Bobby Lamb, veteran coach and a former star quarterback at Furman University, has been named the first head football coach at Anderson University.
Lamb’s appointment was announced by Anderson University President Evans Whitaker, Ph.D. and Vice President for Athletics Dr. Bert Epting at a Tuesday afternoon press conference on the AU campus. Lamb and the Trojans begin NCAA Division II competition as a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in 2024, marking the fourteenth college football team in the state of South Carolina.
With more than 100 career NCAA Division I wins, Lamb brings experience building a football program from scratch. He was hired in 2011 to resurrect Mercer University’s football program after 70 years of the Macon, GA school not fielding a team. In 2013 under Lamb, the Mercer Bears won 10 games, setting an NCAA record for the most wins by a collegiate program in its first season of competition.
A native of Commerce, GA, Lamb played quarterback for Furman from 1982-1985, leading the Division I-AA Paladins to historic wins over the South Carolina Gamecocks (1982), the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1983) and the North Carolina State Wolfpack (1984 and 1985.) As a senior, he was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year, helping the Paladins win the Southern Conference championship and leading the team to the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game.
Lamb was head coach of his alma mater from 2002 until 2010, leading Furman to a 67-40 overall record. During his tenure, the Paladins made four appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.
“I am thrilled and excited to be chosen to lead the Anderson University football program,” Lamb said. “I would like to thank Dr. Whitaker, Dr. Epting and the entire campus community for entrusting me with the opportunity to start football at such a prestigious university. I look forward to serving and being a part of the AU family.”
Lamb left Mercer in 2019 and spent the 2020 season as an assistant to University of Louisiana head coach Billy Napier. The Ragin’ Cajuns finished with a 10-1 record and a No. 15 national ranking ahead of teams such as the North Carolina Tar Heels (No. 18), the Texas Longhorns (No. 19) and the Miami Hurricanes (No. 22.)
“We are very excited to welcome Bobby and his family to Anderson University,” Epting said. “He has tremendous experience in building and sustaining football programs, recruiting at a high level and leading young men both on and off the field of play, all while integrating Christ into all he does. He brings a well-developed approach to football and we are blessed to name him as the first head football coach at Anderson University.”
Whitaker added, “Coach Bobby Lamb is a man of faith and integrity, and he is the perfect fit to lead our football program. He will help mold our student-athletes into men who represent Anderson University well on the field, in the classroom and in our community.”
Lamb’s appointment as head of the Trojans’ football program comes two weeks after AU finalized a 25-year, $1 million naming rights agreement with Spero Financial to create Spero Financial Field at Dr. Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium. An Upstate South Carolina philanthropist and friend of Anderson University, Younts is providing $3 million as a challenge gift in support of the Trojans Football program. AU continues adding partners to help realize Dr. Younts gift with the goal of raising $6 million.
“September 7, 2024 will be a great day in Anderson County history,” Lamb said referring to AU’s first scheduled football game. “The emotion and intensity of that day will be incredible.”
