01/29/2013
UVa Assistant Football Coach Bill Lazor Leaving for NFL
Bill Lazor is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on the Virginia football staff. He has done a remarkable job in his first two seasons at Virginia, boosting the Cavaliers' productivity as one of the top programs in the ACC.
In 2010, Virginia ranked third in the ACC at 404.8 yards per game after finishing last in 2009 at 269.6 yards per game. In 2011 the Cavaliers were close to matching that number, ranking No. 4 in the ACC at 399.8 yards per game.
Lazor came to Virginia after seven seasons in the NFL, most recently as the quarterbacks coach in 2008 and 2009 with the Seattle Seahawks. Incorporating an offensive scheme that he developed while working for some of the most successful coaches in NFL history has helped to develop players and been a part part of the program's turn around under head coach Mike London.
In 2011 Lazor helped to develop sophomore quarterback Michael Rocco and freshman quarterback David Watford into a position where either player could direct the UVa offense. Rocco finished the season with 2,671 passing yards, the most by a UVa quarterback in their first starting season and ranks No. 4 all-time for a season by any Cavalier quarterback.
In 2010 senior Marc Verica led the league's fourth-best passing attack, finishing with 2,799 yards in the air, marking the third-best season mark in UVa history. Wide receivers Dontrelle Inman and Kris Burd became the first UVa wide receiving duo to each total a minimum of 40 receptions in a season. They also recorded over 600 yards receiving, also a program first for a wide receiver tandem.
Keith Payne led a much-improved rushing attack that featured two of the ACC's most productive runners. Payne led the ACC with 14 rushing touchdowns, 16 total touchdowns and an 8.7 points per game scoring average.
With the Seahawks, Lazor guided Pro Bowler Matt Hasselback for two seasons under head coaches Mike Holmgren and Jim Mora, Jr., respectively. Prior to his stint in Seattle, Lazor spent four seasons with the Washington Redskins. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons Lazor was the quarterbacks coach for legendary head coach Joe Gibbs. In his first two seasons in Washington, Lazor was an offensive assistant. Lazor got his NFL start in 2003 under Dan Reeves as the Atlanta Falcons offensive quality control coach.
Lazor's last collegiate stop was as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Buffalo in 2001 and 2002, just after the Bulls rejoined the FBS ranks in 1999. Prior to his days heading the Bulls offense, Lazor spent seven seasons at his alma mater, Cornell. He started as a part-time assistant in 1994 and progressed to the passing game coordinator, recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1999 and 2000. He also spent time as the running backs, tight ends, wide receivers and junior varsity head coach during his tenure with the Big Red.
A 1994 graduate of Cornell with a bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies, Lazor was a three-year starting quarterback and graduated with 26 passing and total offensive program records. An All-Ivy League performer, Lazor was a 1993 team captain and team most valuable player as a senior, leading to an invitation to play in the 1994 Epson Ivy Bowl in Tokyo, Japan.
Lazor is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the NFL Coaches Association (NFLCA). The Scranton, Pa., native and his wife Nicole, have a son, Nolan, and a daughter, Marin.
