Lance Leipold is returning to Kansas: What it means for the Jayhawks

The Kansas head coach has turned down another opportunity to lead a different Power 5 program.

For the second straight season, fans of the Kansas Jayhawks have heard head coach Lance Leipold's name connected to multiple job opportunities. When the Michigan State job opened up during the season, his was among the first names listed, citing his ties to the Big Ten footprint. Last season he turned down some very serious interest from fellow Big Ten schools Wisconsin and Nebraska, and he was once again linked to an attractive job opening in Washington. 

But as the speculation was heating up on Saturday about a possible exit from Lawrence, Leipold was instead turning down the job that was reportedly offered.

Lance Leipold has turned down the Washington job and will have a new contract with #kufball announced imminently. pic.twitter.com/YdWkbNuePt

— Bryson Stricker (@BryBryStrick) January 14, 2024

Blue Wings Rising has confirmed through sources that Leipold was unofficially offered the open position at Washington, but instead opted to come back to Kansas for the 2024 season. Leipold took to Twitter himself to announce his intent to return:

The guys come back to campus tomorrow. Can’t wait to get back to work with them in ‘24!!

Rock Chalk!!

— Lance Leipold (@CoachLeipold) January 14, 2024

The news is absolutely huge for the Jayhawks, as they have seen one of the biggest improvements in the sport under Leipold. After taking over a team that went 0-9 during the 2020 season, the Jayhawks have steadily improved. With two consecutive bowl appearances in the last two seasons, capped by a win over UNLV at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, optimism is high for the future of the program.

With nearly all of the major playmakers on this season's squad returning, including the majority of their offense, there are already a lot of expectations for the 2024 season. But the Jayhawks already saw one coach move on as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki left to take the same position at Penn State under James Franklin. Losing another coach could have derailed much of the progress made in the last couple of seasons.

Earlier this season, Leipold was asked about being linked to the Michigan State job during Hawk Talk, and he shot down any of those rumors. "This is the only interview, and that's the way it's going to be." To help put to bed any concerns fans might have had, he went as far as to say "...it is our plan and expectation that we are going to be here [in Lawrence] and this is the last job we are going to have."

But stories of coaches confirming their commitment to a job before taking a new position are so common around the sport that many fans have a hard time believing it. Today's news is as big of a sign that Leipold's commitment is real he can give. The national runner-up, moving to the Big Ten, where the financial commitment is significant and the resources will be prevalent, is such a huge opportunity that it is hard to imagine a coach that is looking to take another step up could possibly turn it down. And the starting point at a place like Washington is much higher than where the Jayhawks were when Leipold took over just three years ago. 

Does this mean that Leipold is definitely going to retire as a Jayhawk? No. But with each example of Travis Goff finding a way to hold on to his first hire despite increasing interest, it's becoming harder to see a realistic situation where Kansas isn't willing and able to do what is needed to keep Leipold in Lawrence.

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