South Fayette grad named head coach at Western Colorado
Western Colorado University has found its next leader of the Mountaineer men’s basketball program and he is a Western Pennsylvania native.
South Fayette High School graduate Michael Lamberti was named head coach by Director of Athletics Miles Van Hee. He officially began his position this spring.
“My family and I are absolutely thrilled to embark on this new adventure and join the Western Colorado University community,” said Lamberti, who is married to former West Liberty women’s basketball standout Emily Bucon and has one child, Vincenzo.
Lamberti’s adventures in basketball began in McDonald where he led the Lions to a PIAA state championship in 2010. Lamberti remains the all-time leading scorer in South Fayette boys basketball history with 1,707 career points. He also pulled down more than 1,000 rebounds. Lamberti was voted all-state three times, including first-team after his senior season.
Lamberti went on to excel at West Liberty. A 2016 graduate, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, adding the Most Outstanding Finance Graduate award to his undergraduate honors.
While playing for the Hilltoppers, he scored over 700 points, collected 420 rebounds and dished up 200 assists. His teams were 156-17 and won four conference titles, advanced to the Final Four three times (2013, 2014, 2016) and to the national championship game once (2014).
After spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (Fla.) University where he earned a master’s degree in leadership, Lamberti embarked on his collegiate coaching career at West Liberty.
During his five-year stint (2018-2023) as the head assistant coach at his alma mater, the Hilltoppers compiled a 135-21.
West Liberty swept the Mountain East Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2020 (first sweep by any team in league history), 2022 and 2023.
NCAA Division II national tournament participants in each of Lamberti’s five seasons at WLU, the program finished its 2023 campaign as the national runner-up. It had previously reached the Elite 8 in 2021 and the Sweet 16 in 2019.
With Lamberti on the staff, West Liberty also developed 16 all-conference selections, four MEC players of the year, one MEC freshman of the year, two NCAA Atlantic Region players of the year and two consensus All-Americans.
In addition to his daily on-court coaching duties with the Hilltoppers, Lamberti’s responsibilities also included scouting of opponents, academic advising of all players in the program, recruiting, and scheduling.
“Coaching basketball is not just a job for me, it’s a passion and a way of life,” said Lamberti.
Lamberti brings that youthful enthusiasm now to Western Colorado and the Mountaineers are excited to have one of the 2019 Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team of rising young coaches leading the team.
“We are thrilled to have Michael joining the Mountaineer family as our head men’s basketball coach,” said Van Hee. “Mike is absolutely one of the most progressive, up-and-coming coaches in Division II. He is a proven winner who brings a passion like no other to the sport of basketball and comes from one of the winningest men’s basketball programs in the division.
“We love the style of play he will bring, and his enthusiasm for coaching. Mike is very intelligent, hardworking and motivational, and we believe he will get the most out his student-athletes. Coach Lamberti is hungry to prove himself and we are fortunate to have him and his family joining our forces here at Western.”
Lamberti is anxious to get to work and bringing his brand and success to Western Colorado. After thanking the administration for his “incredible” opportunity, he said, “I look forward to building this program and to helping our student-athletes succeed both on and off the court.”