Lehigh University hires Tony Trisciani as an assistant football coach, and promotes Gerard Wilcher to defensive coordinator.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head football coach Pete Lembo has announced several changes on the defensive coaching staff for the 2005 season, including the hiring of Tony Trisciani as the team’s new linebackers coach. At the same time, Lembo has announced that secondary coach Gerard Wilcher has now been promoted to defensive coordinator. In his new role, Wilcher will still be responsible for the defensive secondary.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Coach Trisciani to the Lehigh football family,” said Lehigh head coach Pete Lembo. “Tony has an outstanding reputation as both a defensive coach and as a recruiter, and I am very pleased that we were able to lure him away from New Hampshire.”

Trisciani comes to Lehigh after having spent the last four and a half seasons as the defensive secondary coach at the University of New Hampshire in the Atlantic-10 conference – his second stint with that program. With help from Trisciani, the Wildcats earned a share of the 2004 Atlantic-10 regular season title, advancing to the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals.

In addition to his on-field coaching responsibilities, Trisciani coordinated the Wildcats’ film exchange program, and boasts a reputation of being an outstanding recruiter. One of Trisciani’s recruiting areas for New Hampshire was eastern Pennsylvania.

“Tony has all the characteristics we look for in an assistant coach,” Lembo explains. “He is intelligent, hard working, loyal, and relates extremely well with others. Several members of our current staff have gotten to know him through recruiting travels and by working summer camps together, and it will not take long for our linebackers and other defensive personnel to warm
up to his magnetic personality."

Prior to joining the UNH staff for a second time, Trisciani spent one season as the offensive coordinator at Alfred University, and two seasons as the running backs coach (1998-1999 seasons) at New Hampshire. Trisciani spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Springfield College, which has the reputation of producing some of the most outstanding collegiate coaches over the years.

A 1996 Springfield graduate, Trisciani was a superb defensive back in his playing day. He was a four year letterwinner and two-time captain while earning his degree in rehabilitation services. Trisciani earned his master’s from Springfield in 1998.

At the same time, Lehigh has announced that second year assistant coach Gerard Wilcher will assume duties as the team’s defensive coordinator. Wilcher takes over the reigns of a defense that is annually among the tops in the Patriot League.

“When we hired Gerard as our secondary coach last January, we felt that he possessed the skills to develop into the defensive coordinator's role,” Lembo points out. “Our defensive backfield play exceeded my expectations last year, as we had four all-league performers and gave up very few big plays over the course of the season. Our players respect Coach Wilcher and will be highly motivated to continue to perform at a high level."

Along with the promotion of Wilcher, Lembo also announced that first year defensive line coach Jay Bateman will now take on the additional responsibilities of coordinating Lehigh’s run defense.

Defending Patriot League co-champion Lehigh opens its 2005 season on September 3, when the Mountain Hawks host Northeast Conference champion Monmouth at Goodman Stadium.

Jeff Tourial
Lehigh Sports Media Relations
641 Taylor Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
phone: (610) 758-3158
fax: (610) 758-4407
web: www.lehighsports.com