DOVER — Delaware State checked one major item off its shopping list on Monday.

DSU athletic director Alecia Gadson announced that Lee Hull has been hired as the Hornets’ new football coach.

The announcement of the hiring comes just two days before Wednesday’s early signing day for high school seniors and NCAA transfers.

The 56-year-old Hull replaces Rod Milstead, who coached the Hornets to a 17-33 record over the past five seasons.

A 25-year coaching veteran, Hull is probably best known in the MEAC for winning a share of the league title in 2014 when he was the head coach at Morgan State.

“Coach Hull is committed to our vision for the University — an institution committed to excellence and growth with a deep desire to dominate recruiting in the region and a laser focus on winning on and off the field,” DelState president Tony Allen said in a press release. “We are fortunate to have him and look forward to his leadership of Delaware State football and throughout the University.”

Last season, Hull was the offensive coordinator at Howard. The Bison were co-champion of the MEAC for the first time since 1993, posting a 4-1 league record to share the title with North Carolina Central.

Nine Howad offensive players earned All-MEAC honors last season, including quarterback Quinton Williams, a second-team selection after leading the conference in completion percentage (64.8 percent) and ranking second in the league in passing average at 190.6 yards per game.

Hull was the head coach at Morgan in 2014-15. In ‘14, the Bears went 6-2 in the MEAC, shared the conference crown and went to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the forst time.

Hull was selected as the MEAC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award as the top FCS coach during the 2014 season.

In 2016, Hull was the receivers coach for NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. He spent two years at the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. He was also a part of the NFL and NCAA Coaches Academy and Bowl Championship Series Minority Future Head Coaches Forum.

A native of Vineland, N.J., Hull earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Holy Cross in 1988 and a master’s in Secondary Education from Worcester State College (Mass.) in 1995.

In a press release, Hull said he was excited for “the privilege to serve as the new head coach of the Hornets.”

“The amazing growth and achievements of the university present an opportunity to take the football program to new levels of success as well,” he said. “Given the school’s location in the heavily populated Mid-Atlantic region and growing status as a university, I’m excited to share its story in search of student-athletes who are champions in the classroom, the campus and community, and on the field.

“I have longed to return to the MEAC as a head coach, and I’m extremely grateful to Delaware State for giving me the opportunity.”
Hull’s coaching career also includes stints at Maryland, Oregon State University, Wagner College and Holy Cross. He will be DelState’s the 24th head football coach.

“Lee stood out because of his experience and achievements at all levels of football, in addition to his character and demeanor,” said Shields-Gadson. “He understands what it takes to build a winning football program both in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and nationally, in addition to developing student-athletes of high character and skill.”