Buck Pierce is back where his CFL career began.

It91裸聊视频檚 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. Lions91裸聊视频� free agent camp in Portland, Ore., hoping to land a role with the team.

This week, Pierce was named the Lions91裸聊视频� head coach.

91裸聊视频淔rom that free agent camp, I signed with the B.C. Lions about a week later,91裸聊视频� he told reporters Wednesday. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

Pierce91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� the 28th in franchise history 91裸聊视频� was an 91裸聊视频渆xhaustive process91裸聊视频� where the Lions91裸聊视频� front office went through eight candidates, said newly minted GM Ryan Rigmaiden.

91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淏uck started his career as a quarterback here. He led from the huddle. And now he91裸聊视频檚 going to lead us into a new era of B.C. Lions football.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭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, it91裸聊视频檚 a very special feeling for me,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭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 I91裸聊视频檓 filled with gratitude.91裸聊视频�

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 Bombers91裸聊视频� coaching staff.

Pierce has spent the last decade on Winnipeg91裸聊视频檚 sidelines and capped his fourth season as the team91裸聊视频檚 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 202491裸聊视频檚 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 Pierce91裸聊视频檚 introduction Wednesday.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e proven that they can be an explosive offence, they can be a consistent offence, and that91裸聊视频檚 ultimately what I want to be,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 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 we91裸聊视频檙e always chasing that.

91裸聊视频淲e want to win the West, we want to win the Grey Cup. And I91裸聊视频檓 excited to learn and develop and get better within that offence.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚n all the quarterback rooms that I91裸聊视频檝e been in, the successful ones, it91裸聊视频檚 a great dialogue, not just between the starter and the play caller, but with all the quarterbacks,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd I think that that91裸聊视频檚 something that he91裸聊视频檚 striving for. And I think it91裸聊视频檚 important.91裸聊视频�

Who will join Pierce91裸聊视频檚 staff remains to be seen. The new head coach said Wednesday that he91裸聊视频檒l be the one calling plays, but he91裸聊视频檒l take his time to round out his coaching roster.

91裸聊视频淥ur vision for this club is an identity of toughness, grit, integrity and accountability,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he standard will be set early and we will hold ourselves and our players to that standard.91裸聊视频�

For now, Pierce91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� including last season91裸聊视频檚 leading receiver Justin McInnis 91裸聊视频� require new deals.

The new head coach knows he91裸聊视频檒l face challenges in the weeks and months ahead, but wasn91裸聊视频檛 about to speculate on what might be the toughest hurdle he91裸聊视频檒l face.

91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 know what you don91裸聊视频檛 know as a first-time head coach,91裸聊视频� Pierce said. 91裸聊视频淏ut I do know this 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 excited for the opportunity. What I know is adversity will show and we91裸聊视频檙e ready for that.91裸聊视频�