“What I’m doing now is where I’m supposed to be” | Buck Pierce staying in Winnipeg

Buck Pierce came to a decision recently that benefits both Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers: he’s staying in his current gig rather than exploring other coaching opportunities.

Widely respected as a player, a citizen, an assistant coach and now as the club’s offensive coordinator, Pierce has had his name linked to openings across the Canadian Football League over the past few seasons including, most recently, the Ottawa RedBlacks and their head coaching vacancy which was filled by Bob Dyce.

“I told Ottawa that I was extremely humbled and honoured to have been thought of as a candidate,” Pierce told bluebombers.com “But I enjoy being in the moment and doing what I’m doing now, and until that changes I don’t feel like I need to do something else.”

The Blue Bombers are coming off a 2022 season in which the club set a franchise record with 15 wins, while the offence led the CFL with 58 touchdowns and finished second in average offensive points scoredwith 28.2 (B.C. Lions were first at 28.3). Zach Collaros has posted back-to-back Most Outstanding Player seasons working with Pierce while players like Nic Demski, Rasheed Bailey, Dalton Schoen – the CFL’s top rookie in ’22 – and Brady Oliveira also had career-best numbers working in the attack.

All that understandably has made Pierce a coach in high demand, but he’s not exiting for a few reasons, including family roots in Winnipeg and the overwhelming sense that he’s just got a good thing going right now.

“It’s kind of weird to think of that way because a lot of people in most professions – and certainly in football – always assume that as an assistant coach you want to climb the ladder and become a head coach one day and run your own team,” Pierce said. “I’d love to be a head coach someday. I really enjoy the process of pro football and being around the guys, and especially the CFL game.

“I got into coaching because I enjoy the competitive side of it, and I enjoy watching players grow and achieve success over time and helping them get better. I’ve enjoy seeing that growth here and want to see it continue to have that impact on the players here.”

There’s also this: like just about every player or coach who has spoken since the Grey Cup loss last month, there’s a bitter taste still lingering. Said Pierce of that loss. “Shoot, I don’t know if I’ll ever get over that.”

“I’ve always looked at things from a big-picture perspective and understood the importance of appreciating where you’re at and enjoying what you’re doing,” he added. “That’s not to say I wouldn’t enjoy a head coaching job, but I just know what I’m doing now is where I’m supposed to be and it’s about doing what’s right for me and my family at this time. That’s about being here and continuing to pursue another championship.”

Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, raised in California and a product of New Mexico State, Pierce began his CFL playing days with the B.C. Lions in 2005 before spending 2010-13 with the Blue Bombers. Three days after announcing his retirement in 2014, Pierce joined Mike O’Shea’s coaching staff, serving as an assistant until becoming offensive coordinator in 2020. And along the way, this town has grown on him.

“This game takes a lot and demands a lot from you, especially at the coaching level,” he said “Even as a player you sacrifice a lot to do what you love to do. The older you get you’ve got family members that are part of that journey.

“So, to be able to do this in a city I’ve been in for more than a decade, that consistency is something that is rare in this business and so to have that – the consistency and enjoying what you’re doing – definitely helps.

“I do envision at some point being a head coach, whether it’s in the CFL or somewhere else. It’s just not something I currently think about a lot. I think about how we get ready for another season, how do we put our players in positions to be successful and then go out there and be the best offence we can be in a changing world of having to adapt. That’s the exciting challenge for me right now.

“I enjoy what I’m doing. I’ve heard Osh say it, too, but I don’t think about those other things until I’m required to. I enjoy being the offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. That’s where I am right now: getting ready to take another run at another championship.”