Bobby Lamb, head coach, Furman University
When Bobby Lamb assumed the reins of Furman's football program in December of 2001, it marked the culmination of a lifelong dream of becoming a collegiate head coach. To realize his dream at his alma mater, Lamb said at the time, made the moment even more special.

The latest signal moment in Lamb's football experience came last year when he directed Furman to a 10-3 record, Southern Conference championship, and No. 5 final national ranking -- a performance that netted him league coach-of-the-year honors.

A Commerce, Ga., native, Lamb had served as an assistant on the Paladin staff for 16 years before becoming Furman's 21st head coach. And while at 42 years-old and three seasons into his Paladin head coaching tenure he still ranks as the youngest mentor in the Southern Conference, in terms of total years of experience with his current school, he has no peer. Indeed, when combining his highly decorated four-year playing career with his time as a member of Furman's coaching staff, his 23 years of service to his alma mater rank first among current league head coaches.

A former Paladin standout quarterback, 1987 Furman graduate, and 1995 inductee into the University's Athletic Hall-of-Fame, Lamb spent 13 years as quarterbacks coach and, from 1993 to 2001, served as passing game coordinator before being tabbed to succeed Bobby Johnson as head coach following his departure to Vanderbilt. Lamb's assistant coaching tenure also included work with the program's receivers and defensive ends.

As a member of the Paladin coaching staff, he has played a pivotal role in some of the greatest seasons in school history, including six Southern Conference championships, a national championship, and a national runner-up finish. Furman's record during his tenure as an assistant coach was 126-65-3 (.657).

Counting a solid 8-4 record in his inaugural season as head coach and 10-3 slate last year, Furman over the past six years has posted a 54-21 record, won three league titles, and earned five NCAA I-AA playoff bids and four Top 20 national rankings. In 2001 Furman claimed a share of the league championship on the way to a 12-3 record and the program's third I-AA title game appearance, where the Paladins dropped a 13-6 decision to Montana.

Fueling Furman's team success during his span as an assistant coach and in his first three years as head coach has been the outstanding play of Lamb-developed quarterbacks. The latest product is Ingle Martin, who last year passed for a school record 2,792 yards and 22 touchdowns in his first season in Paladin uniform. In 2001 Lamb oversaw the emergence of Billy Napier, a two-time all-conference performer who completed a stellar career by passing for a then-school record 2,475 yards, finishing second in the nation in passing efficiency, and setting a new league season completion percentage standard (68.5 percent).

Prior to Napier, he assisted in the development of Justin Hill (1997-00) into an all-league player. In 1999 Hill directed Furman to a 9-3 record and league championship season that included a 28-3 win over North Carolina. Before Hill, he helped mold Braniff Bonaventure (1993-96) into an all-conference signal caller and national record holder for most consecutive pass attempts (217) without an interception. Bonaventure's emergence followed that of two-time all-conference quarterback Frankie DeBusk (1987-90), who Lamb mentored during the 1989 and '90 seasons. DeBusk shattered several school records, many formerly held by Lamb, including career passing yards and total offense.

Prior to taking over duties as quarterbacks coach in 1989 under then head coach Jimmy Satterfield, Lamb directed the program's defensive ends for two seasons, including a 1988 campaign that saw All-America performers Kelly Fletcher and Chris Roper play a crucial role in Furman leading the nation in scoring defense (9.7 ppg) and headlining the Paladins' drive to a school season best 13-2 record and I-AA national championship.

Furman's success during his tenure as an assistant coach only continued the level of achievement he helped deliver as an all-star prep and college quarterback.

Lamb came to Furman in 1982 under Dick Sheridan after fashioning a fine career at Commerce (Ga.) High School, where he played for his father, Ray Lamb, and alongside current Paladin assistant head coach and offensive line coach Clay Hendrix, who later starred with Lamb at Furman. In 1981 he was named by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as its AA Back-of-the-Year after leading Commerce to a 13-1-1 record and state championship.

At Furman he put his impressive ability and field savvy on display beginning in his sophomore season when he stepped in for injured starting quarterback David Charpia to lead the Paladins to a 17-14 win over Georgia Tech on the way to 10-2-1 record, league championship, and I-AA semifinal playoff finish. In his first full season as a starter in 1984, he helped engineer Furman to an 8-3 record, including a 34-30 triumph over North Carolina State.

As a senior in 1985 he recorded perhaps the most effective season ever by a Paladin quarterback, completing 133-of-228 pass attempts (58.3 percent) for 2,264 yards and 24 touchdowns (only six interceptions). His 171.20 passing efficiency rating led the nation and helped the Paladins post their fourth straight win over an I-A opponent with a 42-20 rout of North Carolina State. In addition to going undefeated in league play (6-0) and notching the program's third conference title in four seasons, the Paladins finished as national runner-up with a 12-2 record. In recognition of his outstanding play, he was named Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year, South Carolina Male Amateur Athlete-of-the-Year by the South Carolina Athletic-Hall-of-Fame, and Carolinas Male Amateur Athlete-of-the-Year by the Charlotte Athletic Club.

In helping Furman to a 39-10-1 record (.790) during his playing career, Lamb, who still holds a number of school records and two league standards, helped fashion the second best four-year stretch in school history. During his playing and coaching tenure at Furman, the Paladins have notched a 179-84-4 record (.678) and have captured eight of the school's league record 11 league championships.

Lamb graduated from Furman in 1987 with a bachelor of arts degree in health and exercise science and in 1992 added a master's of education degree in the same field.