Elon, NC -- Pete Lembo has resigned as the head football coach at Lehigh to take the same position at Elon.

Lembo spent the past eight seasons at Lehigh, three as an assistant before his promotion to the head coaching position for the 2001 campaign. The Mountain Hawks were 44-14 during Lembo's five years as head coach.

Elon needed a replacement for Paul Hamilton, who resigned last month after a 3-8 campaign.

"My family and I are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to move to North Carolina and become part of the Elon community," said Lembo in a release by the school. "It's obvious to me that Elon folks are very passionate about their university and about seeing their football program succeed."

Lembo's program at Lehigh was highly successful, as the Mountain Hawks captured a pair of Patriot League titles and reached the Division I-AA playoffs twice.

Lehigh was 8-3 this past season and finished just out of the final Sports Network I-AA final poll.

"It has been a privilege to be a part of the Lehigh football family," Lembo said of his resignation. "Lehigh is a special place and my family and I will always cherish the friendships we formed while I worked here."

Lembo was The Sports Network's Eddie Robinson Award winner as the top coach in Division I-AA for 2001.