Brandon Lemon enters his first season here at Fairmont State and will be the Falcon’s Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach.
At his most recent coaching stop at Utica University, Lemon served as the special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, cornerbacks Coach for the Pioneers. He was part of the coaching staff that led the Pioneers to a 9-2 record and winners of the ECAC Clayton Chapman Bowl over Hobart. Lemon coordinated a special teams unit that finished 5th nationally in blocked punts, 32nd nationally in kickoff returns, 37th nationally in punt returns average (individually) while among the conference’s leaders in punt return defense, blocked punts allowed and net punting. This unit was also recognized with multiple Empire 8 all-conference selections: Freddie Callo: 2nd Team All-Empire 8 (Punter), Peyton Ausfeld: 2nd Team All-Empire 8 (Return Specialist) and Joey Nare: 3rd Team All-Empire 8 (Return Specialist).
Lemon served as the cornerbacks coach on a defense that finished ranked 6th nationally in team tackles for loss, 19th nationally in 4th down conversion % defense, 21st nationally in team sacks, 27th nationally in team passing efficiency defense, 37th nationally in passing yards allowed, 38th nationally in total defense along with being ranked amongst the top of the conference in scoring defense and passes intercepted. Lemon mentored 2nd Team Empire 8 All-Conference cornerback, Terrance Toussaint.
Lemon joined Autry Denson’s coaching staff in 2021 as wide receivers coach for the Buccaneers before being promoted to pass game coordinator after the season. It was during that same time Lemon was named as an “Our Coaching Network WR Coach on the Rise” in 2022.
In those two seasons, Charleston Southern’s offense ranked 17th nationally in red zone offense (2022) and 24th nationally in passing offense (2021). Lemon’s wide receiver core accounted for 366 receptions, 4,101 yards, 32 touchdowns. Under Lemon’s development Seth Anderson (transferred to Iowa) & Vinson Davis III (transferred to Southern Illinois) who had breakout freshman seasons and received the following recognition in 2022: Seth Anderson: Jerry Rice Award finalist, Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American, Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year, 2nd Team Big South All-Conference. He started in 8 games and played in all 14 games for the Hawkeyes in 2023. Vinson Davis III: Jerry Rice Award semi-finalist, 2nd Team Big South All-Conference. He went on to earn Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention & All-Newcomer selection while starting 11 of their 13 games for the Salukis in 2023. In 2021, he also mentored 2nd Team Big South All-Conference wide receiver Cayden Jordan, National Player of the Week, Garris Schwarting who tied the Big South record for single game TD receptions with 4 and Geoffrey Wall, who was tied 3rd in Big South history with catches in a game with 14.
Even in a short stint at Charleston Southern, Lemon recruited young men that made 23 starts and played in 66 games. Notably these following freshman made an impact for the Buccaneers in 2023: Noah Jennings: Named to Phil Steele Freshman All-American Team, led team in receiving, Chandler Perry: Finished 6th in solo tackles, 4th in tackles for loss, Andrew Threatt: Started in 6 games and Stephen Zayachkowsky: Finished 3rd in sacks.
Before heading down south to take a position at Charleston Southern, Lemon served as the wide receivers coach at Lehigh University. During those two seasons, Lemon led a wide receiver group that represented 83% of the receiving production for the offense. In 2019, Devon Bibbens enjoyed a breakout senior season, leading the Mountain Hawks in receptions, yards and touchdowns and went on to earn first team All-Patriot League honors while slot receiver Jorge Portorreal earned a second team All-Patriot League selection. Lemon went on to recruit players that made 92 starts and played in 174 games for the Mountain Hawks. He recruited FCS Top 300 rankings by HERO Sports #20 ranked player, Donovan Thomas & #231 ranked player, LaTreil Wimberly, Two-time 2nd Team All-Patriot League selection and Eric Johnson, 4 year starter.
Off the field, Lemon served as an co-chair on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (D.E.I.AR.) committee & an advisor for the Student Athletes of Color (SAOC) which was awarded by Lehigh University with the “Outstanding Educational Programming” & “Student Club/Organization Advisor of the Year” award.
Lemon came to Bethlehem following two seasons at the University of Notre Dame, where he began as an offensive analyst working with the wide receivers before moving up to serve as the wide receiver graduate assistant. He assisted Del Alexander, Wide Receivers Coach with the development of three NFL draft picks and one undrafted wide receiver (Equanimeous St. Brown ’18, Miles Boykin ’19, Chase Claypool ’20, and Chris Finke ’20). He also assisted with recruiting efforts in the DMV, Houston, New England areas and all national wide receiver prospects. He assisted in the recruitment of Cam Hart (Class of 2019 signee), eventual captain, 2023 senior bowl participant. 247Sports ranked Notre Dame’s 2018 recruiting class 10th, 2019 recruiting class 16th and 2020 recruiting class 17th nationally.
In his two seasons in South Bend, Notre Dame went 22-4. The Fighting Irish beat LSU in the Citrus Bowl to finish the 2017 season. During the 2018 season, Notre Dame finished the regular season with a 12-0 record, advancing to the college football playoff semifinals, losing to the eventual national champion Clemson Tigers. Head Coach, Brian Kelly was awarded with 2018 Home Depot Coach of the Year and AP College Football Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, Lemon spent the 2016 season as the wide receivers coach at the University of New Haven. At New Haven, Lemon mentored Ty Headen who finished his senior campaign with 56 receptions, 991 yards and 8 touchdowns leading to first team All-Northeast 10 honors. Headen departed UNH ranked second in school history in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. Notable recruits: Justin White, named second team All-Northeast 10 ‘17 and McPrecia Remy, named third team All-Northeast 10 ’18, Northeast 10 All-Rookie Team ‘17.
Before moving on to New Haven, Lemon spent two seasons as a graduate assistant responsible for coaching the wide receivers at St. Lawrence University. In his two seasons in Canton, St. Lawrence went 16-5. In 2015, St. Lawrence set school records in nearly all passing categories which helped lead them to a share of the Liberty league title and a playoff appearance. Mark Raymond’s staff was awarded with Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Lemon began his college coaching career at Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C. in 2013. He coached the cornerbacks and mentored a pair of all-conference performers in 1st Team, Tyler Mitchell and 2nd Team, D.J. Payne. Methodist finished with an 8-2 record and a share of the USA South conference title. The Methodist football coaching staff was selected to lead the North Team at the 2013 FCS Senior Scout Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
In addition to his college experience, Lemon has spent time coaching with the U.S. National Team. Recently, he served as the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach for the U-17 team who beat Team Mexico 51-7 in the 2020 International Bowl.
As a student-athlete, Lemon was a four-year letter winner at Salisbury University in Maryland under coach Sherman Wood. As a senior, Salisbury advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Lemon graduated from Salisbury in 2012 with a degree in sociology.
A native of Aurora, Colorado, Lemon graduated from Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland in 2007. Lemon and his wife, Ali, have one daughter, McKenna, and a son, Bennett.
