Kansas State University Athletics
Football
Buford, Josh

Josh Buford
- Title:
- Offensive Analyst
A former high school coach in the Kansas City Metro area with ties to colleges within the region, Josh Buford enters his second season at K-State in 2023 as the offensive analyst.
Buford helped K-State earn a Big 12 Championship during his first season on staff in 2022 as the Wildcat offense ranked in the top 10 in 11 school categories, while they scored 32.3 points per game to stand as the most by K-State since 2017. Additionally, the Wildcats ranked 15th in the country in rushing yards per game (208.3) – their highest national ranking since placing ninth in 2003 – while they totaled 210.5 passing yards per game and 421.6 total yards per game, their most since 2014.
Buford came to Manhattan after serving as a defensive quality control coach and defensive recruiting coordinator at the University of Hawai’i during the 2021 season. While at Manoa, Buford helped break down opponent passing concepts and put together numerous reports for the defensive staff while also assisting with recruiting. Buford helped with a Warrior defense that finished second in the FBS in takeaways and third in defensive touchdowns.
Prior to Hawaii, Buford was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Park Hill High School in Kansas City from 2016 to 2020, while he was the head coach at Excelsior Springs High School from 2013 to 2015, helping the Tigers win their first playoff game in 20 years. During his time with the Tigers, Burford coached Sam Webb, who is a defensive back for the Las Vegas Raiders. Buford was previously the wide receivers coach at Excelsior Springs from 2008 to 2010. During his time as a high school coach, Buford worked at Spin It Quarterback Academy with Justin Hoover.
Over a five-year period as the signal caller at Park Hill, Buford's offenses scored over 1,300 points, including a 34-point average during a 10-3 season in 2017. While coaching the Trojans, Buford played a role in the development of both Jaylin Noel, now a starter at Iowa State, and Ronnie Bell, the 2017 Simone Award winner as the top high school player in the Kansas City metro area. Additionally, in September 2017, Park Hill tied a national record for passing touchdowns in a half (8) and passing touchdowns in a game (9).
Buford’s first full-time role in college football came in 2011 and 2012 when he was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. He got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant helping out with the wide receivers at his alma mater, Baker University, from 2006 to 2007.
A four-year member of the football team, Buford was also a three-year member of the Baker player’s council. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and secondary education from Baker in 2006, while he also obtained a master’s in educational leadership from the university in 2007. Additionally, Buford earned a specialist degree in education leadership in 2018 from Arkansas State.
Prior to Baker, Buford, a native of Alma, Missouri, prepped at Santa Fe High School where he was a four-year letterwinner in football, basketball and track, helping the Chiefs earn a state championship in 2000.
Buford and his wife, Kelsey, have a daughter, Everly, and a son, Brooks.
Buford helped K-State earn a Big 12 Championship during his first season on staff in 2022 as the Wildcat offense ranked in the top 10 in 11 school categories, while they scored 32.3 points per game to stand as the most by K-State since 2017. Additionally, the Wildcats ranked 15th in the country in rushing yards per game (208.3) – their highest national ranking since placing ninth in 2003 – while they totaled 210.5 passing yards per game and 421.6 total yards per game, their most since 2014.
Buford came to Manhattan after serving as a defensive quality control coach and defensive recruiting coordinator at the University of Hawai’i during the 2021 season. While at Manoa, Buford helped break down opponent passing concepts and put together numerous reports for the defensive staff while also assisting with recruiting. Buford helped with a Warrior defense that finished second in the FBS in takeaways and third in defensive touchdowns.
Prior to Hawaii, Buford was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Park Hill High School in Kansas City from 2016 to 2020, while he was the head coach at Excelsior Springs High School from 2013 to 2015, helping the Tigers win their first playoff game in 20 years. During his time with the Tigers, Burford coached Sam Webb, who is a defensive back for the Las Vegas Raiders. Buford was previously the wide receivers coach at Excelsior Springs from 2008 to 2010. During his time as a high school coach, Buford worked at Spin It Quarterback Academy with Justin Hoover.
Over a five-year period as the signal caller at Park Hill, Buford's offenses scored over 1,300 points, including a 34-point average during a 10-3 season in 2017. While coaching the Trojans, Buford played a role in the development of both Jaylin Noel, now a starter at Iowa State, and Ronnie Bell, the 2017 Simone Award winner as the top high school player in the Kansas City metro area. Additionally, in September 2017, Park Hill tied a national record for passing touchdowns in a half (8) and passing touchdowns in a game (9).
Buford’s first full-time role in college football came in 2011 and 2012 when he was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. He got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant helping out with the wide receivers at his alma mater, Baker University, from 2006 to 2007.
A four-year member of the football team, Buford was also a three-year member of the Baker player’s council. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and secondary education from Baker in 2006, while he also obtained a master’s in educational leadership from the university in 2007. Additionally, Buford earned a specialist degree in education leadership in 2018 from Arkansas State.
Prior to Baker, Buford, a native of Alma, Missouri, prepped at Santa Fe High School where he was a four-year letterwinner in football, basketball and track, helping the Chiefs earn a state championship in 2000.
Buford and his wife, Kelsey, have a daughter, Everly, and a son, Brooks.