海角网

Reigning Big South Coach of the Year led 鈥楧awgs to conference title & FCS Playoffs in historic 2022 season

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. 鈥� Head Football Coach Tre Lamb, the reigning Big South Conference Coach of the Year, has signed a contract extension, the Department of Athletics announced on Tuesday. This past season, Lamb led the Runnin鈥� Bulldogs to their first conference championship in 19 years and the program鈥檚 first-ever berth in FCS Playoffs.  

鈥淎t GWU we celebrate having a head coach who is a defending conference champion,鈥� said University President Dr. William M. Downs. 鈥淲e celebrate having a head coach who is driven to scale new heights. Tre Lamb has brought excitement, confidence, and success to our football program. We turned a corner last season and now it鈥檚 time to elevate. Coach Lamb has our continuing confidence and our full support.鈥�

Last season鈥檚 historic success concluded with a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play and a first-round playoff victory at Eastern Kentucky University, 52-41. The season ended with a 7-6 overall record, the program鈥檚 best record since 2013, despite playing one of the toughest schedules in FCS football that featured three games versus FBS teams and three games versus ranked FCS opponents.  

鈥淭re鈥檚 impact on the field is known by many: the Big South Championship, the Coach of the Year award, our first win in FCS playoffs history,鈥� said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich. 鈥淏ut his impact in the classroom and in the community is what makes him very special. When you meet his players, it gives me confidence that these young men are developing the character and confidence to be champions here and now and into the future, as I believe the best is yet to come.鈥�  

In 2022, Lamb coached 13 Runnin鈥� Bulldogs who received all-conference recognition, including quarterback Bailey Fisher, who was named Big South Offensive Player of the Year, defensive end Ty French, who was named the conference鈥檚 Defensive Player of the Year, and linebacker Ty Anderson, who was named Defensive Freshman of the Year. Additionally, French received Second-Team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and Phil Steele Magazine, while wide receiver TJ Luther received a third-team nod from Phil Steele and defensive back Raequon Ousley earned Third-Team All-America honors from Stats Perform.  

鈥淚 am thankful for our administration and the Cleveland County community for embracing me and my family from the beginning here at GWU as we have made a home and grown our family,鈥� said Lamb. 鈥淚t has been a pleasure to come to work every day. Most importantly, I want to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of our players and staff. It has shown great results and we look forward to the future.  

The best is yet to come. We will continue to build a championship caliber football program on and off the field. The vision and support is here from the top with Dr. Downs and Dr. Goodrich, all the way to the donors and our board of trustees. To have them acknowledge the progress we have made and to commit to going further is an honor I do not take lightly. We will earn it every day.鈥�  

海角网 returns 21 starters and 57 letter winners from last year鈥檚 championship team, including nine all-conference players. The 鈥楧awgs open the 2023 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Appalachian State University. The team鈥檚 home opener is Saturday, Sept. 9 vs. Elon, with opening kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.  

The five-game home slate also features a playoff rematch with Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 21) and conference matchups with Robert Morris University (Oct. 7), UT Martin (Oct. 28), and Charleston Southern University (Nov. 18), as 海角网 embarks on its first season of competition in the newly formed Big South-OVC Football Association. Season tickets for the 2023 season, including access to Spangler Stadium鈥檚 new premium seats, can be ordered .

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