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| Much of the UW-Whitewater
football coaching staff is heading to Buffalo, but the players
still have a title in their sights. Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com |
By Josh Smith
D3sports.com
Bob Berezowitz was the head football coach at UW-Whitewater for 22 years. And Forrest Perkins, Berezowitz's predecessor and former coach, spent 29 seasons as the Warhawks head coach before that.
So Berezowitz hoped that when his former athlete, Lance Leipold, took the reins at UW-Whitewater, he would be around for a long time too.
But he was aware that wasn't likely.
"I knew he wasn't going to be here forever. So it was just a matter of when," Berezowitz said.
That time came early this week as Leipold was introduced as the 25th head football coach at the University of Buffalo Monday.
"I'm happy for him. He's got what he wanted and that's a MAC conference Division I opportunity," Berezowitz said. "He did a great job at Whitewater. I wish he would have been a lifer like the rest of us, but not everybody is made that way."
Leipold announced during his introductory news conference at Buffalo that he would continue coaching UW-Whitewater for the remainder of the team's Division III playoff run while simultaneously beginning his new coaching duties at UB. Buffalo announced later in the week that Leipold hired on both defensive coordinator Brian Borland and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, as well as two of his position coaches.
During his weekly teleconference Wednesday, Leipold said he never thought otherwise about staying on with UW-Whitewater through the conclusion of the season. He said he addressed the issue with Buffalo athletic director Danny White the first time they met.
"That was never in doubt," said Leipold, who is 106-6 overall in seven-plus seasons at UW-Whitewater.
"It says a lot because he talks with the men year in and year out about finishing what we start," UW-W athletic director Amy Edmonds said Monday night. "This is a testament to his character, and I'm so thankful that we're able to have him until the end."
With the No. 1-ranked Warhawks preparing for an quarterfinal playoff game against No. 5 Wartburg, no one knows how much longer the season is going to last. It could end Saturday or it could last until Dec. 19, when the Stagg Bowl is played in Salem, Va.
Leipold said he is concerned about drawing attention away from UW-W's preparation for this weekend's game.
"That's the one bad thing. We don't always get to control timing," Leipold said. "They need to go out and play their best football against a very good football team and prepare in that manner.
"If there is one thing I'm disappointed about, it is I talk about avoiding distractions," he continued. "Unfortunately (with) this situation, I became one to them and we're working to get past that as quick as we can and get back on track here."
Leipold went on to say that he prefer the attention was on the players rather than himself.
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"That's where the focal point should be. It should be on the players. They've earned themselves this opportunity to play against an excellent Wartburg team," Leipold said. "I haven't scored a touchdown, made a tackle or anything this season. It's about them and what they're doing."
Because of when Buffalo made its announcement, the players at UW-Whitewater began their week with a meeting Monday at 6:30 a.m. Edmonds was part of that gathering when the players were informed their head coach had accepted a new job.
Edmonds said Borland read a statement prepared by Leipold while addressing the players.
"The sense of the room was great. Our men knew that there was a good possibility that he was going to be picked up, especially after this season. And it happened," Edmonds said. "Our men know how to adjust to adversity – to any challenges – so it was really nice to see them be happy for Lance and in the same respect, stay focused on what we need to accomplish this weekend."
Team leaders asked to have a players-only meeting following the announcement.
An interview request to speak with team captains was not granted, so what was said during that meeting stayed behind closed doors. However, Edmonds thought it had a positive effect on the team.
Leipold rejoined the team Tuesday and there was another meeting when he returned. Since then, he said the team has tried to return to the usual preparation process.
"We always talk about our routines and how we want to try and keep it. So we've tried to stay in that for the players' sake," he said.
He also added that he has relied on his assistant coaches more than ever to keep things running smoothly in Whitewater while he was out of town.
Edmonds is confident the coach can be successful coaching at UW-Whitewater while preparing for his new job at Buffalo.
She added that having Leipold for the remainder of the season adds a sense of stability, which she believes will benefit the players.
"He wants to finish what he's started. He wants to see this team and the seniors here get to the big game," Edmonds said. "He's going to be fully dedicated and I know that because that's who Lance is.
"He's going to be fine. There aren't going to be any interruptions," she continued. "At least the student-athletes won't notice because he'll work really hard outside of practice."
Based on his personal experience, Berezowitz believes there could be some difficulties trying to handle both sets of duties. But he appreciates Leipold's desire to see things through at UW-Whitewater.
"I understand where he's coming from. But at the same time, knowing what coaching is all about, he's also got a commitment to the new job at Buffalo," Berezowitz said. "As a human being, there's only so many hours in a day."
After watching Leipold lead UW-Whitewater to five national championships since 2007, in addition to seven WIAC titles, Edmonds knows Warhawk football fans, students and boosters will be sad to see him go. But she thinks the general feeling among the fan base is excitement for Leipold's new opportunity.
"Everybody knew it was going to happen someday. It just so happens it's in the middle of the playoffs. The timing is never great," Edmonds said. "Again, people are very excited for Lance. I think he'll probably get a good following out in Buffalo from out here in Wisconsin. We're very excited to see him succeed and excel over in Buffalo."
Will Leipold have success at the Division I and Football Bowl Subdivsion (FBS) level? Edmonds definitely thinks he will.
"He's got a ton of great experience. He knows how to draw people in. And he focusses on the little things," Edmonds said. "And finding the right staff to help him along that way is going to be critical. I have no doubt that he's going to be able to do that."
While the Warhawks' football season grinds on, Edmonds must begin preparing to find Leipold's successor. Because UW-Whitewater is a state institution, there are specific guidelines the school must follow in terms of posting the job opening. Although that process takes a little time, Edmonds is hopeful the search will move quickly.
"Thanks to our coaching staff and Lance's leadership, we are certainly on the map. So I feel, we're going to draw in an incredible amount of great applicants," Edmonds said. "I'm excited to see what type of coach we draw and why people are interested in coming to coach for our program."
Whoever replaces Leipold will have quite the act to follow. The success Leipold has had since assuming the head coaching role is unprecedented.
"Their success is second to none," Berezowitz said. "While he was here, he did a heck of a job."