Kevin Cahill hired as Yale football coach, backs out of Lehigh contract

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with statements from the dean of athletics, coach and players from the 2025 season.

Yale University announced Monday afternoon that Lehigh football coach Kevin Cahill has been hired as the Joel E. Smilow ‘54 Head Coach of Yale Football.  

His departure comes just months after he signed a multi-year contract extension with Lehigh in December following a 12-0 regular season and back-to-back Patriot League Championships in 2024 and 2025.

In a statement posted on X Tuesday morning, Cahill addressed his departure.

“My commitment has always been to put my head down and work, and I am grateful that Lehigh and @LehighFootball believed in me to guide this program toward the prominence it deserves,” Cahill said. “The Championships are great, the many heartfelt relationships are what mean the most. The future of Lehigh Football is exceptionally bright because of the people. Thank You to the Lehigh Family.’

In a separate press release, Yale announced on Feb. 17 that former head coach Tony Reno would be stepping down from the position due to health reasons, effective immediately. The release also stated the university’s search for a new coach would begin immediately.

Sophomore punter Connor Poole said the team was caught off guard after Cahill announced his departure in a team meeting on Monday.

“Everyone was pretty shocked at first, because no one really expected it,” Poole said. “Emotions were pretty high, guys were upset, which is warranted, because everyone really cared for Coach Cahill and we all loved him.”

Dean of athletics Jeremy Gibson said Cahill played a key role in elevating the program and that the department is focused on maintaining that momentum.

“He’s been a great citizen of this campus and a great leader, not just to the football program, but for multiple aspects of the institution,” Gibson said. “In the short time I’ve been here, I developed a really strong relationship with them, and I’m disappointed to see him go, but certainly understand the multiple facets of the decision that he faced, and I genuinely wish (Cahill) and his family the best as they go back to Yale.”

Gibson declined to comment on Cahill’s contractual agreements, his reasons for leaving and when he decided to leave.

Cahill’s tenure at Lehigh began with a 2-9 season, but the Mountain Hawks quickly climbed the Patriot League standings. The team went 9-4 and won the conference championship in 2024, then followed an undefeated 12-0 regular season in 2025 and another Patriot League title. Lehigh fell to Villanova University in the second round of FCS playoffs, 14-7, on Dec. 6.

After that loss, Cahill emphasized the team’s bond.

“I’m proud of being a member of Lehigh, very, very proud of wearing brown and white as I always am,” Cahill said. “And I’m proud of (Aaron Crossley, Geoffrey Jamiel, Tyler Ochojski) up here, and the other 90 plus guys in the locker room as well.”

In the same Dec. 6 press conference, senior Geoffrey Jamiel reflected on the season.

“I feel like every day, we just show up, excited to be here, excited to play for Lehigh and be a part of this program,” Jamiel said. “We just show up and we give our best effort, and Coach Cahill tells us what to do, and then everything else handles itself. We just kind of love being here.”

Senior Tyler Ochojski said he anticipated the possibility of Cahill’s departure once Yale’s head coaching position opened.

“As soon as I saw that the Yale head coach had stepped down, I knew there was no way they wouldn’t offer him the job,” Ochojski said. “I know that was his home, where he raised his kids and started his family, so I knew it was going to be really hard for him to say no.”

Cahill previously spent 10 seasons at Yale before taking over at Lehigh, including five as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

“It is an honor to return to Yale Football,” Cahill said. “This legendary program has a proud history built on academic excellence, sportsmanship and competitive success, and I look forward to working every day to build upon that foundation.” 

Though Ochojski is no longer officially on the team following the fall season, he said he believes the current roster is working to move forward.

“I think it’s been tough for (the) guys,” he said. “It was unexpected, and (Cahill’s) the reason a lot of guys are here and came back. It’s hard to know he’s not going to be here. But I know the team will turn the page soon and continue to uphold the Lehigh football standard.”

Poole said the team has been able to maintain its normal routine in lifts and meetings over the past few days, and look forward to the future.

“Obviously everyone wants the best for him, but we’re just shocked that he is gone at the moment,” Poole said. “We all wish the best for him. We still have to keep going and just work towards the next day.”