Buffalo State announced today that longtime football coach Jerry Boyes will return to the sidelines effective immediately, while maintaining his current role as athletic director. Boyes replaces Paul Shaffner who was relieved of his head football coaching duties this week.

Shaffner will continue his work with the athletic department's external affairs division. Shaffner's teams went 13-36 in five seasons, 1-9 record in 2008.

Boyes was 89-62 at the helm of the Bengals. In the eight seasons since Boyes stepped down as head coach, Buffalo State went 17-61.

Upon coming to Buffalo State in 1986, Boyes inherited a program that was entering just its sixth season of varsity competition but transformed the Bengals into one of the premier Division III football programs in the Northeast. In 15 seasons at the helm of the program, his teams qualified for the NCAA playoffs seven times. In addition to being a three-time ECAC Upstate Coach of the Year, Boyes claimed CNN Division III Coach of the Year honors in 1995. He also recruited and mentored 12 All-Americans and four Academic All-Americans during his coaching career.

“Jerry's football resume speaks for itself and we are excited that he will again pursue his passion for coaching,” said Hal Payne, vice president for student affairs. “In turning to Coach Boyes, we seek to build on Paul's work and improve our record on the field.”