LAWRENCE, Kan. — Lance Leipold knows what’s coming. With every game Kansas‘ coach wins, his appeal increases and his horizons broaden. But first things first.
One-third of the way through the season, a red-hot coach of a red-hot program doesn’t want to lose his offensive coordinator. That’s Andy Kotelnicki, a little-known 42-year-old whose schemes are behind one of the most innovative offenses in the country.
“Don’t write anything about him,” Leipold pleaded following Saturday’s 35-27 win over previously unbeaten Duke. “He needs to stay right here. Don’t give him some $2 million [coordinator’s] job.”
Too late? Kansas is 4-0 for the first time in 13 years, and there are many reasons beyond the nation’s fourth-highest scoring offense (tied with Tennessee, just above Alabama).
Leipold is what they call a grinder, blend-in-the-woodwork developmental type who has won everywhere he’s travelled. With three Power Five coaches already fired in September, that also makes him a desirable candidate elsewhere in only his second season at Kansas.
Leipold is one of several coaches who have reignited their programs one-third of the way through the season. You shouldn’t have to be told Kansas has hovered around bottom 25 lists for years. The program cycled through coaches like changes of clothes. There was no continuity, even less talent.
The most valued coaching ability these days is turnaround ability. Scott Frost didn’t have it at Nebraska. Neither did Geoff Collins at Georgia Tech. Arizona State treaded water under Herm Edwards. All three were fired this month.
Leipold is that turnaround coach. Six Division III championships at Wisconsin-Whitewater got him the Buffalo job in 2015. In those six seasons, the Bulls played for two MAC titles and won 10 games in 2018 for the first time.
“I really would like a month’s worth of just focusing on our football team,” Leipold said late Saturday. “We’ve got to try to get this thing in good [shape].”
Leipold’s name has already been attached to the Nebraska opening. More may request the coach’s phone number in the coming weeks.
“We’re not going to sit idle,” Kansas athletic director Travis Goff said. “We’re not going to take things for granted. We’re going to keep building this thing. Basically, we’re not going to let some other situation dictate what’s best for the University of Kansas.”
Goff was not specific, but he understands…
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