MURFREESBORO, N.C. -- Former NFL coach Lou Saban will return to the college ranks once again as he was chosen as the interim head coach at Chowan on Tuesday.

The 80-year-old Saban replaces Steve Lee, who resigned as coach Monday but will maintain his duties as athletics director until May 2002.

Defensive coordinator Charles Giangrosso and offensive coordinator Dan Dieringer were asked to leave their respective posts, the school said Tuesday.

Lee had a 13-20 record at Chowan, which plays on the Division III level.

Saban had been hired by the school to consult with the football coaches and help with the fundraising campaign for the new football stadium.

Saban has held coaching positions with nine colleges and universities, six professional teams, three high schools and one semipro team.

Saban coached the Buffalo Bills of the AFL to a 12-2 mark and the league championship in 1964. The next year, the team went 10-3-1 and again won the league title.

His record in the AFL and NFL was 97-101-7, including stints with the Bills, Boston Patriots and Denver Broncos.

Saban coached college football at Army, Maryland, Western Illinois, Northwestern and Miami. His last NCAA football job was at Central Florida in 1984. He coached at the high school level from 1987-89 and coached at NAIA Peru State in 1991, going 7-4 in his one season.

Saban also served as president of the New York Yankees in 1981 and 1982, and served as a consultant and scout for the Yankees from 1984-87.

Chowan (1-4) plays at Christopher Newport on Saturday.