David Lee (American football coach)
 Lee (left) with quarterback Chad Pennington in 2009 | |
| Buffalo Bills | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 2, 1953 Dexter, Missouri |
| Career information | |
| College: | Vanderbilt |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | NCAA: 11–41–1 (.217) |
David Lee (born July 2, 1953) is an American football coach and former player. Lee has spent many years as a quarterbacks coach, and has served as the head coach of the UTEP Miners.
College
Lee attended Vanderbilt University from 1971 to 1975 where he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1975. As the quarterback for the Commodores, he served as team captain and was named the team’s most valuable player in 1974. Lee went on to lead his team to a record of record of 7–3–2 including a 6–6 tie against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Peach Bowl.
Coaching career
Collegiate
Lee began his coaching career at the University of Tennessee at Martin as the quarterbacks and receivers coach. During his time at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he organized the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter in the school's history.
He then left Tennessee-Martin to return to his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, where he coached as the quarterbacks coach for one season. He then spent the next five season as a quarterbacks coach (1978–1982) with the University of Mississippi. In 1983, he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of New Mexico. Lee left the University of New Mexico to join the University of Arkansas coaching staff. He coached at the University of Arkansas for four years under Ken Hatfield. During his four years as the Razorbacks quarterbacks coach, Lee helped direct the Razorback teams with a record of 45–15–1 as well as five consecutive bowl appearances and was also promoted to offensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas in 1988 where he help lead the Razorbacks to a Southwest Conference title. In 1989, he accepted his first head coaching job with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) from 1989 to 1993 and posted a record of 11–41–1. In 1994, Lee joined the Hatfield's coaching staff at Rice University as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach where he helped lead Rice to a share of the Southwest Conference title. Lee returned to Arkansas in 2001 and helped the Razorbacks to a Southeastern Conference Western Division title.[1]
Professional
Lee accepted a professional football coaching position with the Dallas Cowboys in 2003. As an offensive assistant and offensive quality control coach in his first year with the Cowboys, he helped the Cowboys offense finish 15th overall which was a moderate improvement from the 2002 season. In his third year, his role with the Cowboys increase as he became the quarterbacks coach.
Return to coaching college
Following his fourth year with the Cowboys as offensive quality control, Lee returned to the University of Arkansas as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2007. Lee followed Houston Nutt to Ole Miss to be their offensive coordinator, however, his old boss, Bill Parcells—the Miami Dolphins new VP of Football Operations—hired Lee to be the Dolphins quarterback coach for the 2008 season. Lee was named “Innovator of the Year” 2008 by Sporting News for introducing the “Wildcat offense” to the NFL.[2]
After finishing a two year stint at Miami, on Monday January 11, 2011 Lee was brought back to the University of Mississippi as offensive coordinator under head coach Houston Nutt.
Buffalo Bills
Following the departure of George Cortez who took a job as the head coach of the Hamilton TigerCats of the CFL, The Buffalo Bills hired Lee on January 13, 2012 to be the Quarterback coach under Chan Gailey.[3] He, along with the entire Bills coaching staff, was dismissed on December 31, 2012.[4]
New York Jets
On January 20, 2013, Lee was hired as the QB Coach for the New York Jets.[5]
Buffalo Bills
On January 19, 2015, Lee was hired as the QB Coach for the Buffalo Bills.[6]
Personal life
Lee spent most of his childhood in Dexter, Missouri. He then attended Woodham High School in Pensacola, Florida, where he graduated in 1971. Lee is currently married to Lynne Kazanowski. The couple have four children (daughters Dana and Shannon, and sons Brian and Jordan).
See also
References
- ^ "Lee returning to Arkansas to run offense - College Football - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2007-01-17. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
- ^ http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=509320
- ^ Brown, Chris (2012-01-13). "Bills agree to terms with new QBs coach". Buffalobills.com. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
- ^ Gaughan, Mark (31 December 2012). "Bills make it official: Gailey is fired". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "NY Jets reportedly hire David Lee as quarterbacks coach to tutor struggling Mark Sanchez". Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ Buffalo Bills (January 19, 2015). "David Lee named Bills QB coach". Buffalo Bills. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- 1953 births
- Living people
- American football quarterbacks
- Arkansas Razorbacks football coaches
- Buffalo Bills coaches
- Dallas Cowboys coaches
- Miami Dolphins coaches
- New Mexico Lobos football coaches
- New York Jets coaches
- Ole Miss Rebels football coaches
- Rice Owls football coaches
- UTEP Miners football coaches
- Tennessee–Martin Skyhawks football coaches
- Vanderbilt Commodores football coaches
- Vanderbilt Commodores football players
- People from Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
- People from Stoddard County, Missouri
- Sportspeople from Pensacola, Florida