Former Allegheny football head coach Nagy named HC at Lehigh

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BETHLEHEM — Lehigh University has announced the elevation of Richard Nagy on Monday, who will serve as the Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach.

Nagy spent the last three years as Lehigh's defensive coordinator, where he led one of the top defensive units in the FCS. The 31st head coach in Lehigh football history, Nagy's promotion is one of six from a Lehigh coaching and support staff that was recognized as the Dick Biddle Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year, following the Mountain Hawks' 12-0 regular season in 2025.

A coaching veteran with nearly 40 years of experience at the Division I and Division III levels, Nagy came to Lehigh in 2023 following three seasons as the head coach at Allegheny College.

In his three seasons at Allegheny, Nagy mentored 13 all-conference student-athletes. He came to Allegheny following six seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Old Dominion, where Nagy coached a first-team All-Conference USA defender in each of his final three seasons, including Oshane Ximines, who twice set the Old Dominion single season sack record before eventually being drafted by the New York Giants.

"We are incredibly excited to name Rich Nagy as our next Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach," said Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. "Rich brings a powerful combination of experience as both a head coach and coordinator, a proven record of leadership, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a successful program. His familiarity with our program and alignment with our vision position him to lead with clarity and purpose from day one. The ability to retain and empower our current staff is critical, as the strength of this program is rooted in the culture that emanates from our talented and dedicated student-athletes. With Rich's leadership, we are confident that The Nest will continue to grow and thrive. I am thrilled for Rich, Erika and the Nagy family."

For the last three seasons, Nagy served as Lehigh's Defensive Coordinator, while coaching the rover position. A dominant defense was a hallmark for the 2025 Mountain Hawks. Lehigh led the Patriot League and ranked in the top five nationally in five major defensive categories. The Mountain Hawks boasted the top rush defense in the FCS, allowing just 70.1 yards per game, and also led the FCS in Red Zone defense (0.645). Lehigh also ranked second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 13.9 points per game and ranked fourth in both total yards allowed per game (278) and team sacks per game (3.31).

"I am deeply honored to be named the Vandergrift Family Head Football Coach at Lehigh," Nagy said. "I want to extend my sincere thanks to President Joseph Helble and Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson for the unbelievable support they've shown throughout this transition. While Lehigh football has accomplished some truly great things over the last three years, there is so much more we intend to achieve. I am incredibly excited to lead this journey alongside the staff we have assembled and retained, a group that remains fully supported by our administration."

Nagy's first FBS experience was at Central Michigan, where he coached the safeties and served as Defensive Coordinator in 2012.

At the FCS level, Nagy has assistant coaching experience at Murray State, Hofstra, Maine, South Dakota and Fordham, most notably a five-year stint as Maine's Defensive Coordinator.

As a student-athlete, Nagy was a standout running back at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and was Trinity football's most valuable player in 1986. He began his coaching career as a part-time secondary coach at his alma mater before moving on to Allegheny, where he worked as a graduate assistant coaching the inside linebackers. From Allegheny, Nagy went on to Union College and then a two-year stint at Maine before another stretch as an assistant at Allegheny.

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