Special Teams Start at the Top
In football, special teams organization plays a crucial role in overall team success. Before Pete Lembo became one of the nation’s most respected special teams coordinators, he was a longtime head coach. That unique perspective shaped how he organized, taught, and emphasized special teams — and it’s why he believes the most important ingredient in special teams organization football isn’t a scheme, a drill, or a technique.
It’s support from the head coach.
“If you want great special teams, you have to have support from the top. The head coach must be involved.”
Whether at Lehigh, Elon, Ball State, Memphis, South Carolina, or now Buffalo, Lembo has operated with one foundational belief:
Special teams unify the program.
A head coach who actively invests in the kicking game connects with more players, sends a stronger message to the roster, and ties together offense, defense, and game-changing plays — all vital parts of strong special teams organization in football.
Why Head Coach Involvement Changes Everything
Lembo explains that when the head coach is visible and active in special teams organization football, several things happen:
- Players take it seriously. If the head coach stands behind the operation, the message becomes clear: special teams matter.
- Coaches stay connected across the roster. Special teams uses nearly every position group. A head coach can coach pods, evaluate depth, and stay close to players who may not be starters on offense or defense.
- Game-planning becomes coherent across all three phases. Fake punts, surprise onside kicks, pooch strategies, and directional punts all require the head coach’s input. He sees the full picture of the opponent, the roster, injuries, and the week’s strategy.
- Culture gets reinforced daily. Recognition, buy-in, effort standards, and personnel decisions all carry more weight when driven by the head coach.
“Everywhere I’ve been, the best players on the team — regardless of their offensive or defensive role — are on the punt team. It’s that important.”
Special Teams as a Program Connector
Lembo built his reputation on more than scheme — he designed a special teams organization football system every coach and player could understand, adopting terminology and coaching language that carried across all phases.
This led to:
- More consistency in fundamentals
- Clearer expectations
- Faster teaching
- Better alignment between offense, defense, and special teams
“The similar terminology you use on special teams should carry into offense and defense. It streamlines teaching.”
By simplifying vocabulary and emphasizing crossover coaching points, he reduces mental load and accelerates skill development — essential components of effective special teams organization in football.
The Head Coach’s Role Throughout the Week
Lembo encourages head coaches — at all levels, but especially high school — to build a weekly rhythm that keeps special teams integrated:
- Attend pods
- Coach a specific unit or sub-unit
- Review fake and surprise opportunities
- Collaborate with the special teams coordinator on personnel
- Reinforce special teams wins in meetings and walkthroughs
When this becomes habit, special teams stop feeling like a transition period and start becoming a competitive advantage in football through strong special teams organization.
Key Takeaway
Special teams organization football is not about collecting schemes — it’s about establishing top-down support, shared language, and total program investment.
“Support from the top is a big deal. When the head coach is involved, special teams becomes a weapon — not a time-out between offense and defense.”
About Pete Lembo — Head Coach, University at Buffalo
Pete Lembo is the Head Coach at the University at Buffalo and one of the most respected special teams minds in the country. A longtime head coach and former Power 5 special teams coordinator, he is known for building elite special teams units through top-down organization and unified program structure.
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Taking a CEO Approach to Coaching – Pete Lembo, Head Coach, University of Buffalo
From The Archives – Andy Kotelnicki, Offensive Coordinator, University of Buffalo
More on Coach Pete Lembo
About Coach and Coordinator Media
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