Central State Chooses Theo Lemon to Direct
Football Program
July 18, 2003
Central State University has selected Theo Lemon as the new
head coach to direct the return of football at the University.
Lemon brings with him over twenty years of experience on the
collegiate level and is currently the head football coach at
the College of DuPage in Glyn Ellyn, IL, a position he has
held since 2001. Lemon is no stranger to Ohio or Central State.
He is a native of Massillon, OH and graduated from Ohio University
in 1980 with a degree in Physical Education and he earned his
Master of Education Degree in Guidance and Counseling from
Ohio University in 1990.
He coached at CSU from 1985 to 1990 during which time the
Marauders were 60-11-2, winning the NAIA Division I National
Championship in 1990. He was the defensive coordinator for
that championship team and was responsible for recruiting Hugh
Douglas to Central State. Before coming to CSU, Lemon was a
graduate assistant coach at Ohio U. and he also coached at
Kentucky State University, serving as the interim head football
coach for the 1984 season.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a coach with Theo’s
credentials and capabilities return to Central State and rebuild
our football program,” said Theresa Check, Director of
Athletics at Central State.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to return
to Ohio and the opportunity to return and coach at such a prestigious
university with such a significant tradition both academically
and athletically,” said Lemon. “I look forward
to being the head coach at Central State University and to
provide an exciting atmosphere for student-athletes to prosper
and flourish while seeking their degrees.”
The Board of Trustees agreed in June, 2001 to allow the return
of football at Central State University as part of a five year
Department of Athletics plan. The initial funding for football
will all come from private sources. The first stage of the
fundraising was to raise $500,000, at which time the search
for a coach would begin. That stage was reached in March, 2003.
Lemon, along with the Office of Institutional Advancement
under Vice President Anthony Fairbanks, will work to raise
the remaining one million dollars for the football program
During the next year, Lemon will also be recruiting student-athletes,
hiring assistant coaches and conducting workouts for those
students interested in playing football who are already enrolled
at CSU. The plan calls for playing a limited schedule in the
fall of 2004. A full schedule will not resume until the University
has raised a total of $1.4 million.
