Lance Leipold
Hot seat: 32% chance he is fired before the season ends
Why: 3-6, 1.5 wins behind preseason pace; power-conference job; 5-7 last season
Coaching since 2015
Lance Leipold is 30-41 at Kansas since 2021 and 176-80 in his career. Hot seat: 32% chance he is fired before the season ends.
Updated Nov 9, 2026Sources: school staff directories, TransferPortl coaching tenures, CFBD
2026 season3-6Conf 1-5
At Kansas30-41Conf 17-34 · since 2021
Last 3 seasons13-20Conf 8-16
Career176-80Conf 42-56 · 20 seasons
Source: ESPN standings; Hot seat tracker through 2025, ESPN standings for 2026; Hot seat tracker
Kansas won 45.3% of its games before he arrived (35.8% in conference). His career win rate is +23.5 pts against that (+7.1 pts in conference).
Bio
- Hired
- Apr 30, 2021
- Alma mater
- Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Calls plays
- No
- Background
- Offense
- First-time head coach
- No
- Agent
- Bryan Harlan
- Agency
- Excel Sports Management
Head Coaching Seasons
11 seasons| Year | School | W-L | Conf | SRS | SP+ | SP+ Off | SP+ Def | AP Final | Titles and Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Kansas | 5-7 | Big 12 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 30.9 | 28.5 | - | - |
| 2024 | Kansas | 5-7 | Big 12 | 10.8 | 4.9 | 32.4 | 26.5 | - | - |
| 2023 | Kansas | 9-4 | Big 12 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 35.6 | 26.1 | 23 | W 49-36 Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs UNLV |
| 2022 | Kansas | 6-7 | Big 12 | 7.6 | 2.9 | 40.6 | 36.0 | - | L 53-55 AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs Arkansas |
| 2021 | Kansas | 2-10 | Big 12 | -14.9 | -19.7 | 22.3 | 40.6 | - | - |
| 2020 |  Buffalo | 6-1 | Mid-American | - | 1.4 | 27.1 | 25.6 | 25 | W 17-10 Camellia Bowl vs Marshall |
| 2019 | Buffalo | 8-5 | Mid-American | -1.0 | -2.0 | 25.0 | 24.6 | - | W 31-9 MAKERS WANTED BAHAMAS BOWL vs Charlotte |
| 2018 | Buffalo | 10-4 | Mid-American | 0.5 | -1.1 | 31.3 | 29.9 | - | Conference co-champion; L 32-42 DOLLAR GENERAL BOWL vs Troy |
| 2017 | Buffalo | 6-6 | Mid-American | -4.3 | -11.2 | 24.9 | 33.9 | - | - |
| 2016 | Buffalo | 2-10 | Mid-American | -22.8 | -18.8 | 16.8 | 33.5 | - | - |
| 2015 | Buffalo | 5-7 | Mid-American | -10.8 | -10.3 | 24.1 | 32.2 | - | - |
Kansas Staff, 2026
12- Lance LeipoldHead Coach
- Matt LubickCo-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
- D.K. McDonaldDefensive Coordinator
- Taiwo OnatoluSpecial Teams Coordinator
- Brandon ShelbyAssistant Coach - Defensive Backs
- Joe DineenAssistant Coach - Defensive Ends
- Jim PanagosAssistant Coach - Defensive Tackles
- Daryl AgpalsaAssistant Coach - Offensive Line
- Terrence SamuelAssistant Coach - Wide Receivers
- Chris SimpsonAssistant Head Coach - Linebackers
- Jonathan WallaceAssistant Head Coach - Running Backs
- Jim ZebrowskiPassing Game Coordinator - Quarterbacks
Transfer Portal at Kansas
Roster average Transfer Vulnerability Score (TVS): 15
| Cycle | In | Out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 34 | 28 | +6 |
| 2025 | 27 | 16 | +11 |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 5 | +1 |
| 2022 | 3 | 6 | -3 |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
Staff History by Season
1 stint- 2021-2026KansasHead Coach