Danny Barrett Joins Bulls' Football Staff

Canadian Football legend and former head coach named Assistant Head Coach/QB Coach

Danny Barrett

BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo head football coach Turner Gill has announced the hiring of long-time Canadian Football League head coach Danny Barrett as the Bulls’ assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.

Barrett, who most recently served as head coach and assistant general manager for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, brings a wealth of experience to Buffalo having served as a head coach, assistant general manager and having played quarterback at both the Division I level and for 14 seasons in the CFL.

"In Danny we are getting a tremendous coach and person,” said Gill. “We are getting a person with tremendous experience at being able to handle administrative duties, being able to handle young men and being able to handle things on the offensive side of the football, as well as the quarterback position. We’re very blessed and fortunate to have him on board.”

Barrett became the Roughriders 25th head coach in 2000 and led his team to post-season appearances for five straight seasons (2002-2006), including three out of four years advancing to the West Division final. He was nominated for the CFL’s Coach of the Year Award in 2003.

Prior to becoming the Roughriders' head coach, Barrett spent his previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the B.C. Lions. During the 1999 campaign, Barrett coach the Lions' receiver corps. In 1998, his first season with the Lions, Barrett began the season on the sidelines as the quarterback coach and assistant offensive coordinator, but was forced out of retirement and dressed as the backup quarterback for 15 games.

Barrett joined the coaching fraternity in 1997, serving as the quarterbacks coach of the Calgary Stampeders – mentoring future NFL Pro Bowler Jeff Garcia. During his three seasons as an assistant coach, his team's amassed a 32-22 regular season mark.

In his stellar playing career, Barrett played in 163 regular season CFL games with Calgary, Toronto, B.C. and Ottawa. His career totals include 23,419 yards passing, 1,656 completions in 3,078 attempts and 133 touchdowns. He played on two teams that advanced to the Grey Cup – the 1987 Toronto Argonauts and the 1991 Stampeders. In the ’91 Grey Cup, Barrett set a CFL record for completions with 34. In 1992, Barrett was selected as the Tom Pate recipient – voted on by the CFL Players' Association – while a member of the B.C. Lions for his outstanding contributions to the league, his team and his community.

Before turning pro, Barrett was a star quarterback at the University of Cincinnati. In 1982, he co-captained the Bearcats and earned honorable mention Associated Press All-America honors. He and his wife Alison have five children.

02/15/2007