Yale has its new football coach. Kevin Cahill, who left the Bulldogs to lead Lehigh to the FCS playoffs, will return to New Haven to replace Tony Reno as Joel E. Smilow ’54 head football coach, as Yale refers to the position.
Cahill was the recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the FCS coach of the year, after leading Lehigh to an unbeaten regular season, a second consecutive Patriot League title and playoff appearance. The Mountain Hawks were eliminated in the second round of the 24-team tournament. Cahill was on Reno’s staff at Yale from 2012-22, the last five seasons as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.
“It is an honor to return to Yale football,” Cahill said. “This legendary program has a proud history built on academic excellence, sportsmanship, and competitive success, and I look forward to working every day to build upon that foundation.”
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Cahill, 47, played quarterback at Springfield College, before starting his coaching career in 2001. He coached at Maine Maritime, Springfield, Tennessee Martin and Maine before coming to Yale, where he started with Reno and coached quarterbacks much of his time, including stars Kurt Rawlings and Nolan Grooms.
Reno’s son, Dante, transferred from South Carolina to take over as the Bulldogs’ quarterback last season, leading the team to the Ivy League title and its first ever FCS postseason appearance. Yale defeated Youngstown State in a dramatic comeback before losing to eventual champion Montana State. Bringing in a coach familiar with Reno’s system, and a successful track record as head coach, figures to foster continuity with Yale’s roster.
“Great coach, even better person,” Dante Reno said via social media. “Learned from the best, can’t wait to work.”
Tony Reno, 52, who stepped down last week, citing health reasons, was 83-49 with five Ivy championships at Yale. Cahill was a key part of a staff known for highly productive offenses. Under Cahill, Lehigh lost to Yale in 2024, but won a rematch last season.
“My family and I are proud to be part of the Yale community once again,” Cahill said, “and we are committed to upholding the standards and traditions that make this program exceptional.”
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Lehigh was 2-9 the year before Cahill arrived. His first team finished 2-9, but in his second season Lehigh rose to the top of the league with 5-1 record, 9-4 overall, beating Richmond in the first round of the playoffs, then losing to Idaho in the Round of 16. Last season, the Mountain Hawks were 12-0, ranked as high as fifth in FCS, to earn a first-round by. They lost to Villanova 14-7 in the second round. Lehigh had 27 all-conference players in Cahill’s three seasons.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Kevin back home to the Yale Bowl,” said Vicky Chun, Yale’s Thomas A. Beckett director of athletics. “From his formative years under Coach Reno’s mentorship to his outstanding success at Lehigh, highlighted by being named the nation’s top FCS coach as the Eddie Robinson Award winner, Kevin has consistently built and supported strong, values-driven programs grounded in character and culture. Our entire community is excited to welcome Kevin, his wife Carah, and their children Patrick, Thomas, and Elizabeth, back home to Yale.”
Cahill will debut on Sept. 19 at Holy Cross. Yale also plays Rhode Island, perennial FCS playoff contender, outside of conference.