Ball State head coach Lembo leaves to join Maryland staff

Head coach Pete Lembo has left Ball State to become Maryland's assistant head coach and special teams coordinator. Both schools announced the move Tuesday.

A source had told FOX Sports earlier in the day that Lembo was resigning to join new Terps head coach D.J. Durkin's staff.

The 45-year-old Lembo, a former Georgetown player, has compiled a record of 112-65 as a college head coach and was 33-29 in five seasons with the Cardinals. In 2013, Lembo led BSU to a 10-3 record, but in the past two seasons, they went 8-16.

Lembo decided to make the move after dealing with frustration after years leading one of the most under-resourced programs in the MAC.

The move to Maryland also enables Lembo and his wife (also a Georgetown grad) to be closer to the grandparents of their three children.

Durkin, a first-time head coach, already has hired former FBS head coaches Mike London and Scott Shafer to the Terps staff.

Bruce Feldman is a senior college football reporter and columnist for FOXSports.com and FS1. He is also a New York Times best-selling author. His new book, “The QB: The Making of Modern Quarterbacks,” came out in October 2014. Follow him on Twitter @BruceFeldmanCFB and Facebook.