Three contests versus 2009 FCS playoff teams, including the defending national champions, as well as a trip to middle America highlight the 2010 Lehigh football schedule, announced by Andy Coen on Monday afternoon.  The Mountain Hawks will play six games at picturesque Goodman Stadium and take on four scholarship schools throughout the season in what promises to be a very tough slate of contests.  “This is without question the most challenging schedule we’ve put together since I have been the head coach at Lehigh,” Coen explained.  “There are some tough road trips we’ll be taking and every week is going to be a test.  But we’re excited about the upcoming season and the teams that we’ll be competing against.”

This year’s end of the year football banquet was held Saturday, February 13 at Lehigh’s Iacocca Hall on the Mountain Top Campus.  This year, 13 football stars were presented awards for their outstanding participation in the 2009 season by the team’s coaches.  Senior linebacker Matt Cohen stole the show taking away three awards that night. He was awarded the Outstanding Athlete award, the Best Linebacker award and the Archibald Johnston Cup for the most outstanding player.

Lehigh head football coach Andy Coen has announced the hiring of former All-American wide receiver Dave Cecchini ’95 as the Mountain Hawks new Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach.  Cecchini, who spent the previous four years serving as Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach at The Citadel, previously served on the Lehigh coaching staff in a number of capacities, including Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator from 2001 through 2003.  “It’s a special feeling to be back at Lehigh,” Cecchini said.  “Anytime you have a chance to come back to your alma mater and a place you love is special.  I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to get to work”

The results are in and Lehigh once again finished atop the Patriot League in home football attendance for the 2009 season.  Despite several poor weather games this past season, Lehigh still managed to average 8,130 fans during seven home games, including a season best 15,714 in the Mountain Hawks’ dramatic 27-21 overtime victory over their archrivals, the Lafayette Leopards.  Lehigh’s average attendance was over 500 fans higher than the next closest school, which was also archrival Lafayette.  With its latest attendance crown Lehigh has led the league in home attendance 18 of the past 19 seasons.

Lehigh head football coach Andy Coen has announced the addition of 28 student-athletes to the Mountain Hawks program that comprise the Class of 2014.  The incoming group spans nine states including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia and includes student-athletes predicted to contribute at every positional group.  “We’re excited to announce our newest class and to have recruited this newest group of Mountain Hawks,” Coen explained.  “This is the fourth full year of recruiting efforts by our coaching staff and we’re looking forward to bringing this group into the program after cultivating relationships with these young men for the past ten months.”