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Don Lee (American football)

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Don Lee
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamJohn Melvin
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–5
Biographical details
Bornc. 1971
Playing career
1990–1993Olivet Nazarene
Position(s)Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994Momence HS (IL) (OLB)
1995–1997Middle Georgia (DE)
1998–2001Southwest Baptist (DL)
2002Cumberlands (KY) (LB)
2003–2005Belhaven (AC)
2006–2008Belhaven
2009–2010Olivet Nazarene
2011Concordia (AL) (AC)
2012Concordia (AL) (DC)
2012–2013Concordia (AL)
2014–2016Virginia–Lynchburg
2021–2022Cumberland (TN) (DL)
2023–presentJohn Melvin
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 MSC West Division (2006)

Don A. Lee (born c. 1971) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach for John Melvin University, a position he has held since 2023. He served as the head football coach at Belhaven College from 2006 to 2008, Olivet Nazarene University from 2009 to 2010, Concordia College Alabama from 2012 to 2013, and Virginia University of Lynchburg from 2014 to 2016. Lee was the second African American head coach in history of the NAIA's Mid-South Conference[1] and is a recipient of a National Football League minority coach fellowship.[2]

Playing career

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Lee played defensive end at Olivet Nazarene University[3] from 1990 until 1993, where he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1995.[4]

Coaching career

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Assistant coaching

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Lee's coaching career began with Momence High School in Momence, Illinois, where he served as outside linebackers coach for the school. His next move was Middle Georgia College as the defensive ends coach from 1995 to 1997. At Middle Georgia, the defense was ranked seventh in the NJCAA in total defense during the 1995 season.[5]

Lee entered the collegiate coaching ranks as defensive line coach at Southwest Baptist University from 1997 until 2001, and in 2002 moved to be the linebackers coach at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky.[1] His next move was to become an assistant coach at Belhaven, where he would later become the head coach.[6]

Belhaven

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Lee was the head football coach at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi from 2006 to 2008.[7][8] He was the fourth head football coach at the school. His record at Belhaven was 13–20.[9] The team won the Mid-South Conference West Division title in the process.[10]

After several years as an assistant coach,[11] Lee began his tenure at Belhaven by producing only the second winning season in the history of the school's football program in 2006.[12]

Lee has modified the school's approach of bringing in junior college transfer students to play and is focusing on building through new recruits. He has accented that program by bolstering a junior varsity schedule which encourages incoming freshmen to choose Belhaven through the desire of more playing time.[13] In 2007, his team Belhaven, produced a 5–6 overall record and averaged 33.7 points and allowed 37.3 per game.[14] His challenges in the 2008 season include overcoming being outscored in the fourth quarter of play[15] and overcoming a four win losing streak to begin the season.[16]

Olivet Nazarene

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In December 2008, Lee was hired to serve as head coach of his alma mater Olivet Nazarene in Bourbonnais, Illinois.[17] He resigned after only two seasons in November 2010 and cited family and personal reasons for the resignation.[18] During his two year stint as head coach, Lee led the Tigers to a record of 2–20.[18] Prior to his resignation, Lee notoriously skipped football practice to rake leaves at his home.

Concordia College Alabama

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From Olivet Nazarene, Lee took an assistant position with Concordia College Alabama. In his first season, the Hornets finished the 2011 season with a 6–5 record, and won their last game against the Division II Stillman.[19] Concordia opened their 2012 season with a 20–19 upset victory over Mississippi Valley State of the Division I FCS.[20] Lee was elevated to head coach of the Hornets after the third game of the 2012 season, after the Shepherd Skanes was fired.

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Belhaven Blazers (Mid-South Conference) (2006–2008)
2006 Belhaven 7–4 5–0 1st (West)
2007 Belhaven 5–6 3–2 T–2nd (West)
2008 Belhaven 2–9 1–4 5th (West)
Belhaven: 14–19 9–6
Olivet Nazarene Tigers (Mid-States Football Association) (2009–2010)
2009 Olivet Nazarene 2–9 1–6 7th (MEL)
2010 Olivet Nazarene 0–11 0–7 8th (MEL)
Olivet Nazarene: 2–20 1–13
Concordia Hornets (NAIA independent) (2012–present)
2012 Concordia 3–3
2013 Concordia 1–9
Concordia: 4–12
Virginia–Lynchburg Dragons (Independent) (2014–2016)
2014 Virginia–Lynchburg 0–8
2015 Virginia–Lynchburg 1–6
Virginia–Lynchburg: 1–14
John Melvin Millers (Independent) (2023–present)
2023 John Melvin 2–5
John Melvin: 2–5
Total: 23–70

References

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  1. ^ a b "Columbia Daily Herald". Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  2. ^ National Football League "NFL minority coaching fellowship attracts 83 participants"
  3. ^ Victory Sports Network Archived March 31, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Belhaven College Football
  4. ^ Columbia Daily Herald Archived January 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine He is now married to Mary Lee
  5. ^ Victory Sports Network "Belhaven's Lee Pursues Through Tough Family Issues" Jason Dannelly, February 17, 2006
  6. ^ Mid-South Conference
  7. ^ Clarion Ledger "Blazers shoot for consistency" by Stephen K. Lee, August 24, 2008
  8. ^ NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY JOURNAL "Majors target first win over Blazers" September 13, 2008
  9. ^ Belhaven College coaching records Archived July 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Fox 40 Now Sports Archived September 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine "2008 Belhaven College Football Preview" By Kristina Pink August 24, 2008
  11. ^ NCAA News[permanent dead link] Transactions
  12. ^ Natchez Democrat "Forrest White, Jonathan Gamberi become Blazers" By Matt Rutherford, February 13, 2007
  13. ^ Victory Sports Network Archived March 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine "Campus Report: Belhaven College-Jackson, MS" by Jason Dannelly, November 3, 2005
  14. ^ Tuscaloosa News "Revamped Tigers face Belhaven tonight" by Andrew Carroll August 30, 2008
  15. ^ Hattiesburg American "Belhaven's top priority: Be more consistent" By Stephen K. Lee, August 24, 2008
  16. ^ The Clarion Ledger "The End Zone" by Mike Christensen October 1, 2008
  17. ^ "Don Lee returns to alma mater to lead Tiger football program". NCNNews.com. December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Lee resigns as Olivet's head football coach". NCNNews.com. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  19. ^ Davidson, John (November 13, 2011). "Stillman drops homecoming game to Concordia". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  20. ^ "Concordia–Selma nips Mississippi Valley 20–19". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. September 1, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
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