A Winning Pedigree

First-year ETSU head football coach Tre Lamb has a strong winning pedigree, and like everyone in athletics, he really hates to lose.

Lamb, one of the most successful young coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and across collegiate football, spent the last four years turning Gardner-Webb into one of the perennial powers in the Big South Conference.

“I want to win games,” Lamb said. “That is brutally important to me. I am so competitive. Don’t talk to me on
 Saturday night or Sunday if we lose. 
I’m going to be upset. I hate losing more than I like winning.”

There haven’t been many quiet Saturday nights or Sundays for Lamb over the last two years, as Gardner-Webb has gone 
10-1 in conference play during this run, while also capturing back-to-back conference titles. The Runnin’ Bulldogs went a perfect 5-0 in Big South Conference play in 2022, while Lamb led Gardner-Webb to its first conference title in 20 years and the school’s first playoff appearance since 1992. The 2022 Big South Coach of the Year led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their first-ever win in the FCS Playoffs as Gardner-Webb defeated Eastern Kentucky 52-41 on November 26, 2022, in Richmond, Kentucky.

Since taking over as leader of the Buccaneer program on November 27, 2023, Lamb and his staff have done quick work building their team as they brought in 49 new players between the December and February signing periods. Of those 49 players, 29 are transfers and 29 also play on the offensive side of the ball.

“I want you to be excited about what you’re about to watch,” Lamb said. “That is important to me. We’re going to hold our kids accountable and do things the right way. We’re going to dress right. We’re going to talk right. We’re going to walk right. Everything we do, there’s going to be an expectation to win.”

Lamb knows ETSU is a special place and is eager to get back to winning championships like the Buccaneer faithful celebrated in 2018 and 2021.

“I can tell you this place is different,” he said. “It’s different than any place I’ve ever coached. This community is different. It’s about the perfect size town for an FCS football program. Enough people to fill this beautiful stadium. You go around town, you go to restaurants, you drive around and all you see is ETSU Pride and you can tell people care about it. That is very rewarding for me, my team, and our staff. We put a lot of time into this. And I can’t tell you how cool this place is.” 

#TogetherWeWin