BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has accepted a position as Offensive Quality Control coach with the Atlanta Falcons.

Lazor, who came to Buffalo two seasons ago with head coach Jim Hofher, will join head coach Dan Reeves' staff immediately. Lazor worked with Falcons' offensive coordinator Pete Mangurian at Cornell, where Lazor spent six seasons at his alma mater before coming to Buffalo.

Bill Lazor

Hofher will be looking for a pair of assistants to round out his staff, as defensive backfield coach Clayton Carlin took a position as recruiting and special teams coordinator and safeties coach at New Mexico State last week. Carlin had also come to Buffalo in Hofher's first season and returns to a program that he coached at for three seasons (1997-99).

"We greatly appreciate the contributions that Bill and Clayton have made to our football program, and we certainly wish them well in their new endeavor," said UB head coach Jim Hofher.

"We are actively seeking candidates to fill the vacant defensive and offensive coaching positions," said Hofher. "We have had a terrific response from interested candidates so far."

In addition, the Bulls have set practice dates for their NCAA-mandated 15 spring practice sessions. Buffalo will begin practices on Friday, March 21st and will conclude the spring sessions with the annual Blue-White Scrimmage on Saturday, April 12th at 1 pm at UB Stadium.