Brad Lambert (born January 14, 1965) is an American college football coach who is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wake Forest University. He was the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers until November 18, 2018, and helped transition the 49ers football program from conception through a two year stint in the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2015, when the program joined the rest of the 49ers' sports in programs in Conference USA.
Playing career
Kansas State
Lambert played defensive back for the Kansas StateWildcats, lettering for four straight seasons and graduating in 1987. He earned second-team all-Big Eight honors his freshman season. He also was an all-Big Eight Academic choice from 1984 to 1986.[1]
Coaching career
Oklahoma
Lambert began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the OklahomaSooners.
After the 2000 football season, Lambert accepted the linebacker coaching position under head coach Jim Grobe with the Wake ForestDemon Deacons. In 2007 Lambert was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Demon Deacons. At Wake Forest Lambert was part of the 2006 ACC Championship Game team. He coached 2008 Butkus Award winner Aaron Curry, who would go on to play in the NFL and eventually serve as an assistant coach for Lambert at Charlotte.[1][2][3]
Charlotte
Lambert was hired as the first-ever head football coach for the Charlotte 49ers on March 1, 2011[4][5] In his first game, Lambert led the 49ers to a decisive 52–7 victory at home over the Campbell Fighting Camels.[6] Lambert led the 49ers to a 5–6 record in their inaugural season.[7] On September 4, 2015, Lambert led the 49ers to their first FBS victory, over the Georgia State Panthers.[8] The team failed to have a winning season during its first four seasons, finishing the 2017 season with a 1–11 record and going 12–36 over the course of four FBS seasons. Lambert was released by Charlotte on November 18, 2018 effective after the season, after going 22–48 in six seasons.[9]
Marshall
Lambert returned to Marshall to serve as a defensive assistant and likely defensive coordinator. After his contract terms with Charlotte were negotiated, Thundering Herd coach Doc Holliday named Lambert his defensive coordinator.[10]
Purdue
Lambert was hired as a co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Purdue in 2021.[11]
Wake Forest (second stint)
In 2022 Lambert returned to Wake Forest, replacing Lyle Hemphill as the team’s defensive coordinator.
^"CharlotteFBSeasonStats"(PDF). Charlotte Athletics. November 9, 2013. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.