Dougherty Promoted to Defensive Coordinator
1/8/2026 12:39:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo football head coach Pete Lembo announced on Thursday that Brian Dougherty has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Dougherty spent the past two seasons on the UB staff as safeties and nickels coach.
"I could not be more excited to promote Brian and reward him for his incredible contributions to our program and defense over the last two years," Lembo said. "He has been a great role model for our players, knows our defensive system in and out and is more than ready to move into this leadership role. Brian has coordinated defenses before coming to Buffalo and I am sure our players will benefit greatly from this continuity."
Dougherty helped lead a defense that ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference in total defense in 2025 and led the MAC with 13 interceptions in 2024.
Dougherty will return to the role of defensive coordinator, a job he held for five years at the University of Indianapolis and Valparaiso prior to his arrival at UB.
He spent the 2023 season as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of Indianapolis.
In his lone season at UIndy, he helped lead the Greyhounds to a 9-2 record and oversaw one of the top defenses in not only the Great Lakes Athletic Conference, but all of Division II.
In 2023, Indianapolis led the GLAC in scoring defense (14.9) which also ranked eighth nationally. The Greyhounds also led the conference in defensive efficiency (12.8) and ranked second in total defense (290.5) and passing defense (176.0).
Prior to being hired a UIndy, Dougherty spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Valparaiso. He helped lead the Beacons to 12 Pioneer Football League victories over his final three seasons, setting a school record over that length of time.
In 2022, Dougherty's defense led the PFL in in both redzone and fourth down defense, ranking eighth and sixth in the nation, respectively. Additionally, Valpo's defense held rival Butler to just three points in a 47-3 victory on Nov. 13, 2021, shattering the program record for margin of victory against a Division I opponent.
Dougherty spent the 2018 season as the defensive backs coach at Tiffin University. He helped lead the Dragons to a 9-2 record and coached three all-conference honorees. He spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons as cornerbacks coach at Dayton. The Flyers held opponents to an average of 19.7 points per game over two seasons while leading the PFL in interceptions in 2016 and finishing second in 2017.
Dougherty spent two seasons as a graduate assistant under Lembo at Ball State, working with the wide receivers in 2015 and defensive backs in 2014.
He began his coaching career as cornerbacks coach at Millikin University in 2013.
Dougherty is a 2012 graduate of Miami (OH) where he was a student assistant and manager for the RedHawks football team. He earned a master's degree in athletic coaching education from Ball State in 2016.
Other moves announced today - Luke Passinault has been promoted from defensive graduate assistant to defensive analyst and Kamerun Snell has been promoted from defensive intern to defensive graduate assistant.
Lembo plans to add an experienced full-time defensive coach in the coming days.
"I could not be more excited to promote Brian and reward him for his incredible contributions to our program and defense over the last two years," Lembo said. "He has been a great role model for our players, knows our defensive system in and out and is more than ready to move into this leadership role. Brian has coordinated defenses before coming to Buffalo and I am sure our players will benefit greatly from this continuity."
Dougherty helped lead a defense that ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference in total defense in 2025 and led the MAC with 13 interceptions in 2024.
Dougherty will return to the role of defensive coordinator, a job he held for five years at the University of Indianapolis and Valparaiso prior to his arrival at UB.
He spent the 2023 season as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of Indianapolis.
In his lone season at UIndy, he helped lead the Greyhounds to a 9-2 record and oversaw one of the top defenses in not only the Great Lakes Athletic Conference, but all of Division II.
In 2023, Indianapolis led the GLAC in scoring defense (14.9) which also ranked eighth nationally. The Greyhounds also led the conference in defensive efficiency (12.8) and ranked second in total defense (290.5) and passing defense (176.0).
Prior to being hired a UIndy, Dougherty spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Valparaiso. He helped lead the Beacons to 12 Pioneer Football League victories over his final three seasons, setting a school record over that length of time.
In 2022, Dougherty's defense led the PFL in in both redzone and fourth down defense, ranking eighth and sixth in the nation, respectively. Additionally, Valpo's defense held rival Butler to just three points in a 47-3 victory on Nov. 13, 2021, shattering the program record for margin of victory against a Division I opponent.
Dougherty spent the 2018 season as the defensive backs coach at Tiffin University. He helped lead the Dragons to a 9-2 record and coached three all-conference honorees. He spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons as cornerbacks coach at Dayton. The Flyers held opponents to an average of 19.7 points per game over two seasons while leading the PFL in interceptions in 2016 and finishing second in 2017.
Dougherty spent two seasons as a graduate assistant under Lembo at Ball State, working with the wide receivers in 2015 and defensive backs in 2014.
He began his coaching career as cornerbacks coach at Millikin University in 2013.
Dougherty is a 2012 graduate of Miami (OH) where he was a student assistant and manager for the RedHawks football team. He earned a master's degree in athletic coaching education from Ball State in 2016.
Other moves announced today - Luke Passinault has been promoted from defensive graduate assistant to defensive analyst and Kamerun Snell has been promoted from defensive intern to defensive graduate assistant.
Lembo plans to add an experienced full-time defensive coach in the coming days.
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