The B.C. Lions have named former Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce as the franchise’s 28th head coach in the team’s 70-year history on Tuesday.
Buck Pierce is six foot one and weighs 210 pounds. The 43-year-old from Hutchinson, Kansas, started his coaching career in 2014 as a running back coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for two seasons. In 2016, he became the team’s quarterback coach, and since 2020 was the offensive coordinator.
“I’m extremely excited and honored to take this next step in my coaching career with the organization that originally brought me here nearly 20 years ago,” said Pierce. “My sincere thanks go out to Mr. Doman, Duane Vienneau, Neil McEvoy, Ryan Rigmaiden, and the entire organization for instilling their belief that I can lead this great franchise. The building blocks are in place here and we look forward to getting to work as we strive to bring the Grey Cup back to British Columbia.”
As a coach, he helped quarterback Zach Collaros win two Most Outstanding Player Awards (2021-22) while running back Brady Oliveira won two Most Outstanding Canadian Awards (2023-24) becoming the first Canadian since Jon Cornish in 2013 to win the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.
He helped the Blue Bombers win five consecutive West Division titles (2019, 2021-24), appeared in five straight Grey Cup title games, and won two Grey Cup championships (2019, 2021).
In 2024, Winnipeg’s offense ranked eighth in average offensive points (23.2), sixth in net offense (358.5), third in rushing yards (111.7), eighth in passing yards (260.2), ninth in passing touchdowns (18), and fifth in sacks allowed (36).
“Buck was a candidate we identified early in this process as someone ready to step in and lead our franchise,” said Ryan Rigmaiden. “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.”
As a player, Pierce played nine seasons in the CFL for the B.C. Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers completed 1,200 of 1,869 passes (64.2%) for 15,289 yards, 76 touchdowns, 63 interceptions, 233 carries for 1,684 yards, 14 touchdowns, 10 tackles, and one tackle on special teams in 130 games. In B.C., he completed 713 of 1,127 passes (63.3%) for 8,964 yards, 51 touchdowns, 32 interceptions, 140 carries for 1,033 yards, 10 touchdowns, six tackles, and one tackle on special teams in 94 games, of which 35 were starts. He sits tenth on B.C.’s all-time list with 8,964 passing yards, and his 713 completions sit eighth, and went 22-12-1 as a starter.
In 2006, he was a backup quarterback when the Lions won the 94th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes. In 2011, Pierce led the Blue Bombers to the 99th Grey Cup but they lost to the B.C. Lions 34-23.
Collegiately, Pierce played four seasons at New Mexico State (2001-04) completing 397 of 599 passes (66.3%) for 4,927 yards, 30 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 241 carries for 734 yards, 14 touchdowns, three catches for 68 yards, and punted the ball two times for 58 yards (29.0 AVG) in 41 games for the Aggies.
