Head football coach Mike London announced today that that former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor has been hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the University of Virginia football program. With this addition, Coach London is now loaded with a staff of nine assistant coaches, including Jim Reid as Defensive Coordinator. (Updated 4:34 p.m.)
"Bill brings a wealth of football knowledge and influence working for three NFL Hall of Fame head coaches," said London. "Like all the other coaches on staff, he is of high character and integrity. Bill was an accomplished college quarterback as a player and has been a college coordinator and recruiter for an academic institution of high standing, which makes him a good fit with the staff who will represent the University of Virginia in a positive manner."
"I am excited to be at the University of Virginia," said Lazor. "First of all, I feel it's a great atmosphere. I have lived in the state previously for four years and I have some very good friends in the area who have coached at Virginia. In my mind I have an unbelievable view of what Virginia football is, what it's going to be and should be. I think Virginia is a place that is going to win, a place full of great people - not only the student-athletes we have a chance to coach, but also the people involved coaching the team, supporting the team and those part of the University.
"My wife and I are excited to be part of a great university atmosphere again. I am excited to work for Coach London. We have worked for some of the same coaches in the past and they could not have given me a higher recommendation of the type of person Mike London is. My trust in them and the reputation of Mike London are strong and attractive factors in coming to work for him. We will put a program together in Coach London's vision that everyone is going to be proud of."
Lazor is an alumnus of Cornell University. While there, as quarterback, he set 26 school passing and total offensive records. He earned his degree in human development and family studies. He also began his coaching career at Cornell in 1994, working with running backs, receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends while also serving as the recruiting coordinator from 1998-2000.
In 2001, Lazor joined the coaching staff at the University of Buffalo, where he served as the Offensive Coordinator until 2002, after which, in 2003, he moved over the NFL as the Quality Control Offensive Assistant for the Atlanta Falcons. The following season, Lazor joined the Redskins as Quarterbacks Coach from 2004-2007.
After Jim Zorn left the OC position at Seattle to become the new Head Coach for the Washington Redskins, Lazor was tabbed as Zorn's replacement as QB Coach in Seattle.
In a phone interview with David Teel at the Daily Press, former NFL head coach and player Dan Reeves, who had hired Lazor at Atlanta, lauded the Lazor hire.
"He was always anxious to do more," Reeves said. "I can't say enough good things about him. ... Bill just took it to the extreme. He did things you hadn't even thought about."
"I was trying to get him a job in the NFL," said Reeves, who was not contacted by Virginia for a recommendation. "This is a great job for him. I think he's going to be a really good head coach some day."
Lazor is married to wife, Nicole, with one son, Nolan.
Mike London, who has never been head coach at a Division I school before, is now fully loaded with two NFL-bred coaches leading his offense and defense.