Buck Pierce Named Lions Head Coach

[WestCoastJoe]

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/buck-pierce-to-b ... -1.2213785

[WestCoastJoe]

Well, they did it.

Congratulations to Buck.

I think one of the few questions is: Can he inspire and lead a team?

Put another way: Can a quiet guy, although burning with inner fire, rally a team, inspire a team?

His credentials are top notch.

I think he should be very good with Nathan Rourke.

Looking forward to his tenure.



https://3downnation.com/2024/12/03/buck ... ns-report/

“Buck was a candidate we identified early in this process as someone ready to step in and lead our franchise. His track record in the Canadian Football League as both a player and a coach says it all. We are excited and proud to bring him back to the BC Lions as our 28th head coach,” general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said in a statement.

The 43-year-old Hutchinson, Kan. native has been the offensive coordinator with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the past four seasons, helping the team reach the Grey Cup in each of those years. He initially joined the team’s coaching staff in 2014, spending two years as running backs coach and four as quarterbacks coach. He won two CFL championships during his tenure in Winnipeg.

“I’m extremely excited and honoured to take this next step in my coaching career with the organization that originally brought me here nearly 20 years ago,” Pierce said in a statement.

[B.C.FAN]

It’s now official.

https://www.cfl.ca/2024/12/03/report-li ... ead-coach/

I’m happy for Buck and I’m sure he’ll be welcomed by fans, but I think defence is the Lions’ biggest area of need. The Lions have had some of the CFL’s best offensive talent in recent years, but it doesn’t do much good if the defence can’t get off the field. Buck’s choice of assistants is crucial for the team’s success in 2025.

[mightybuck]

Sweet. I’m officially back as a Lions fan. Out comes my pierce jersey and hats. Glad to be back as a BC Lions fan. Now hoping Buck gets a good staff around him

[Hambone]

The fun part now is to see how Pierce fills out his coaching staff. Will he want to handle OC chores too? Will he retain some of BC's current staff? Will he try to bring some Bomber staff with him? One Bomber name of note is OLC Marty Costello. He just finished his 7th season in that role with WPG with their OL being arguably the CFL's best for several years.

[WestCoastJoe]

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football ... ival-lions

Some excerpts from the article by Paul Friesen ...

Mostly very good, but Pierce got much criticism for staying with the injured Collaros through the 4th quarter in the Grey Cup.

Winnipeg has employed one of the CFL’s most balanced attacks over that period (Buck as OC), Brady Oliveira leading the league in rushing the last two seasons, Zach Collaros one of its top quarterbacks.

The Bombers finished first in offensive touchdowns in 2021, ’22 and ’23, but this past season saw the offence struggle, injuries and new players playing a significant role.

Still, the Bombers reached another Grey Cup with a sparkling offensive outburst in a Western Final win over Saskatchewan.

Nobody can take this away, though: under Pierce, Collaros won back-to-back Most Outstanding Player Awards in ’21 and ’22, while Oliveira grabbed that honour this year, as well as the last two trophies as the top Canadian.

[Hambone]

It's unfair that Pierce get 20/20 hindsight criticism for that decision which was also made with 20/20 hindsight review of Wilson's performance when called on to fill in. I'd wager that decision was at least 75% O'Shea's. He proven to be loyal to a fault when it comes to sticking with his core vets when they are far, far from being 100%. See Bighill, Adam in the 2023 Grey Cup.

[Toppy Vann]

This is a great day. Despite my worry, it'd be an inside job, I'm again a Season Ticket holder as of yesterday.

There is no question Buck is a leader by example and he's earned every rung up the coaching ladder.

I'm exited for him and the fans will undoubtedly be seeing Buck's family again at Lion games and maybe Mightybuck.

[B.C.FAN]

It's unfair that Pierce get 20/20 hindsight criticism for that decision which was also made with 20/20 hindsight review of Wilson's performance when called on to fill in. I'd wager that decision was at least 75% O'Shea's. He proven to be loyal to a fault when it comes to sticking with his core vets when they are far, far from being 100%. See Bighill, Adam in the 2023 Grey Cup.

The Bomber loss was 100% on head coach Mike O’Shea for reinserting an injured Collaros who couldn't grip the ball and subsequently threw 3 interceptions, and on defensive coordinator Jordan Younger for repeatedly not noticing his defence was a man short on Argo scoring drives that resulted in 10 fourth-quarter points. Bomber receivers also dropped a lot of catchable balls, but that’s not on Buck.

[JohnnyMusso]

I am happy with the decision. Buck was the frontrunner in the beginning and seems it was his job to lose.

I take that list posted on Monday by 3 DownCentre as fake. I seriously doubt MIke B was even close to getting this job. I think yesterday, the decision was made.

Now with Buck hired, do you guys think JM goes elsewhere. I don't know how close he is to Mark Kilam and if Kilam would even want him as OC.

I think most of the staff not under contract is gone. Probably Buck plucks 1 or 2 guys off the Bombers staff to come with him.

[maxlion]

Buck deserves an opportunity. I'd like to see Richie Hall as DC.

[TheLionKing]

Delighted with the signing. Will be calling my sales rep to renew my season tickets.

[Lion Guy]

First order of business Buck, fire Phillips.

[OV:54-40]

First order of business Buck, fire Phillips.

For sure !!! IF he does not = not a good sign IMO.

Be interesting to see the kind of staff he puts together.

[David]

Not going to judge a guy on some questionable GC decisions as his body of work in WPG speaks for itself.

This was a safe, if predictable, hire. The club gets an experienced and creative offensive mind to mentor Nathan. My only concerns that our biggest weakness right now is on defence (which wins Championships). Perhaps the club believes that a talent upgrade will take care of that but I always want the best leader of men to be the overarching consideration for hiring the head man (if that was Buck, great). Also, Buck's lack of head coaching experience. There undoubtedly will be growing pains but hopefully he possesses the right leadership skills (as a former QB) to lead this club.

The positives are that he has learned from the best (O'Shea) for the past 11 years and has been around a winning culture. Also, it's always a good day when you weaken a rival. I am excited to see whether we can take coaching staff and talent from the Manitoba capital.

Welcome back to BC, Buck.


DH