Buck Pierce is back where his CFL career began.

It香蕉视频直播檚 been about 20 years since the quarterback from Crescent City, Cali., hopped into the car with his dad and took the long, winding drive up the West Coast to a B.C. Lions香蕉视频直播� free agent camp in Portland, Ore., hoping to land a role with the team.

This week, Pierce was named the Lions香蕉视频直播� head coach.

香蕉视频直播淔rom that free agent camp, I signed with the B.C. Lions about a week later,香蕉视频直播� he told reporters Wednesday. 香蕉视频直播淭o think about 20 years later, for that to come full circle and for me to be sitting here today is truly a surreal experience. It feels like a dream come true for me.香蕉视频直播�

Pierce香蕉视频直播檚 hiring comes after the Lions dismissed head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell last month. B.C. finished the 2024 regular season with a 9-9 record, ending their campaign with a loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division semifinal.

Choosing a new coach 香蕉视频直播� the 28th in franchise history 香蕉视频直播� was an 香蕉视频直播渆xhaustive process香蕉视频直播� where the Lions香蕉视频直播� front office went through eight candidates, said newly minted GM Ryan Rigmaiden.

香蕉视频直播淲e wanted somebody that had leadership skills, accountability for coaches and players and then somebody that could bring in the mental and physical toughness that we felt like we had to make a jump with,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淏uck started his career as a quarterback here. He led from the huddle. And now he香蕉视频直播檚 going to lead us into a new era of B.C. Lions football.香蕉视频直播�

The Lions inked Pierce as a free agent in 2005 and he spent five seasons playing for B.C., winning a Grey Cup in 2006.

The 43-year-old former QB grew emotional Wednesday reflecting on those memories.

香蕉视频直播淭o be back in this building, to see so many familiar faces around this room, reconnect with the community that I was so proud to be a part of, it香蕉视频直播檚 a very special feeling for me,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭o come back here and have this opportunity with an organization that I believe has the right people and is being built the right way is surreal, humbling. And I香蕉视频直播檓 filled with gratitude.香蕉视频直播�

After leaving the Lions, Pierce played parts of four seasons for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before being dealt back to B.C. midway through 2013. He then announced his retirement and joined the Bombers香蕉视频直播� coaching staff.

Pierce has spent the last decade on Winnipeg香蕉视频直播檚 sidelines and capped his fourth season as the team香蕉视频直播檚 offensive coordinator with a Grey Cup appearance last month. Pierce helped the Bombers hoist Grey Cups in 2019 and 2021 by guiding star quarterback Zach Collaros and 2024香蕉视频直播檚 most outstanding player, running back Brady Oliveira.

The Bombers offence has been the envy of the CFL in recent years, said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was on hand for Pierce香蕉视频直播檚 introduction Wednesday.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e proven that they can be an explosive offence, they can be a consistent offence, and that香蕉视频直播檚 ultimately what I want to be,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think that for the last couple of years, Winnipeg and Zach (Collaros) have set the standard for what the league is, especially in the West. And we香蕉视频直播檙e always chasing that.

香蕉视频直播淲e want to win the West, we want to win the Grey Cup. And I香蕉视频直播檓 excited to learn and develop and get better within that offence.香蕉视频直播�

Having a former quarterback as head coach is always great, added Rourke, who grew up watching the CFL and remembers seeing Pierce play.

Getting the most out of the offence, though, is all about communication, according to Rourke.

香蕉视频直播淚n all the quarterback rooms that I香蕉视频直播檝e been in, the successful ones, it香蕉视频直播檚 a great dialogue, not just between the starter and the play caller, but with all the quarterbacks,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I think that that香蕉视频直播檚 something that he香蕉视频直播檚 striving for. And I think it香蕉视频直播檚 important.香蕉视频直播�

Who will join Pierce香蕉视频直播檚 staff remains to be seen. The new head coach said Wednesday that he香蕉视频直播檒l be the one calling plays, but he香蕉视频直播檒l take his time to round out his coaching roster.

香蕉视频直播淥ur vision for this club is an identity of toughness, grit, integrity and accountability,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he standard will be set early and we will hold ourselves and our players to that standard.香蕉视频直播�

For now, Pierce香蕉视频直播檚 priority is reaching out to his new players and getting to know them. Some, including Rourke, are already locked up for next season, while others 香蕉视频直播� including last season香蕉视频直播檚 leading receiver Justin McInnis 香蕉视频直播� require new deals.

The new head coach knows he香蕉视频直播檒l face challenges in the weeks and months ahead, but wasn香蕉视频直播檛 about to speculate on what might be the toughest hurdle he香蕉视频直播檒l face.

香蕉视频直播淵ou don香蕉视频直播檛 know what you don香蕉视频直播檛 know as a first-time head coach,香蕉视频直播� Pierce said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I do know this 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 excited for the opportunity. What I know is adversity will show and we香蕉视频直播檙e ready for that.香蕉视频直播�