What Is 2011 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2011 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team represented Lehigh University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season, finishing with a 9–3 overall record and winning the Patriot League title with a 6–0 conference record. Head coach Andy Coen led the team to its third consecutive league championship.

Key Facts

2011 Lehigh Mountain Hawks finished with a 9–3 overall record
Won the Patriot League with a perfect 6–0 conference record
Head coach Andy Coen led the team for the fourth consecutive season
Defeated Colgate 21–17 in the FCS first-round playoff game
Lost to North Dakota State 45–7 in the second round of the FCS playoffs

Overview

The 2011 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team represented Lehigh University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Competing in the Patriot League, the team achieved a 9–3 overall record and a flawless 6–0 mark in conference play, securing the league title for the third consecutive year under head coach Andy Coen.

Lehigh earned an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, marking the program's 10th postseason appearance. The team demonstrated strong offensive and defensive performances throughout the season, highlighted by a dramatic playoff victory over Colgate before falling to North Dakota State in the second round.

9–3 overall record: The 2011 season saw Lehigh win nine games, the most since the 2001 championship season, showcasing consistent performance across non-conference and league play.
Patriot League champions: The Mountain Hawks completed an undefeated 6–0 conference season, capturing their third straight league title, a rare achievement in Division I FCS football.
Andy Coen as head coach: In his fourth season, Coen refined a balanced offensive scheme and disciplined defense, earning Patriot League Coach of the Year honors.
FCS playoff appearance: Lehigh entered the 2011 playoffs as the Patriot League representative and defeated Colgate 21–17 in a hard-fought first-round matchup.
Second-round exit: The season ended with a 45–7 loss to North Dakota State, which went on to win the FCS National Championship that year.

Season Highlights

The 2011 campaign featured several pivotal moments that defined Lehigh’s successful run, both in the regular season and postseason. The team overcame early non-conference challenges to dominate Patriot League opponents with precision and resilience.

September 17, 2011: Lehigh defeated Monmouth 34–27 in a key non-conference game, showing offensive depth and clutch fourth-quarter execution.
October 22, 2011: A 27–7 victory over archrival Lafayette secured the Patriot League title and extended Lehigh’s winning streak in the series.
November 19, 2011: In the FCS first round, Lehigh beat Colgate 21–17 after a late defensive stand, marking the team’s first playoff win since 2004.
November 26, 2011: The season concluded with a 45–7 loss to North Dakota State, who finished the year 13–1 and claimed the national title.
Offensive leadership: Quarterback Chris Lum threw for 2,773 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Patriot League honors.
Defensive strength: The defense allowed only 18.2 points per game, ranking among the top in the FCS, with linebacker Michael Colubiale recording 102 tackles.

Comparison at a Glance

Lehigh’s 2011 season compared favorably to recent years, showing improvement in both record and playoff success. The table below highlights key metrics across three seasons.

Season	Overall Record	Patriot League Record	Playoff Result	Head Coach
2009	7–4	5–1	Did not qualify	Andy Coen
2010	8–4	5–1	Lost in first round	Andy Coen
2011	9–3	6–0	Lost in second round	Andy Coen
2012	10–3	6–0	Lost in quarterfinals	Andy Coen
2013	6–6	3–3	Did not qualify	Andy Coen

The 2011 season marked a turning point in Lehigh’s FCS competitiveness, combining an undefeated conference record with a playoff win. This performance laid the foundation for even greater success in 2012, when the team reached the national semifinals.

Why It Matters

The 2011 season was significant for Lehigh football, reinforcing the program’s status as a Patriot League powerhouse and a consistent FCS playoff contender. It demonstrated the effectiveness of Andy Coen’s coaching and player development strategies.

Three-peat achievement: Winning three consecutive Patriot League titles placed Lehigh in elite company, highlighting program stability and excellence.
Playoff breakthrough: The win over Colgate ended a seven-year playoff victory drought, restoring confidence in postseason competition.
Player development: The season elevated several players to All-American consideration, including linebacker Colubiale and offensive lineman Matt Rotheram.
Recruiting boost: Success in 2011 helped attract higher-caliber recruits, contributing to deeper rosters in subsequent seasons.
Program legacy: The 2011 team is remembered as a bridge between earlier rebuilding years and the deep playoff runs of 2012 and 2014.
Community engagement: Home playoff games increased local support and campus enthusiasm, strengthening the football program’s visibility.

Overall, the 2011 Lehigh Mountain Hawks season exemplified sustained excellence at the FCS level, combining conference dominance with meaningful postseason impact.