The North Carolina A&T athletics department announced the signing of Alonzo Lee Friday as the Aggies head football coach, replacing interim George Ragsdale who was also in contention for the full time position after serving as an assistant.Lee’s hiring marks the 17th head coach in A&T history, and also his second stint with the Aggies after formerly serving as their defensive coordinator six seasons ago.The former Aggies assistant spent the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Morgan State University, aiding a team that allowed less than 350 yards of total offense a game.In the past two seasons, Lee’s team has been ranked in the top two in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.”Lee has proven that he has the ability to win as a head coach,” said athletic director Wheeler Brown.He knows the conference, what it will take to win in the conference, and will bring the needed toughness and discipline our football program has lacked over the past few years.For 25 years, Lee has been a working progress in the MEAC.He has coached a combined four teams in the conference, while attaining seven championships.Two championships came during his tenure as the defensive leader (1997, 1998- Hampton).During the 1998 season, Lee was honored as the National Assistant coach of the year for NCAA Division I-AA, and three seasons later was honored by the All America Football Foundation as an Outstanding Assistant Coach.”We have to build confidence in these guys'” said Lee about obtaining his first head coaching job.  Confidence comes through mental toughness and hard work. Im ready to put my tennis shoes and stuff on right now because it starts during the offseason.”Lee spent his collegiate football career at Eastern Illinois, joining current Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor in two NCAA division II national championship games, winning one in 1997.During his career he was three-year captain and led the team in tackles his senior season when he was selected as an All American.He received his degree in Therapeutic recreation in 1982, two years before pursuing a career in coaching.Despite his accomplishments on the field, Lee has been known to actively stay involved in the community with his former players.”Alonzo brings a strong sense of community involvement and academics at the collegiate level,” said Brown. “I have known him for many years and he is a man of integrity.This was evident when he started A&T’s first football gospel choir in their championship year that included players performing for church groups and other community organizations in Greensboro.A&T will be where it once was and there is no doubt about that,” said Lee. “It’s just a matter of putting all the championship ingredients back into it and getting the guys to believe that we are going to be where we need to be.  I gurantee you that next year we will be competitive.”Even many of the players can feel a different vibe from Lee that is a distinguishing difference than the past.”The type of energy he shows makes us wanna run through a wall for him,” said senior defensive end Tyree Glasper who was recruited by Lee in high school.  “I know he has the tools, mindset, and game plan to get us back to winning a championship.”

• Daniel Henderson