The legend of Code Red: This coach won't let hardships stop him from being 'part of the team'

Just say the words "Code Red" around Central York's campus, and you don't have to say any more.

Everyone's got a story.

The kid — now young man — with blazing auburn hair on the sideline at seemingly every Central York sporting event. Sprinting on the field with the team, pumping his fist after every big play, coming up with distinct handshakes for different players, even giving post-game speeches.

"Just a ray of sunshine," former Central York football coach Brad Livingston said.

"The most dedicated, passionate Central York fan you'll ever meet," assistant football coach Ferdie Vaughn said.

"Code Red is a legend," head coach Gerry Yonchiuk added. "When you think of Central York athletics, you think of him."

Code Red is the nickname for Cody Lehmann, the 29-year-old assistant quarterbacks coach, boys' basketball and boys' lacrosse coach at Central York. A 2013 graduate of the school, Lehmann has been devoting his time to its athletics programs since his days as a middle school student.

He never played any sports for the Panthers. Lehmann was born with Kabuki Syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that leads to mild mental impairment and growth issues. An abnormality with his kidneys made it impossible for him to play contact sports.

He had 28 surgeries and medical procedures during his childhood.

While his disorder prevented him from taking the field, he was still able to serve as a manager. And over time, what started as an extracurricular activity turned into a passion and then a purpose.

"We were told he would never amount to anything except living in a home. Or an institution. And that's the completely wrong story," his father, George "Skip" Lehmann, said. "It's been a journey, a long one. But it's one we've enjoyed most of the time.

"And he truly loves Central York."

The students at Central York love Lehmann back. They hug him after big wins. They bond with him during tough times. When Central York running back Hunter Werner's stepfather died before the 2018 season, he prayed with Lehmann before every game.

For Lehmann, it's about giving back. Those players allowed him into their lives. They supported him when he was struggling. Of course, he wants to be there for them. After all, he's their coach.

"I'm part of the team," he said when asked about his motivation. "I'm able to do things I've always wanted to do."

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From miracles to manager

Skip and Ann Lehmann thought their son had died.

Cody was just 3 and had been taken to Johns Hopkins for open heart surgery. His family was told to prepare for a long recovery. They were not prepared for doctors to enter the waiting room looking upset ...

Cody would ultimately be OK, but his heart issues were worse than doctors thought and a different procedure was needed. They were told on a Friday he would be in the hospital for at least 10 days. He was barely conscious and connected to a variety of tubes Saturday.

"And what's he doing Sunday morning?" Skip asked his wife rhetorically.

"He's pretending to kick a soccer ball while lying in bed," Ann said laughing. "He was like, 'I want to go. I can't lay here anymore.'"

"On Monday the doctor tells us to take him home," Skip continued. "And he's out in the backyard — on meds after a full zipper operation — playing soccer with his brothers.

"That was the beginning of the miracles ... And when we realized how lucky we were to have him."

Lehmann was born with a cleft palate that prevented him from eating properly. A trip to the hospital at age 1 revealed the full scope of his medical issues.

He had complications with his stomach, intestines, kidneys and esophagus (among other things) growing up. He spent more than two years using a feeding tube.

"That was kind of my childhood," Cody said. "Just not knowing when I was going to be in the hospital. There are no words to describe it."

His parents said the ordeals never affected his positive mindset. Skip was the assistant athletic director at York Catholic and Ann was a teacher in the City of York School District, and Cody always gravitated toward their students. He watched his older brothers play football for York Catholic and couldn't contain his excitement.

It was clear his own athletic career wasn't going to advance beyond youth soccer and tee ball, but Lehmann wanted to stay involved when he entered junior high at Central York. Skip credited Cody's classmates for encouraging him to become the football team's equipment manager.

Cody still remembers his first thought the moment Livingston told him he could have the position: "This will be huge."

"Just because you can't play the game doesn't mean you can't be part of the experience," said Livingston, the football program's head coach from 1982 to 2015. "He became quite a presence in our locker room. What do I remember about him? Just overwhelming positivity and enthusiasm. He wanted to do anything to help."

Coach Cody

Central York head lacrosse coach Ryan Muller knew it was the right moment to give Lehmann the floor.

It was opening day of the 2021 spring season. The first game back after the 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic. But an exciting win turned sloppy and chippy by the end of the game.

Lehmann told Muller he wanted to address the team.

"He told everyone what it meant to be a Panther. And why it was important to take pride in being a Panther," said Muller, who has known Lehmann since he went to York Catholic with his brothers. "He's always been that guy who'll get players fired up on the sideline. He brings everyone's morale up."

In the years following his graduation, Lehmann wanted to stay involved at Central York but as more than a manager. He has since served as an assistant for multiple head coaches in football, boys' basketball and boys' lacrosse.

His parents pointed out Cody never had to beg for those positions — each coach knew about him and wanted him to stick around. Yonchiuk said he noticed Cody's passion on the basketball bench shortly after he was hired and knew he wanted him on his staff.

"They all immediately embraced his personality and enthusiasm," Skip said. "And the kids noticed that. This has become his forte."

Lehmann isn't necessarily an Xs and Os coach. Muller described him as an "energy" coach. Still, Cody knows his stuff. After games, he comes home and "replays" the entire contest play by play in his family's backyard. Skip said his son's memory is so good he can recite each mistake that will need to be corrected moving forward.

Ann said Cody gets so excited on game days he gets dressed at noon for a 7 p.m. start.

"Our guys really respect him," Yonchiuk said. "They see the struggles Cody has gone through, and he doesn't complain at all about it. So why would they complain about anything? It's a great reminder for them."

Cody's health has been good for years and he has no plans to leave Central York. Skip joked the school will never let him leave. He's had jobs in the past and is currently working with a program that helps people with disabilities find work. Ann said she's writing a children's book about Cody's life.

Skip remembers Cody's high school graduation and how students chanted "Code Red" when his name was called. A decade later, he was recently approached by a grandmother who said she "looks for the red head" at every football game.

"When a person affects that many people, there's a reason for it," Skip said. "It's the way he carries himself. He drives the idea of keeping everyone going."

Cody said he isn't trying to be an inspiration. He's just doing what he loves. If there's a lesson to be learned from his story, he thinks it's simple.

"It doesn't matter what you go through," he said. "You can still do the things that you want to."

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on X, formerly Twitter, at @bad2theallibone. 

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: How Central York assistant coach Cody Lehmann inspires his players