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BUFFALO, Ny. - The Buffalo Bulls football program has opened up a national search for a new head coach following the departure of Turner Gill, who is taking over the reigns at Kansas. Buffalo Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced Danny Barrett will serve as interim coach.
“I am saddened to see Turner leave us as he has done an absolutely fantastic job of building our footbal program to unprecedented success upon a value system that we can all be proud of," Manuel said. "That being said, I am extremely happy for Turner and his family that they have been granted this opportunity.
While expressing confidence in Barrett as an interim head of the program, Manuel said Barrett will be a candidate for the permanent position and
is the only current staff member that is under consideration.
By taking the Kansas job, Gill is returning to a region in which the former Heisman Trophy candidate starred as a Nebraska player and later served as an assistant coach for the Cornhuskers.
Gill became the 23rd head coach in Buffalo school history Dec. 16, 2005. He took over a program that had won just 10 games in its first seven years on the Division 1-A level.
The Bulls tied for the MAC East title in 2007, and Gill earned MAC Coach of the Year honors.
One year later, Buffalo won the MAC East crown outright and went on to upset previously undefeated Ball State for the conference title.
“Turner has done a marvelous job rebuilding our football program and bringing positive national attention to the university, and he leaves our program well-positioned for continued success,” said University at Buffalo President John B. Simpson, who also credited Gill with promoting classroom success.
The GPA under Gill’s watch was the best since the Bulls moved up to Division 1-A in 1999.
“I will be forever grateful to President John Simpson and Athletic Director Warde Manuel for giving me the opportunity to be head coach,” Gill said. “More importantly, I appreciate the support and encouragement they gave me which allowed my staff and I to change the culture in UB’s football program.”
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