Buck Pierce is back where his CFL career began.
It鈥檚 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鈥� free agent camp in Portland, Ore., hoping to land a role with the team.
This week, Pierce was named the Lions鈥� head coach.
鈥淔rom that free agent camp, I signed with the B.C. Lions about a week later,鈥� he told reporters Wednesday. 鈥淭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.鈥�
Pierce鈥檚 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 鈥� the 28th in franchise history 鈥� was an 鈥渆xhaustive process鈥� where the Lions鈥� front office went through eight candidates, said newly minted GM Ryan Rigmaiden.
鈥淲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,鈥� he said.
鈥淏uck started his career as a quarterback here. He led from the huddle. And now he鈥檚 going to lead us into a new era of B.C. Lions football.鈥�
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.
鈥淭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鈥檚 a very special feeling for me,鈥� he said.
鈥淭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鈥檓 filled with gratitude.鈥�
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鈥� coaching staff.
Pierce has spent the last decade on Winnipeg鈥檚 sidelines and capped his fourth season as the team鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 introduction Wednesday.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e proven that they can be an explosive offence, they can be a consistent offence, and that鈥檚 ultimately what I want to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 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鈥檙e always chasing that.
鈥淲e want to win the West, we want to win the Grey Cup. And I鈥檓 excited to learn and develop and get better within that offence.鈥�
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.
鈥淚n all the quarterback rooms that I鈥檝e been in, the successful ones, it鈥檚 a great dialogue, not just between the starter and the play caller, but with all the quarterbacks,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I think that that鈥檚 something that he鈥檚 striving for. And I think it鈥檚 important.鈥�
Who will join Pierce鈥檚 staff remains to be seen. The new head coach said Wednesday that he鈥檒l be the one calling plays, but he鈥檒l take his time to round out his coaching roster.
鈥淥ur vision for this club is an identity of toughness, grit, integrity and accountability,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he standard will be set early and we will hold ourselves and our players to that standard.鈥�
For now, Pierce鈥檚 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 鈥� including last season鈥檚 leading receiver Justin McInnis 鈥� require new deals.
The new head coach knows he鈥檒l face challenges in the weeks and months ahead, but wasn鈥檛 about to speculate on what might be the toughest hurdle he鈥檒l face.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what you don鈥檛 know as a first-time head coach,鈥� Pierce said. 鈥淏ut I do know this 鈥� I鈥檓 excited for the opportunity. What I know is adversity will show and we鈥檙e ready for that.鈥�
