LAWRENCE (KSNT) - KU head football coach Lance Leipold is heading into his fourth season at the helm in Lawrence.
The Jayhawk head coach joined K-Nation's Caroline Soro in a one-on-one interview to preview KU's 2024 season. From fan engagement to playing in Kansas City to watching a healthy Jalon Daniels connect with his senior trio of wide receivers in practice, Coach Leipold can't wait to KU's first game on Aug. 29.
"When you look at it from a couple years back to where we are now, the preseason excitement for football has definitely changed," Leipold said. "That's why we came here. We though as a staff we could do some things to make this program relevant, and I'm excited to see how things play out."
Leipold acknowledged the impact former players, like Jason Bean, Dominick Puni, Mason Fairchild and others, had on making the program what it is right now.
As for this year's group that's led by the likes of Daniels and senior running back Devin Neal, Leipold is excited about the way they've continued to build on the foundation created by players who came before them. He's excited about the chemistry of his offense, especially with Luke Grimm, Lawrence Arnold and Quentin Skinner all back.
"Watching how they've stayed locked in and watched and helped some of the younger guys go about it," Leipold said of how he's seen the seniors develop. "Every time I say it now, they kind of go now 'Yeah, Coach, I got you, I know what you mean,' where maybe a year or two ago they would've gone, 'Come on Coach, I was just having fun.' Or something like that. So It's been cool."
He says the wins and losses are important, but he's looking forward to watching 'these young men maximize and get what they really deserve.'
The full interview with Coach Leipold aired in Sunday's edition of K-Nation and can be watched above.
