It has been a tough journey for coach Ed Lamb as he rebuilds the football fortunes at the University of Northern Colorado, as he inherited a program left in ashes by the previous three coaches.
In replacing Ed McCaffrey, who never lived full-time in Greeley during his two-season reign (2021-2022), by winning only six of 22 games (4-12 in the Big Sky Conference, Lamb is building the Bears from the ground up with an emphasis on recruiting freshmen, especially in the state of Colorado.
Lamb’s first two seasons at UNC produced only one win in 23 games (1-15 BSC) as the cupboard was empty due to McCaffrey’s lack of college coaching experience, as he was hired after leading Valor Christian High School, where his sons played.
McCaffrey was hired in 2019 before COVID canceled the 2022 season. Prior to McCaffrey, UNC had posted a 37-119 record in 14 seasons under two different coaches as the Bears transitioned into the Football Championship Subdivision from NCAA Division II.
For media reports, McCaffrey’s tenure was marked by “favoritism and family dynamics” and “program dysfunction and turmoil”. Here is a recap.
- Hired his inexperienced 28-year-old son, Max McCaffrey, as offensive coordinator.
- Brought in another son, Dylan McCaffrey, as the starting quarterback after he transferred from Michigan.
- Faced persistent player complaints and locker room friction regarding preferential treatment toward family members and specific players.
- Led to a mass exodus of players entering the transfer portal, with numerous former athletes publicly accusing the staff of poor communication and broken promises.
- Oversaw controversial incidents, including an assistant coach (Max McCaffrey) being reprimanded for throwing a broken clipboard into the stands and hitting a fan.
Due to Lamb’s patience, the Bears rebounded from the dismal start to post a 4-8 record with a 2-6 Big Sky mark. His program features a patient, locally-focused rebuilding strategy centered on homegrown recruiting, structural stability, and player development.
Lamb has famously used an “asparagus analogy” to explain his approach. He is “emphasizing that building a sustainable, winning culture takes years of cultivating roots before you can finally reap the harvest.”
With Nottingham Field in Greeley featuring lights for the first-time in school history, UNC opens the season against Big Sky rival Weber State on August 28 at 7 p.m., followed by a September 5 home game against South Dakota at 6 p.m. UNC SCHEDULE
Attending the Big Sky Kickoff with Lamb were offensive lineman Levi Johnson (Colorado Springs) and defensive lineman Blake Westlin (Lakewood).
