Gill Leaving For Kansas

AMHERST (wgrz.com) - The University at Buffalo has confirmed that Turner Gill is leaving to become the head football coach at the University of Kansas.

UB Athletic Director Warde Manuel has named offensive coordinator Danny Barrett as interim head coach and says a national search for Gill's replacement will begin in a statement released by UB Sunday:

"Today is a day that creates many mixed feelings," said Manuel. "I am saddened to see Turner leave us as he has done an absolutely fantastic job of building our football program to unprecedented success upon a value system that we can all be proud of. That being said, I am extremely happy for Turner and his family that they have been granted this opportunity."

"Moving forward I have every confidence that Danny Barrett will provide great leadership for our program while we search for our next head coach," said Manuel. "We will begin a national search immediately to find the best person and football coach to keep us competing for championships on an annual basis while focusing on the efforts of our student-athletes in the classroom. Coach Barrett is a candidate for the position and is the only internal staff member that will be considered."

Manuel will adress the media at 5pm Sunday afternoon.

Gill went 5-7 at UB this past season and led the Bulls the 2008 MAC Championship. 

Other candidates for the job at Kansas included Stanford's Jim Harbaugh who pulled out of the running today and East Carolina's Skip Holtz.

Ben Hayes of WGRZ-TV talked with UB running back James tarks and UB Basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon about Gill's departure.