Life’s team player

Editor's note: An incorrect draft of this article appeared in the print version of this issue. The copy below has been updated to reflect what should have appeared in print.

During a quiet moment after the Buffalo Bills’ 2024 playoff run, Austin Gund, ’15, received a call from a former football player at Belhaven University whom he had coached. They chatted about the player’s recent graduation, his dreams of playing in the NFL, and, most importantly, life in general. This call caused Gund to reflect on how the people he’s encountered on his coaching journey are the foundation and motivation behind why he coaches.

As a former three-time captain of Richmond’s football team, Gund’s transition to coach was natural. The key difference was shifting from tunnel vision to a big-picture mindset, so he could see how each player can contribute to a win. But leading from the sideline wasn’t as different from being team captain as you might think.

“There’s an expression in coaching that the best teams are player-led, and I was fortunate enough to have good coaches who allowed me to lead,” Gund said. “That experience gave me a model for what it looks like to enable my players to thrive from a leadership perspective, and then it’s my challenge to help them develop their abilities on the field.”

His leadership and coaching skills took him to the Buffalo Bills – where he is the assistant offensive line coach. During the season, he helps the offensive coaches develop the weekly game plan and serves as a resource to the offensive lineman. His philosophy always comes down to knowing his players and positioning them to excel.

At the end of the day, he cherishes his coaches, past teammates, former players, and the team he’s part of now. Relationships like the one with the former Belhaven player have carried Gund through his career. When the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins at the end of the regular season, Gund remembers the celebration most fondly.

“There’s nothing like the feeling of winning and knowing that it took all of us,” he said. “The joy that exists in that locker room and seeing the looks on the guys’ faces, it’s priceless.”