A veteran defensive coach with 42 years of coaching experience in both the collegiate and professional ranks, Kevin Lempa returns to Manoa for his second stint as defensive coordinator with the University of Hawai‘i, and his first season under head coach Nick Rolovich.
Lempa has coached some of the best defenses in the nation in both the NCAA and the NFL across his extensive career, most recently serving the past three seasons as Boston College’s defensive backs coach in his third stretch at BC. In 2015, the Eagles ranked first in the nation in total defense, aided by Lempa’s secondary, which ranked sixth nationally in passing defense, allowing only 171.5 passing yards per game.
Lempa was instrumental to a BC program that achieved back-to-back, seven-win seasons in 2013 and ’14 and advanced to the 2013 AdvoCare v100 Independence Bowl and the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl on the heels of a 2-10 campaign in 2012; the five-win improvement from 2012 to 2013 tied for fourth-best in the FBS.
Over the course of an extensive career, Lempa has coached in 13 collegiate bowl games, including 10 as an assistant coach at Boston College – two more at Maryland and one during his time at UH.
Lempa also has over two decades grooming defensive backs, and dozens of his former players went on to play professionally, including nine in the National Football League. Proving a strong mentor, he has guided players to all-ACC, all-WAC, all-Ivy League, all-Big East, all-ECAC and All-American honors. Most recently highlighting the list, All-ACC safety Justin Simmons led the team and ranked second in the conference in interceptions in 2015 at Boston College.
He rejoined the Boston College staff after having served as defensive coordinator at Columbia (2012) and Central Connecticut State (2011), following a four-year run at Maryland. During his first two seasons with the Terrapins, Lempa coached the entire defensive backfield and continued on to coach the program’s safeties. In his first season in College Park, Lempa helped direct an impressive pass defense as the Terps yielded just 210.7 yards per game to rank 33rd in the country in pass defense.
Prior to his time at Maryland, Lempa spent four seasons (2003-06) as the secondary coach with BC, where he led one of the top units in both the Big East and ACC. The Eagles were among the nation’s best in picking off passes in 2006, making 21 interceptions to tie for third nationally, trailing only Western Michigan (24) and Wake Forest (22). They also had 17 interceptions in 2004, which led the Big East. There he guided 2007 consensus All-America first-team selection Jamie Silva.
During his first stint with the Warriors, Lempa served as defensive coordinator under coach June Jones from 2000-02. During his tenure, Hawai‘i placed high nationally in several defensive categories. The 2001 team not only improved from 3-9 the prior year but finished the season with a 9-3 record and put four players on the all-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) team. The Warriors led the nation with 21 fumble recoveries, in addition to 14 interceptions, including three for touchdowns.
Aided by team MVP and second-round NFL Draft pick (St. Louis) linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, the 2002 team climbed even higher, turning in a 10-4 record and playing in the ConAgra Foods Hawai‘i Bowl. Again the aggressive Lempa-led defense provided ample turnovers, charting 25, with 18 interceptions—including a then-school-record four pick sixes. The Warrior defense also broke the UH record for most defensive scoring (32).
Prior to his time in Manoa, Lempa spent three seasons (1997-99) in the NFL as a defensive assistant with the San Diego Chargers where he first worked with Jones. San Diego had one of the better defenses in the NFL during that period and led the league in yards allowed (263.0 ypg) in 1998.
Early in his career, he made his first run as defensive coordinator (defensive backs), serving at Dartmouth from 1991-96, when the Big Green won three Ivy League Championships and finished the 1996 season with a 10-0 record and a No. 16 national ranking in Division I-AA, aided by a Lempa defense which ranked second in the nation in points allowed per game.
His coaching career began at his alma mater, Southern Connecticut State (1974-75), where he mentored the wide receivers for two years before one season at Wesleyan (1976); and three years at Maine (1977-80) where he switched to the defensive side, taking on the Black Bears’ outside linebackers and special teams.
Lempa is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, where he played wide receiver. He has a master’s degree from the University of Maine. He and his wife, Sara, have two grown children, Christopher and Tara.
The Lempa FileHometown: Hartford, Conn.
Alma Mater: Southern Connecticut State, B.S.(1974)
Maine, M.Ed. (1978)
Playing Career1970-1973: Southern Connecticut State (Wide Receiver)
Coaching Career2016-Present: Hawai‘i, Defensive Coordinator
2013-15: Boston College, Assistant (Defensive Backs)
2012: Columbia, Defensive Coordinator (Secondary)
2011: Central Connecticut State, Defensive Coordinator
2009-10: Maryland, Assistant (Safeties)
2007-08: Maryland, Assistant (Secondary)
2003-06: Boston College, Assistant (Defensive Backs)
2000-02: Hawai‘i, Defensive Coordinator
1997-99: San Diego Chargers, Assistant (Defensive Backs/Defensive Line)
1991-96: Dartmouth, Defensive Coordinator (Defensive Backs)
1981-90: Boston College, Assistant (Outside Linebackers/Special Teams)
1977-80: Maine, Assistant (Defensive Backs)
1976: Wesleyan, Assistant (Wide Receivers)
1974-75: Southern Connecticut State, Assistant (Wide Receivers)
