Lance Leipold states he plans to end his coaching career at Kansas
The success Lance Leipold has enjoyed at Kansas over the last two seasons is on a level unseen in Lawrence in over a decade.
That same success would typically see Leipold get looked at for a job at a more established program, namely Michigan State, but according to him — he’s not going anywhere.
“It’s something we’ve been extremely — in fact, I was talking with Travis Goff on Monday,” Leipold said on his radio show Hawk Talk. “And he said, ‘Can you believe it’s only been two and a half years?’ I said, ‘Well, in many ways it seems like five or more because of the progress of the team on the field, but also how comfortable our family (is) and have been welcomed by everybody, and how much we enjoy being here.”
“This is the only interview (I’ve done today). And that’s the way it’s going to be. The one thing that happens during this time of year, is there’s a lot of speculation on things that are happening that are not accurate, as I’ve said for a long time, Travis Goff and Chancellor (Douglas) Girod have treated Kelly and I extremely well and our family. It is our plan and expectation that we want to be here and this is going to be the last job we have.”
There will be no budging from the Leipold household. Everyone, from his wife to his high school-aged son, is happy with the situation in Lawrence.
Leipold even said so himself in September when asked about whether or not he was seeking a more prestigious job.
“My wife and I are extremely happy here,” Leipold said. “We’ve been taken care of. We have a son that’s a junior in high school. We don’t want to relocate him.”
At the same time — as much as Leipold has turned Kansas around, the history of the program suggests there is a ceiling for what he can accomplish. The Jayhawks have the winningest basketball program in the country, and will never lose the stigma of being a ‘basketball school.’ Not once have they ever won a national championship in football. In fact, this season’s bowl game will be the 13th in program history.
Kansas enters Week 11 at 7-2 overall and slotted No. 16 in the latest College Football Rankings. They’re set to host Texas Tech (4-5) at home on Saturday as they look to continue their impressive season.