supposed to nod our heads, and fall in line like sheep.

Welcome coach...coach...what's that guy's name? Oh, he's from Wake..that must make him "special!" I wonder what the budget was for a head football coach? $5.29, what a bargain!

Go coach...coach..I just can't remember this guy's name. Way to market the program, Judy Rose!

Anonymous said...

Brad Lambert is as good a person as I have ever met in football. He's also coached at Georgia and Marshall among other places, so just because you may not be familiar with his name...

He was part of the Wake staff that went to three straight bowl games, something Wake had not done ever before. He also helped coach Aaron Curry from an undersized kid that no one else wanted, to a fourth-overall NFL draft pick.

I realize success is ultimately measured in wins and losses, but UNCC has itself a coach it can be proud of!

william - statesville, nc said...

Coaching salary will be one of the top in country for FCS and the combined staff salaries will be tops in the country. this from a friend of mine on the georgia state staff who has seen the charlotte coaching salaries budget and was blown away by how much higher they were than ga state

Judy's Helmet said...

william, your friend is wrong. this job is 175k, GSU is 350k.

bottom line is Wake's defense (his job) allowed 430 ypg last season, in a terrible football league. Of the 120 1a teams, his defense was 110. Ouch

william - statesville, nc said...

the job salary ended up much higher than 175k per my friend and he was referring to the asst coaching salary pool. said it was significantly higher. curry is tops in IAA but charlotte is in top 3 or 4

Anonymous said...

I don't know who is more bitter, those who disparage UNC Charlotte and its attempts to expand its sports programs or those 49er supporters who belittle anyone who disagrees with them.

Anonymous said...

Amato has burned all his bridges int he football community. He would have been cancer to our football program. Yes he would have created buzz in the beginning, but in the long run I think Lambert is the best bet. Plus Amato is too old to be starting something new. He is a couple years away from retirement.

Be honest, would you have wanted to take a gamble with hiring Amato? I wouldn't.

Anonymous said...

Laughable...were it not so utterly pathetic. Congrats Judy. You helped me save my money.

Anonymous said...

Most of the haters leaving comments on here either didn't go to UNCC or had no intention of ever supporting the program. It doesn't matter who our coach will be. We're not going to be good for a while, so give an up and coming guy a shot. At least he has Div 1 coaching experience and in one of the nations largest conferences.

Oh, and for the idiots that said this hiring is keeping them from forking out $1000 for FSL's, get a freakin' life. I don't know one true alumni supporter that has or will base their support for a the new program off our coach.

Just go away, trolls! There's more important things to complain about like our socialist president that' ruining our country!

Anonymous said...

Chuck Amato also applied for the Gardner Webb University coaching position, and they didn't even give him a look either. Obviously, there is something there that we all don't know about. So, all you ACC loving fans get off your high-horse and shut up about Chuck Amato. I don't necessarily love all the Judy Rose moves either, but how many of you have ever been in a position remotely similar to a DIV 1 Athletic Director? That's rhetorical by the way. I could go on and on about the no-name coaches that have been hired that have had great success at other programs, but what's the point? Charlotte has their coach and whether or not it was the right hire won't be determined for quite some time.

Anonymous said...

Straight posers on here. People who want you to think they went to UNCC and not supporting the program b/c of this hire. Everyone I know that graduated or are going to UNCC now are ecstatic to finally start a football program. Sure we want a good coach, but no one knows how this or any other coach is going to do with a brand new program. It's a unique circumstance that's in need of an unique coach.

Everyone else that is bashing UNCC are just your typical Gastonia or backwoods ACC fans that never even attended any college...much less an Acc school. Go back to Wal-Mart and buy some more Carolina and Duke gear to make you feel like a winner.

Anonymous said...

The problem is that with Amato, we UNCC could be facing a Coastal Carolina situation and plus UNCC would not be able to afford Amato. Is this a big splash hire, no. Will this put people in the seats, no. Will this move people to care about 49ner football, no. Will this set the foundation on building the program to be competitive in the FCS division, yes.

UNC-Charlotte Grad, 96

Anonymous said...

The hire's been made. Let's see what Coach Lambert can do. At least give him a fair shake.

UNC Charlotte Grad - '02 and '11

Anonymous said...

I can explain Judy and Phil in 5 words "Stupid is as Stupid does!"

Anonymous said...

Why do so many of you post on a topic that you clearly have no clue about? Amato knew the SALARY before he applied and it is not the reported $175,000/year. With camps, "easy" incentives, etc. the total salary will be in the $375,000 to 400,000/year range. Charlotte certainly could have "afforded" Amato. Get a clue haters!

Anonymous said...

Money aside, Amato is terrible. End of story. Sounds like you're the one that's the hater.

Todd from Taylorsville said...

I didn't know Jerry Richardson was on the search committee.

Anonymous said...

Like everyone else, I said, "Who?" when I heard the name. But then I thought about it for a minute, and came up with an angle that hasn't been considered (especially not by "if I have never heard of him, he sucks" mentality)...

There in the middle of the '00s when Wake won the ACC and went to 3 straight bowl games, why were they such media darlings? Because they are a tiny school with stricter academic standards than most and they were masters at getting more out of lesser-regarded recruits. Isn't that exactly what the first 49ers coach must be a master of? Don't we want a coach who can take talent that is D-IAA, bordering on D-II and make D-IAA title contenders out of them? And if he's really good at it, and stays around for 15 years, perhaps he could repeat that at the FBS level (and I figure it's going to be at least 15 years before we move up a level).

And hey, if you're going to go copycat on another startup program, Old Dominion is not a bad model to copy from.

As for the haters that only approve of coaches they have heard of before, I pose this question: What do John Wooden, Bear Bryant, Vince Lombardi and Red Aurbach have in common?

Answer: They all were, at one time, guys who had never been a head coach and no one had ever heard of them.

Will from Gastonia said...

great hire. Amato would not have been. Brother in law is a HC in the area and said Lambert has a great rep with charlotte area coaches. Amato burned some bridges big timing some kids who wanted to go to state in favor of south florida kids.

Anonymous said...

I'll reserve judgement, but on paper Lambert coached on a terribly deficient-defense team. Go Niners.

Anonymous said...

like hell id pay for tickets to see this bs. what a let down. :(

Jon said...

I don't know Coach Lambert from Adam. But why are so many so critical? Can we not give the search committee some credit? I am not a UNCC grad but do live in Charlotte. This new program will be great for the town. Remember, it is a startup program, but there is much potential for things to move forward quickly and become a successful program. There needs to be more appreciation and gratitude for all the great things that have transpired. Wouldn't it be great to see the incredible resumes of all the critical people who bash this hire so quickly? Crickets.

Anonymous said...

"The median salary for head coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA, is $180,000 and is on the rise, according to Amy Perko, executive director of the Knight Commission, which advocates financial responsibility in college sports."

Who's the DA that stated UNCC's coach would get a salary in the range of FBS Mid American Conference football coaches? It's the FCS, ding dong.

Also, why does everyone have a hard on for Amato? I guess he was the only name anyone ever heard about. I simply wanted a veteran coach.
Anyone out there in 49er land ever heard of Howard Schnellenberger? The former FBS National Champion head coach at Miami, Fl. was hired to start up a brand new football program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Due to his familiarity, he was easily able to recruit talented student athletes, while building up enough financial support to open a beautiful stadium in 2011. FAU started off with less financial support than UNCC, but obtained backing due to Schnellenberger.

But no, the 49ers hired...ummm, errr, pssst. what's his name again? By the way, I am a 49er student, so I do care if we have a good team. Thanks a lot, Judy Rose. I guess there's always tailgating and getting inebriated before the football game.

Go 49ers!

Anonymous said...

As an FSL owner I say welcome Coach Lambert. When we kick off in 2013 these haters will be no where to be found but you will have a packed house. There should be only about 3500 tickets left to be sold in the next two and a half years. There are 3500 FSL owners, 7500 student tickets and 500 visitor tickets. Can't wait to tailgate.

Anonymous said...

Getting away cheap. Look at the success at Georgia State the first year with a big time coach.

Anonymous said...

Is his salary being paid with regular money or with FANTASY MONEY? I wish him the best and I will be at the games pulling for the Niners, but we deserve to know why Amato was not even interviewed.

Unknown said...

Great pick Charlotte! Lambert is top-notch!

Anonymous said...

Well... the thought of football at UNCC was a nice one... for a while.

I think it's pretty much dead now. But at least there's an outside chance that the Panthers will be worth watching in five years or so.

Anonymous said...

Give the man a chance, he is a DI coordinator and well known in NC High School circles. I think he may surprise a lot you. I realize that most of these haters are ACC wannabes with a 9th grade education and 7 teeth. I am sure Coach Lambert will welcome the support in a few years.

Anonymous said...

you Amato haters are a trip , if you knew how stupid you sound. Call me when you get a coach that can recruit not one BUT TWO players that get drafted #1 in the NFL DRAFT. Chuck also has 4 national championship rings he can show Brad whatever his name is whenever he wants to see them. And for all the liars questioning his ethics...name one just one violation or rule he broke while at NC State

thats what I though....*crickets*

Anonymous said...

by the way ...I dint just mean in the first round BUT THE VERY FIRST PICK -SOMETHING UNC-CHEAT COULD ONLY DREAM OF

Anonymous said...

If he brings Jeff Mullen from WVU with him for OC, like several reports have stated, it could be a great start.

Anonymous said...

Congratuolation Coach Lambert! Wish you the best.

Micheal said...

I called and got 2 fsls today. Not because they hired Lambert but becasue they didn't hire a failed BCS coach! Now I know they are serious.

Anonymous said...

Replying to Anon 8:02.

You said "
I realize that most of these haters are ACC wannabes with a 9th grade education and 7 teeth."

Actually, most of the 9th grade grads with 7 teeth I know are unc-chapel hill fans. My guess is you may be too.

Anonymous said...

If Amato was ANY good, he'd already have a job. PERIOD.

Anonymous said...

WELCOME TO NINER NATION COACH LAMBERT!! As an alum I'm ecstatic we're getting football and believe we need to give him and the program a chance to get started. To those of you who are also alums, but are not happy with any of this, GO AWAY and support a team that WILL make you happy and STOP talking trash about our school. BE GONE!! To those of you who are not alums who are talking trash, just GO AWAY. You mean NOTHING to me or my school's sports programs. We have football and I'm going to embrace it, support it, the coach, the school and work to make all things about my school better. Can't wait for August 31, 2013!! GO NINERS!!!!!

Anonymous said...

What do you guys expect....You are a brand new program that is on a shoe string budget. It is not like you could have actually hired a "name" coach. And you guys calling for Amato are just clueless.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:10. Amato wanted the job. There was even an article in the Observer about it. The school would not give him an interview. So please, refrain from making comments unless you know what you are talking about.

Anonymous said...

u know Amato basically begged for the job, right? Also, the job will pay $3-400,000 a year when incentives are added which will make it among the best in FCS and more than quite a few FBS schools pay.

Anonymous said...

$300-$400 K?? Are you on crack? The highest paid FCS coach (at Delaware) earns a total of $300k.
Coach Lamb-bear will earn $175k. What incentives? His own coach's show? His own line of clothes? Commercials?

How can people be so uninformed? Here's a website for the "real" college football FBS 2010 coaches salaries.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2010-coaches-contracts-table.htm

The FCS coaches don't come close to these salaries...and there are no incentives. Sheesh!

Anonymous said...

We would have only gotten three to four years out of Amato due to his age, and while he may have sold some tickets, I would much rather have a young guy who is hungry. Anyone who states that they wont buy seat licenses because of this wasn't going buy them to begin with. I am going to buy them simply because I love Niner sports. We act like our athletic department owes us some big time BCS coach, but we haven't even played a game. We should give the guy a shot to prove himself, he could do something great.

Anonymous said...

Good luck 49er club…you’re gonna need it. Nobody sane would waste their hard earned money on the dreadful product rose and company are throwing together.

WartHog said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
WartHog said...

UNCC football is destined for greatness. My prediction: UNCC will beat Rutgers 34-21 in the 2025 Dollar-fifty Tree Peach Bowl (accounting for inflation, of course).

Anonymous said...

Charlotte can't afford to spend any more than it has to for the football coach. It needs the money to buy out Alan Major's contract ASAP.

Anonymous said...

Amato is an old clown that I would not want anywhere near my football program or school. Nothing kills a fledgling program and alumni donations faster than violations or improprieties. I would gladly take my chances with someone who has coached under Jim Grobe, will build the program the right way, redshirt players, and represent Charlotte well.

ALUM '03 said...

Amato got turned down by Gardner Webb people, get over it. Obviously the people doing the vetting here don't like something they see. Get over it. The only thing most of you know about Amato is that he used to be the coach at NC State. With emphasis on "used to be". HOT AIR!!!

Lambert is our guy! You people pick out one season (last year) and say oh he's this or that. He was also part of one of the best defenses in the country for two or three seasons in the mid 2000s at WAKE of all places. Shall we go through all the great coaches in history with bad seasons? Bill Belichick with the Browns anyone? Roy Williams last year?

GO NINERS!!

str8talk said...

WAKE doesn't even recruit the Charlotte area.You need someone who will really dig into the Charlotte area recruiting.U of Charlotte doesn't need to be recruiting down in Florida like WAKE does.CHARLOTTE AREA KIDS.

str8talk said...

Out of almost 90 players WAKE has one player,og from mech from Charlotte area ONE.Sounds like this coach doesn't even know where Charlotte is.If this new team isn't at least 80% Charlotte area it will not succeed.It will need to establish an identity.We don't want to be like WCU losing bad with mostly out of state players so I suggest to new coach get out and watch lots of Charlotte Area football.

Anonymous said...

@ mike... Let's be honest, CMS hasn't exactly been preparing our high school students for the academic standards that Wake is known for. Just because you're a good football recruit, doesn't mean you're going to get past certain admission requirements at Wake. So having just 1 Charlotte area kid on the roster doesn't automatically mean Lambert must not care to recruit Charlotte. There's a lot more to the recruiting game than just seeking out talent. I, for one, can't wait to see Lambert in action at Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Lambert is a great guy I have met him and he is very personable.I love this guys personality and he is a great ball coach.Wish you the best Coach.Niner Nation got a steal with this one.