Robert Lee takes over as the defensive coordinator on the Crusader coaching staff heading into the 2011 season.  He joined the Valparaiso University coaching staff in the summer of 2009 as the Crusaders’ special teams coordinator, and also worked directly with Valpo’s defensive line in 2010. Lee worked with linebackers in his first season with the Brown and Gold.

The Crusaders’ special teams saw a school record broken under Lee’s tutelage in 2010.  Greg Wood broke a 57-year old mark for punting average in a single season by a yard-and-a-half, on his way to earning First Team All-Pioneer Football League honors.  

In addition, two of Lee’s defensive linemen earned Honorable Mention All-PFL honors in 2010.

Lee arrived at Valpo after spending five seasons as the defensive line coach at Eastern Michigan University.  With the Eagles, he helped develop Jason Jones, a second round draft choice (No. 54 overall) of the Tennessee Titans.  Jones was a First Team All Mid-American Conference selection who was selected to play the 2008 Senior Bowl All-Star game.

At Eastern Michigan, Lee also coached the kickoff return team and was the program’s community service coordinator.

Prior to heading to EMU, Lee was at Butler University from 1994 through 2004.  He served as the Bulldogs’ special teams coordinator and defensive line coach for three seasons, and was the junior varsity head coach from 1994 to 1997.  He helped Butler win a conference championship in 1994 and then helped the team post its first winning season as an NCAA Division I-AA non-scholarship program in 1997.  He coached a First Team All-Conference defensive lineman in each of his first five seasons as a full-time coach with the Bulldogs.

While at Butler, Lee was awarded a summer internship with the Chicago Bears in 2001 where he learned from and assisted the defensive line coach during preseason training camp.

Before arriving at Butler, Lee was the defensive coordinator at Centennial High School in Corona, Calif., for the 1990-1992 seasons.

Originally from Gary, Ind., Lee played football for two years at Illinois State University before a knee injury ended his playing career.  As a prep, he was an All-Conference lineman at Gary West Side High School.  Lee transferred to IUPUI where he earned his bachelor’s degree in supervision in 1990.  He went on to earn a master’s degree in management from National University in San Diego, Calif.

Lee and his wife, La’Tanza, have two children, Robert IV and Rachel.