ATLANTA (Nov. 18, 2024) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Kansas head football coach Lance Leipold has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Leipold and the Jayhawks upset previously unbeaten No. 6 BYU 17-13 on Saturday evening at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Redshirt junior quarterback Jalon Daniels threw for 169 yards while senior running back Devin Neal ran for 52 yards and two touchdowns on the way to surpassing 4,000 yards rushing in his career. The game was ultimately decided early in the fourth quarter after the Jayhawks' special teams forced a BYU fumble three yards short of the end zone. Neal then drove in his second touchdown of the night, putting Kansas up 17-13 with 13 minutes remaining in the game. The Jayhawk defense later sealed the victory, forcing a turnover on downs in the final minute of the game.
The win marked the Jayhawks' second victory of the season against an AP Top-25 opponent and first Top-10 victory on the road since 1995. It represented the first time in program history that the Jayhawks have recorded wins over ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks.
With the victory, Leipold became the 10th coach in Kansas football history to have 20+ wins as a Jayhawk. He has now captured four ranked wins in his four years leading the program and will look for his fifth-ranked win next weekend when No. 17 Colorado travels to Lawrence.
"Coach Leipold has had great success in the last four years leading the Jayhawks and putting the Kansas football program on the map" said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "Beating ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks is a huge feat, especially considering Saturday's upset was on the road in a hostile environment."
Off the football field, Leipold's players have had success in the classroom during his tenure, recording a perfect 1,000 Academic Progress Rate and an 86 Graduation Success Rate during the 2023 season. The Graduation Success Rate measures the number of student-athletes who graduate from their school within six years of entering.
In the community, Lance and his wife Kelly announced The Lance and Kelly Leipold Graduate Assistant Fund in 2022, which is an endowed fund that will provide perpetual support for an on-field graduate position with the football program. The fund looks to present opportunities for individuals who represent marginalized communities to gain experience in the coaching field.
"Coach Leipold had an exceptional past two weeks, highlighted by a marquee victory over the only undefeated team in the Big 12 on Saturday," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. "His dedication to his student athletes both on and off the field makes him a worthy selection for this week's honor."
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
