Vokolek Added to Football Staff
12/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo, The State University of New York head football coach Lance Leipold has hired D.J. Vokolek to coach the secondary. Vokolek most recently served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Missouri State.
Vokolek spent the last nine seasons as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Missouri State. He also assisted with the Bears' safeties. Over his tenure, Vokolek's defenses boasted 16 Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer selections and 27 All-Conference picks. In 2014, three members of the Bears defense were named All-Americans.
Missouri State appeared in the national rankings in many different categories during Vokolek's time with the Bears. They led the nation in red zone defense (.649) and ranked ninth in interceptions (23) in 2013. In 2010, the Bears ranked 24th nationally in sacks per game (2.45) and 30th in turnover margin (+0.36).
Prior to Missouri State, Vokolek spent three seasons (2003-05) at Northern Iowa as assistant head coach and linebackers coach. In 2005, he served as defensive coordinator and helped lead the Panthers to the I-AA National Championship game. From 1997-02, Vokolek served as linebackers coach and later defensive coordinator at Nebraska-Omaha. He was on the same Mavericks' staff as Leipold.
