Bucknell Names Jeff Behrman New Head Football Coach for Union County

Bucknell University confirmed the hiring of Jeff Behrman as its 28th Bob Odell Head Football Coach on January 1, 2026. Behrman arrives in Lewisburg with nearly 30 years of coaching experience and a 71-27 head coaching record compiled at John Carroll and Union. The university’s announcement highlighted his recent success at John Carroll, including a deep NCAA Division III playoff run, his earlier turnaround work at Union, and a coaching pedigree that spans FCS and Division III stops. The release also noted a campus welcome reception and upcoming media availability.

For local residents, the appointment carries both excitement and practical implications. A coaching change at Bucknell affects game-day traffic, local business revenues tied to home contests, and youth football programs that feed into the regional sports ecosystem. More broadly, a new coach sets priorities that influence student-athlete health services, medical staffing and funding for strength and conditioning programs. Those priorities matter for player safety, concussion management, and access to mental health support on campus.

The hiring comes at a time when colleges nationwide face scrutiny over how athletic departments allocate resources across sports and support athletes’ overall wellbeing. In Union County, community advocates and campus health providers will watch whether the new regime invests in evidence-based injury prevention, robust athletic training, and expanded mental health services. How Bucknell balances competitive ambitions with equitable health and academic support for all athletes could shape outcomes for current students and prospective recruits.

Behrman’s record of program turnarounds suggests an emphasis on rebuilding and competitive renewal. That trajectory can galvanize alumni and local support, but it also raises immediate questions about staffing, budgeting, and Title IX compliance that affect both men’s and women’s athletics. Transparency about medical protocols, scholarship priorities and community access to athletic facilities will be important to stakeholders who care about equity and student wellbeing.

The university’s planned welcome reception and upcoming media availability will be opportunities for Bucknell to outline Coach Behrman’s vision and operational priorities, including health and safety practices. As the season approaches, local residents and campus leaders will be looking for concrete plans that reconcile competitive goals with sustainable investments in athlete care, academic success and community partnerships that support health equity across Union County.