South Carolina reportedly losing key staffer to head coaching vacancy

South Carolina special teams coordinator and associate head coach Pete Lembo is expected to depart for the Buffalo head coaching job, according to a report.

That’s per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who notes that Lembo has previous experience as a head coach in the MAC. He led Ball State’s program for 5 years and went 23-17 in conference play during his time with the program.

Sources: University at Buffalo is targeting South Carolina special teams coach Pete Lembo to become the school’s next head coach. Lembo brings a strong history in the MAC, as he went 33-29 at Ball State in five years as head coach and a 23-17 league record over that time. pic.twitter.com/gDRoMQYgJY

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 21, 2024

Lembo has been on Shane Beamer’s staff at South Carolina from the start. He was hired ahead of the 2021 season after previously serving in the same role at Memphis.

South Carolina has consistently had strong special teams units with Beamer and Lembo leading the way on that front. The Gamecocks ranked No. 12 nationally in special teams for the 2023 season, per ESPN’s SP+ ratings. They finished No. 1 nationally in 2022 and No. 9 in 2021.

In addition to his time at Ball State, Lembo previously served as the head coach at Elon and Lehigh. He was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach, in 2022.