Don Lee (American football) facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1971 |
| Playing career | |
| 1990–1993 | Olivet Nazarene |
| Position(s) | Defensive end |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1994 | Momence HS (IL) (OLB) |
| 1995–1997 | Middle Georgia (DE) |
| 1998–2001 | Southwest Baptist (DL) |
| 2002 | Cumberlands (KY) (LB) |
| 2003–2005 | Belhaven (AC) |
| 2006–2008 | Belhaven |
| 2009–2010 | Olivet Nazarene |
| 2011 | Concordia (AL) (AC) |
| 2012 | Concordia (AL) (DC) |
| 2012–2013 | Concordia (AL) |
| 2014–2016 | Virginia–Lynchburg |
| 2021–2022 | Cumberland (TN) (DL) |
| 2023–2024 | John Melvin |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 23–74 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 MSC West Division (2006) | |
Don A. Lee, born around 1971, is an American football coach. He has led several college football teams as head coach. These include Belhaven College (2006–2008), Olivet Nazarene University (2009–2010), Concordia College Alabama (2012–2013), Virginia University of Lynchburg (2014–2016), and John Melvin University (2023–2024). Coach Lee was also one of the first African American head coaches in the NAIA's Mid-South Conference. He even received a special award from the National Football League for minority coaches.
Contents
Playing Football
Don Lee played college football as a defensive end at Olivet Nazarene University. He played from 1990 to 1993. In 1995, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the university.
Coaching Career
Assistant Coaching Roles
Coach Lee's career in coaching began at Momence High School in Momence, Illinois. He coached the outside linebackers there in 1994. After that, he moved to Middle Georgia College and coached defensive ends from 1995 to 1997. During his time at Middle Georgia, the team's defense was one of the best in the NJCAA in 1995.
Lee then became a defensive line coach at Southwest Baptist University from 1997 to 2001. In 2002, he coached linebackers at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. His next step was becoming an assistant coach at Belhaven, where he would later become the head coach.
Head Coaching at Belhaven
Don Lee became the head football coach at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, from 2006 to 2008. He was the fourth head football coach for the school. During his time at Belhaven, his team had a record of 13 wins and 20 losses. In 2006, his team won the Mid-South Conference West Division title. This was only the second winning season in the school's football history.
Coach Lee focused on bringing in new players instead of relying on transfers from junior colleges. He also added a junior varsity schedule. This helped new freshmen get more playing time and encouraged them to choose Belhaven.
Coaching at Olivet Nazarene
In December 2008, Lee was hired to coach his old college team, Olivet Nazarene, in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He coached for two seasons, from 2009 to 2010. He left the team in November 2010 for family and personal reasons. During his time as head coach, the team had a record of 2 wins and 20 losses.
Leading Concordia College Alabama
After leaving Olivet Nazarene, Coach Lee became an assistant coach at Concordia College Alabama. In 2011, the Hornets finished the season with 6 wins and 5 losses. They even won their last game against a Division II team.
Concordia started their 2012 season with an exciting 20–19 victory over Mississippi Valley State. Don Lee became the head coach of the Hornets after the third game of the 2012 season. He coached the team until 2013.
Later Coaching Roles
Coach Lee continued his head coaching career at Virginia University of Lynchburg from 2014 to 2016. More recently, he coached the John Melvin University team from 2023 to 2024. Throughout his head coaching career, his overall record is 23 wins and 74 losses.
