Bahamas Bowl 2019: 3 takeaways from Buffalo’s blowout of Charlotte
By Zach Bigalke
3. Lance Leipold is one of the top five coaches in America
When the Bulls lost quarterback Tyree Jackson, top receiver Anthony Johnson, and defensive stalwarts like Khalil Hodge, Tatum Slack, Chuck Harris, and Cam Lewis, it became a rebuilding year in Buffalo. While they didn’t return to the MAC championship game, it was still a respectable eight-win rebound.
That is a testament to the coaching job done by fifth-year head coach Lance Leipold and his staff. The Bulls far outpaced expectations thanks to one of the country’s most versatile and resilient leaders of any program in the FBS.
Leipold, of course, came to Buffalo with a sterling pedigree. The former Wisconsin-Whitewater coach won seven Division III national championships with the Warhawks. While coaching at the Division III level, Leipold boasted an absurd .948 winning percentage as he went 109-6 in nine seasons.
This year, the Bulls shifted focus on offense as they evolved from a balanced attack to one that relied almost entirely on the running game. The 2019 edition of Buffalo ranked 121st in passing, averaging fewer than 150 yards per game through the air. Jaret Patterson and the backfield picked up the slack, as did a defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in most categories.
Most coaches will continue to try to fit square pegs into the round holes of their system after a strong season. Leipold showed with his willingness to change pace that he is among the five best coaches in the FBS, achieving more than many coaches at a place where recruiting is rarely easy. Power Five programs should take a long look at a man whose winning tradition is impeccable.