Sunday afternoon update> Sources share Leipold has turned down the opportunity and is expected to receive an extension at Kansas.
Original article:
Lance Leipold has carved a reputation as one of college football's greatest winners across the past 17 seasons a head coach, from the NCAA Division III to Football Bowls Subdivision Group of 5 to Power 5 programs.
Now Leipold, a Wisconsin native who's cultivated his career throughout the Midwest, has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Kalen DeBoer at the University of Washington.
Multiple sources throughout the weekend and on Sunday strongly indicated to FootballScoop that Leipold is at the epicenter of Troy Dannen's Washington.
The Huskies lost DeBoer late this week when he was hired away by the University of Alabama to replace the retired Nick Saban; DeBoer guided Washington to a national runner-up finish in the College Football Playoff last Monday.
Leipold has been a meticulous program builder throughout his long coaching career, which has included assistant coaching stops at both the University of Nebraska and University of Wisconsin.
But it's been since Leipold first became a head coach -- at his alma mater, Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he was a quarterback -- that Leipold has won at unprecedented levels.
He guided Wisconsin-Whitewater to six NCAA Division III national championships, won 24 games in his final three seasons atop the Buffalo Bulls program and just turned in a nine-win campaign at Kansas -- that program's second-most wins this century.
Kansas officials awarded Leipold a contract extension after the team's breakthrough 2022 campaign, and sources told FootballScoop that KU had again engaged in talks to fashion a raise and extension for Leipold after this season's nine-win season culminated with a bowl win and top-25 national ranking.
Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch has also been involved in the search and remains a viable candidate; but at this time sources tell FootballScoop the focus is Leipold. Chris Klieman and other FBS head coaches have been vetted as well.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest news.