Justin Lustig
1st Year
Bucknell ‘00
Justin Lustig was introduced as the 14th head football coach at Edinboro University on January 11. It marks Lustig’s first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach at Ball State University since 2011.
“We are very pleased that Justin has agreed to take over as head coach of the Edinboro football program,” related Director of Athletics Bruce Baumgartner. “We were elated with the pool of candidates, and this was not an easy decision given the quality of the candidates. We believe that in Justin Lustig we have a coach who is a rising star in the profession.”
Lustig is no stranger to football in northwestern Pennsylvania. He played his high school football at Cathedral Prep, graduating in 1996. He would go on to play at Bucknell, earning his bachelor’s degree in English & History in 2000. He was a four-year starter for the Bison while playing at cornerback and safety, and was part of a Bucknell team that enjoyed the most successful season in school history in 1997 with a 10-1 record. He served as a captain in 2000. The Bison won the 1996 Patriot League championship. He is tied for 12th in career interceptions with nine.
When asked what type of head coach he will be, Lustig commented, “A lot of energy. A guy that’s going to work hard. Someone who will be around the community. Invested in the football program, the athletic program, but also the university and the community. I hope to make an impact in the community.
“We want a program that is very transparent,” he continued. “We’ll have open practices and welcome everyone. We highly encourage that. We want to get people interested in the program. That’s a huge goal.”
Lustig has been a part of four teams that earned bowl eligibility in eight years at the FBS level. He was an assistant on five teams that won conference championships in 14 years in the profession, including six NCAA playoff appearances and two bowl games. Once again, five of the teams he has been associated with have been ranked in the top 25. Finally, he has helped develop 37 all-conference performers, including 12 at Ball State.
Most recently, Lustig was an assistant coach at Ball State since 2011, serving as the special teams coordinator/running backs coach since 2011, along with earning the title of assistant head coach prior to the 2015 season.
The Cardinals played in two bowl games during Lustig’s tenure. They faced UCF in the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl in 2012, then earned a spot in the 2013 GoDaddy Bowl against Arkansas State. Ball State finished with a 10-3 record in 2013 and 9-4 in 2012. In addition, Ball State posted wins over four BCS conference teams – Indiana twice, South Florida, and Virginia.
Former Ball State head coach Pete Lembo, who accepted an assistant coaching position at Maryland in January, has no doubt that Lustig will make an outstanding head coach and will be a fine addition to the Edinboro staff.
“Justin is a fantastic football coach and an even better person,” Lembo exclaimed. “I enjoyed five very, very productive years with Justin. He is as ready as he can be to move into the role of head coach. Last year, he was elevated into the assistant head coach position, which was obviously well-deserved. The Lustig family will bring a great deal of pride and support and will represent Edinboro University and the community very well. Edinboro is getting more than just a coach. Justin will be a tremendous head coach. I look forward to following his progress in the coming years.”
His special teams and return specialists ranked among the finest in Division I each year at Ball State. In 2014, Scott Secor was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He also coached first team All-MAC selection Eric Patterson as a kickoff returner, and mentored third team All-MAC running back Jahwan Edwards.
In addition, he coached six Mid-American Conference all-conference selections, including three-time kick return specialist Jamill Smith and Edwards, who was a three-time All-MAC pick. Edwards would become just the third ballcarrier in Ball State history with three 1,000-yard campaigns, and became the career leader in rushing and touchdowns rushing. Punter Scott Kovanda was a Ray Guy Award finalist, and placekickers Steve Schott and Scott Secor were Lou Groza Award semifinalists.
In 2015, Ball State’s special teams ranked among the top four in the MAC in every special teams statistical category. The kickoff return unit ranked 12th in Division I at 25.5 yards per return, and the kickoff return defense was ranked 13th nationally (18.03 yards per return). He also coached running back Darian Green, who led the MAC in all-purpose yardage.
Lustig has also served as an assistant at three other Division I institutions. After beginning his coaching career as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Christopher Newport in 2001-02, he moved on to Villanova in 2003, overseeing the cornerbacks. The Wildcats had the number one defense in the conference in pass efficiency defense and total defense. They were ranked as high as fourth in Football Championship Series rankings.
He returned to Christopher Newport for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He served as the special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator/defensive backs coach. During that period his special teams units broke numerous school records while blocking 11 kicks and returning three for touchdowns. In addition, the Captains returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. His four-year tenure at Christopher Newport included a USA South Atlantic Conference co-championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
He took over as the special teams coordinator/running backs coach at Eastern Illinois from 2006-08. The Panthers played in the NCAA FCS playoffs in 2006 and 2007, finishing with an 8-5 record in 2006 and 8-4 in 2007. He coached three different all-conference and 1,000-yard rushers. His 2008 special teams units led the conference in three out of four categories.
In 2009, Lustig moved on to Louisiana-Lafayette as the special teams coordinator/running backs and H back coach. He was a member of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ coaching staff for two seasons. In 2009, Louisiana-Lafayette was 6-6, including a 17-15 win over Kansas State. His 2010 punt return team ranked number one in the Sun Belt.
Lustig’s wife, the former Beth Ann Christopher, played on the Edinboro women’s soccer team. The couple has two sons – Samuel (11) and Henry (8). Lustig also earned a master’s degree in Education & Development – Human Resource Management from George Washington University in 2005.
