Lance Leipold

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lance Leipold
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamKansas
ConferenceBig 12
Record2–10
Biographical details
Born (1964-05-06) May 6, 1964 (age 57)
Johnson Creek, Wisconsin
Playing career
1983–1986Wisconsin–Whitewater
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987Wisconsin–Whitewater (QB)
1988Wisconsin–Whitewater (WR)
1989Doane (assistant)
1990Wisconsin–Whitewater (assistant)
1991–1993Wisconsin (GA)
1994–2000Nebraska–Omaha (assistant)
2001–2003Nebraska (assistant)
2004–2006Nebraska–Omaha (AHC/OC)
2007–2014Wisconsin–Whitewater
2015–2020Buffalo
2021–presentKansas
Head coaching record
Overall148–49
Bowls2–1
Tournaments34–1 (NCAA D-III playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
6 NCAA Division III (2007, 2009–2011, 2013–2014)
7 WIAC (2007–2011, 2013–2014)
2 MAC East Division (2018, 2020)
Awards
6× AFCA Division III COY (2007, 2009–2011, 2013–2014)
4× WIAC Coach of the Year (2009–2011, 2014)
2× MAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2020)

Lance Leipold (/ˈlaɪpoʊld/ LIE-pold;born May 6, 1964) is an American football coach and former player. In 2021 he was hired as head football coach for the University of Kansas. Leipold served as the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (UWW) from 2007 to 2014 and at University at Buffalo from 2015 to 2020.[1] During his tenure at UWW, the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks won the NCAA Division III Football Championship in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 and were runners-up in 2008. During his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold led the Warhawks to 5 undefeated seasons.

Leipold reached 100 victories faster than any coach in NCAA history, doing so in his 106th game on October 18, 2014. This broke the previous mark of 108 games set by Gil Dobie in 1921.[2]

Leipold signed with the Bulls for the 2015 season, initially on a five-year contract. After a 5–7 record in his inaugural season in Buffalo, Leipold received an additional one-year extension that kept him with the Bulls through 2020.[3] Leipold signed a contract extension in February 2020 that was to run through the 2024 season.[4] In May 2021, Leipold accepted the Head Coach position at The University of Kansas.

Playing career[]

Leipold attended Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Wisconsin. He played quarterback, earning all-area honors and honorable mention all-state his senior year after completing 114 of 198 passes for 1,848 yards and 19 touchdowns.[5][6] Due to the teams prolific passing game, they earned the nickname "Air Jefferson."[7] Leipold played in the North-South All-State Shrine Bowl throwing for two touchdowns in the South's 23-7 victory.[8] He was also all-conference in basketball.[7]

Leipold attended the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater from 1983 to 1986, seeing playing time as a starter and backup his first two seasons and becoming the outright starter for his junior and senior seasons. He helped win the Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference championship in 1984. In a 35-28 loss to UW-River Falls, Leipold set school school records for single game passing yards, attempts, completions, and total offense with his 37 completions on 57 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns, all records still stand.[9][10] He was nominated all conference honorable mention his junior season and 2nd team for his senior campaign.[11] Leipold was inducted into the college's hall of fame in 2003.[12]

Coaching career[]

Wisconsin–Whitewater[]

Leipold was announced as the head coach at Wisconsin–Whitewater after the 2006 season over three other finalists for the position: Stan Zweifel, Curt Wiese, and Rick Willis.[13] In his first season, Leipold's team went 14–1, winning the NCAA Division III Football Championship with a victory in the title game over Mount Union, 31-21. The only loss of the season was to DII St. Cloud State.[14] The next season, his team reached the National Championship game but fell to Mount Union 31–26, finishing 13–2. From 2009 to 2011, he led each team to a 15–0 record, beating Mount Union in the National Championship each time. The 2012 season was Leipold's worst at Whitewater. His team earned a record of 7–3 with two conference losses and missing the playoffs. Leipold's final two seasons again saw the Warhawks go undefeated, beating Mount Union to secure the national championship.

Leipold left Wisconsin–Whitewater with an overall record of 109–6 and a conference mark of 53–3 . He earned six Division III National Championships and seven WIAC championships in eight seasons. Other than the 2012 season, his teams were never ranked below No. 15 in any D3football.com poll. The 2010, 2011, and 2014 teams were ranked No 1 throughout the season.[15]

Buffalo[]

On December 1, 2014, it was announced that Leipold had agreed to become the head football coach at the University at Buffalo.[16] The announcement was made while Leipold was preparing for Whitewater's quarterfinal playoff game against Wartburg. In Leipold's first three seasons at Buffalo, the Bulls had records of 5–7, 2–10, and 6–6. The 2018 team won ten games en route to a MAC East Division title and a bid to the Dollar General Bowl. The next season, the Bulls finished 8–5 with a win in the Bahamas Bowl over Charlotte. Leipolds final season with Buffalo was the shortened 2020 season. The bulls finished 6–1 with a 17–10 win over Marshall in the Camellia Bowl and ranked No. 25.

Leipold left Buffalo with a record of 37–33, two MAC East Division titles, three bowl bids and two bowl wins.

Kansas[]

On April 30, 2021, Leipold was hired at Kansas.[17] In his first game as head coach, the Jayhawks defeated South Dakota, 17–14, for the program's first win in over 22 months.[18] Later that season, Kansas defeated Texas for only the second time in the Big 12's existence, and the first time on the road. The victory ended multiple losing streaks for the Jayhawks, including 8 straight overall losses, 18 straight within the Big 12, 20 straight to FBS opponents, and 56 straight in road conference games. Leipold finished 2–10 overall and 1–8 in conference play in his first season as the Jayhawks head coach.

Head coaching record[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs D3/Coaches# AP°
Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (2007–2014)
2007 Wisconsin–Whitewater 14–1 7–0 1st W NCAA Division III Championship 1
2008 Wisconsin–Whitewater 13–2 6–1 1st L NCAA Division III Championship 2
2009 Wisconsin–Whitewater 15–0 7–0 1st W NCAA Division III Championship 1
2010 Wisconsin–Whitewater 15–0 7–0 1st W NCAA Division III Championship 1
2011 Wisconsin–Whitewater 15–0 7–0 1st W NCAA Division III Championship 1
2012 Wisconsin–Whitewater 7–3 5–2 T–2nd
2013 Wisconsin–Whitewater 15–0 7–0 1st W NCAA Division III Championship 1
2014 Wisconsin–Whitewater 15–0 7–0 1st W NCAA Division III Championship 1
Wisconsin–Whitewater: 109–6 53–3
Buffalo Bulls (Mid-American Conference) (2015–2020)
2015 Buffalo 5–7 3–5 4th (East)
2016 Buffalo 2–10 1–7 6th (East)
2017 Buffalo 6–6 4–4 T–3rd (East)
2018 Buffalo 10–4 7–1 1st (East) L Dollar General
2019 Buffalo 8–5 5–3 T–2nd (East) W Bahamas
2020 Buffalo 6–1 5–0 1st (East) W Camellia 25 25
Buffalo: 37–33 25–20
Kansas Jayhawks (Big 12 Conference) (2021–present)
2021 Kansas 2–10 1–8 10th
Kansas: 2–10 1–8
Total: 148–49
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References[]

  1. ^ Gaughan, Mark (December 1, 2014). "UB brings in proven winner". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Lance Leipold fastest to 100 wins". ESPN.com. October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  3. ^ "UBuffalo football coach Leipold agrees to 1-year extension". KSL.com. Associated Press. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  4. ^ Reyes, Anthony (February 21, 2020). "Lance Leipold signs five-year contract extension to remain coach of UB football". WKBW Buffalo. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "WSJ all-area team". Wisconsin State Journal. November 22, 1981.
  6. ^ "AP All-State Football Team". December 2, 1981.
  7. ^ a b Oates, Tom (October 23, 1981). "Leipold sets Eagles in motion". Wisconsin State Journal.
  8. ^ Krueger, Jim (July 26, 1982). "Only Winners in Shrine Bowl game". .
  9. ^ "Falcons hold off Warhawks". Leader-Telegram. October 28, 1985.
  10. ^ "Football Records (PDF)" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  11. ^ "Football all time all conference (PDF)" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  12. ^ "2005 UNO Football Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on Jun 28, 2006.
  13. ^ "Four finalists at UWW". The Capital Times. December 19, 2006.
  14. ^ "2007 UW-Whitewater football schedule and results". D3football. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  15. ^ "football d3football.com rankings history (PDF)" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletics. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  16. ^ "Buffalo hires away Lance Leipold". Leader-Telegram. December 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Lance Leipold Named Kansas Head Football Coach". KUAthletics.com.
  18. ^ "Kansas students rush the field after 17-14 win over FCS opponent South Dakota". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.

External links[]

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