Lance Leipold

Lance O. Leipold (/ˈlaɪpoʊld/ LY-pohld; born May 6, 1964) is an American college football coach who is the head football coach at the University of Kansas, a position he has held since 2021. He was the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater from 2007 to 2014 and the University at Buffalo from 2015 to 2020. During his tenure at Wisconsin–Whitewater, the team won six NCAA Division III Football Championships: 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.

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. Leipold signed a contract extension in February 2020 that was to run through the 2024 season. In May 2021, Leipold accepted the head coach position at the University of Kansas.

Leipold was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin, and attended Jefferson High School. 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. Due to the teams prolific passing game, they earned the nickname "Air Jefferson." Leipold played in the North-South All-State Shrine Bowl throwing for two touchdowns in the South's 23–7 victory. He was also all-conference in basketball.

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 Wisconsin–River Falls, Leipold set 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. He was nominated all conference honorable mention his junior season and 2nd team for his senior campaign. Leipold was inducted into the college's hall of fame in 2003.

Following his graduation from Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1987, Leipold spent the next seven years as an assistant coach, starting at his alma mater from 1987 to 1988, and then again in 1990. He spent one year (1989) at Doane University, an NAIA school in Crete, Nebraska, and three (1991–1993) as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin. During his first stint at Wisconsin–Whitewater he overlapped with Roger Hughes, future head coach at Stetson University, president of Doane University, and a life-long friend.

In 1994, new University of Nebraska–Omaha (UNO) head coach Pat Behrns hired Leipold as one of his assistants. It was Leipold's first full-time, paid coaching position. During Leipold's seven years at UNO (1994–2000) he developed a strong reputation as a recruiter.

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. 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. 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.