The Lamar Cardinals (Southland) and head coach Pete Rossomando have agreed to a four-year extension. Rossomando guided Lamar to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1966 and 1967 and has a 13-10 overall record with the Cardinals in two seasons.
Rossomando took over in 2023 after the Cardinals went a combined 5-23 in the three seasons prior to his arrival, including a 1-10 campaign in 2022. The 2023 season started with three straight losses followed by four straight wins and a .500 record in the final four games. Lamar went 6-5 overall and 5-2 in conference to finish 3rd in the Southland.
In 2024, Lamar started with a loss to Texas State from the FBS but won three straight games. After back-to-back losses against Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin, the Cardinals won back-to-back road games at East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce) and Northwestern State. Lamar then lost back-to-back games against SE Louisiana and Incarnate Word but ended the season winning back-to-back games against Nicholls and McNeese. The Cardinals went 7-5 overall and 4-3 in the Southland to finish in a tie for 3rd place with Stephen F. Austin.
Before joining Lamar, Rossomando had extensive coaching experience on the East Coast. He led the NCAA Division II New Haven Chargers (Northeast-10) for five seasons, finishing with a 42-13 overall record, three conference titles, and two D-II playoff appearances. From 2014 through 2018, he was the head coach at Central Connecticut State (NEC) and guided them to their first FCS playoff appearance in 2017. He was also the interim head coach for Charlotte’s last four games in 2022 with the 49ers finishing 2-2 after a 1-9 start. Rossomando is 80-59 overall and 59-30 in conference games as head coach.
Rossomando and Lamar will begin the 2025 season at North Texas (American) on August 30 followed by a home game against South Dakota (MVFC) on September 6. They’ll wrap up the non-conference slate with a short road trip to Texas Southern (SWAC) on September 13 and a home game against Central Arkansas on September 27.
Photo Credit to Lamar University Athletics
