Kittley worked alongside Kingsbury in the development of Patrick Mahomes II as a graduate assistant, tutoring the future NFL MVP into becoming the nations leading passer in 2016 and an eventual top-10 selection by the Kansas City Chiefs. The offense ranks second behind only Mississippi State (another Air Raid attack) with 50 passes per game and the offensive line has the best pass-blocking grade in the country heading into the bowl season, according to PFF. Oklahoma and Texas Tech square off in Lubbock on Nov. 26, OUs last game of the regular season. I have no way of knowing for sure without access to their playbook, but it is possible that this is kind of an option route, where their outside receiver is coached to work back toward the sideline if he doesnt initially get the ball on the slant: Backside slant touchdown throw on a redzone 4th down: Again on 4th down, UTSA is in man free and Zappe works the vertical/out combo to the backside: Here against Marshall, Zappe works a high/low combo on the backside flat defender: Later on in the game they run snag and go, where the outside receiver basically fakes snag and then runs vertical. Meet Zach Shallcross Season 27 Contestant. A potential trio of Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and Bijan Robinson would be exciting to watch at the next level. 2 nationally)Passing offense: 434.6 ypg (No. I personally got to recruit those three so I developed a relationship with them and their families, and I just felt that the relationship that we had was something that was very important in their decision making.. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Taylor Estes, Horns247, 247Sports), (Photo: Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports). He was able to attend his fathers track meets and develop an understanding of how connections between players and coaches were made and how to help guide young athletes. After the Birmingham bowl, literally sitting on the bus, wrapping my head around, A, the last second loss we had, but B, what am I going to do. Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, quarterback Bailey Zappe, and wide receiver Jerreth Sterns all made the move to Bowling Green. 15 in total offense last season and looking to be even better in 2023. Zach was football and basketball star at Frenship High School before serving on then-Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsburys staff from 2013 to 2017. But for him, I felt like it was really just the relationship that he and I built where he was going to play had to be perfect for him. Kittley, 30, has shaken up the sport in short order thanks to his potent variation of the Air Raid offense, which took Houston Baptist by storm in the FCS for three years and lifted the Hilltoppers out of a malaise this fall. The Red Raiders also made a big move by hiring Zach Kittley as offensive coordinator (well get to that) and is rumored to be considering hiring Ewers high school coach. BREAKING: WKUs Zach Kittley has been hired as Texas Tech's Offensive Coordinator, per @AaronDickens 2021 QB1 Quinn Ewers visited Texas Tech today pic.twitter.com/2Y3rtLE4li. If the cornerback is playing off, he will eliminate the corner route in his progression and have an easy read on the Sam, just like on stick. ?? Just as it started to look like Sam Pittmans coaching staff was in place for the 2023 season, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has officially decided to jump ship to TCU. The gigantic leap, along with an eight-win season and the school's first divisional title in Conference USA since 2016, led Kittley back Monday to his alma mater of Texas Tech, where he was hired as offensive coordinator. #WreckEm https://t.co/S8w9ERrcNu, Strong endorsements on our new OC! Kittley was a late add to Texas Tech's first-year staff under Joey McGuireafter the Red Raiders first went after Sonnie Cumbie. The Red Raiders had an explosive introduction to new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. The Hilltoppers averaged 527.5 yards per game (second-best) and 7.07 yards per play (third-best). 2 in scoring offense (43.1) and No. That being said, his Illini offense left a lot to be desired this season. Thats kinda what makes it work.. Sterns, who was also a senior graduate transfer from Houston Baptist, led the nation in receptions (150), TD receptions (17), and receiving yards (1,902). https://t.co/e35pdt6k2A, Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 14, 2020. The two reunite at Oklahoma with the help of wide receiver Marvin Mims. About WKU. 2013-14 Texas Tech Student Assistant (Offensive Intern), Im home. Losing Briles is tough, but the right hire can definitely soften the blow. Bijan Robinson (Texas), Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State), Marvin Mims (Oklahoma) and Xavier Worthy (Texas) are just a few of many talented skill players. The 2021 Big 12 champions lost leading rushers Trestan Ebner and Abram Smith along with top wide receiver Tyquan Thornton to the draft but return four starters from their excellent offensive line. Kittley transferred to Texas Tech from Abilene Christian and immediately set his sights on coaching football. He was a finalist for the prestigious Manning Award and a semifinalist for both the Davey OBrien and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. Most recently, Mullen was on the call for ESPN during Arkansas 55-53 Liberty Bowl win over Kansas. 2015-17 Texas Tech Graduate Assistant (Assistant Quarterbacks) The cornerback jumps the shoot, isolating Sterns on the corner route against an outmatched linebacker: Against UTSA they put the back on tear motion, which allows Zappe to identify man coverage when the backer vacates the box to run with him. Kittleys offense at Western Kentucky averaged a whopping 44 points per game in 2021. The Tops rank No. Multiple reports surfaced late Sunday night saying that Kittley was officially joining newly-anointed Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuires Red Raider coaching staff. There is where the real learning happened. Led by transfers However, hes now face with arguably his most important hire to date. Zappe became the highest-drafted quarterback in Western Kentucky following a record-setting final collegiate season where he snapped the NCAA FBS records for single-season passing yards (5,967) and passing touchdowns (62). Under Kittleys leadership, Zappe has had a record season as he currently leads the nation in passing yards (5,546) and touchdowns (56). Born and raised in Lubbock, his father, Wes Kittley, serves as Texas Techs Track and Field and Cross County Director. However, it is not confirmed yet as Zach hasnt mentioned his income publicly. The Jayhawks also return their leading rusher Devin Neal who had over 700 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman. He has a quarterback battle on his hands between Max Duggan and Chandler Morris, two guys that have flashed potential in the past. Theres a lot of things that those young men were going through in college that I was going through at the same time I was really able to click with those guys on a personal level, which I think was really instrumental for me as a young guy.. Over the years the Big 12 conference has built a reputation of having some of the best high flying, up-tempo offenses in the country. The Red Raiders, who averaged more than 30 points per game in each of those three seasons, were also second nationally in total offense and scoring offense in 2015. The 6-4, 305-pound Spencer played in Zach Kittleys offense back at Western Kentucky and should help sure up the trenches in Lubbock. Myles Price has always found a way to stand out. Youre probably thinking that it would favor Texas Tech by quite a bit, but you would be wrong. Its a tough spot for Pittman and the school to be in, but their track record with coaching hires this offseason has been really solid. Don Williams SOURCE: WKU OC Zach Kittley has agreed to become Texas Tech's new OC. Once Kittley took the job in Bowling Green, however, he had to say goodbye to what he had helped build down in Houston. I was 14 years old at the time, but I just knew I wanted to coach one day this is the path that I knew I was going to take at a younger age., I have three boys and I knew pretty early when they grew up that he was going to be my coach, Kittleys father said. Grimes runs a very versatile scheme that helped a young and depleted Baylor roster finish ranked No. "I told coach [Zach] Kittley, he will never in his career have a room like he has, that we have three guys that can go win football games," McGuire said Thursday at Big 12 Media Days. If the corner is playing down, the QB will now go through his progression with a potential mismatch on a corner route against a backer. The spot route presents another man beater element to the play with the rub it places on the defender covering the flat route. The read for the quarterback is simple-throw off of the cornerbacks movement and make him wrong. Erik Ezukanma could return next year to increase his draft stock. Oklahoma State lost a majority of its elite defense but Sanders and Gundy should have the offense in good shape. One of the young quarterbacks Kittley mentored was future 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes II. Kittley will have even more talent at his disposal. The two shared a handshake and a few words. If the cornerback is playing off, he will eliminate the corner route in his progression and have an easy read on the Sam, just like on stick. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. This bodes well for SoRodorick Thompson, Xavier White, Tahj Brooks, and freshman CamRon Valdez. Zach Barnett. Below are 3 different variations of the snag concept from the Cardinals 2019 playbook: In the clip below, Western Kentucky runs snag in the red zone on a critical 4th down. 58 in the country in total offense, No. But getting on the phone and doing some zoom calls with coach Helton over a couple week period, he was just a guy that I really felt a connection with. WKU stood out as an early candidate. Snag (otherwise known as 8 or Y corner in the air raid) features a corner, spot (also referred to as a snag or lazy slant), and flat route that together place a triangular stretch on the defense: Theoretically, against zone coverage the corner and flat route should place a vertical stretch on the cornerback, while the spot and the flat should horizontally stretch the flat defender. Gamecocks wide receivers coach Justin Stepp worked alongside Briles on the Arkansas staff in 2020 andsources tell 247Sports that he wouldgive Beamer his seal of approval if this was the move. Kittley was hired by Western Kentucky after three seasons in a similar role at Houston Baptist where he, similarly, built one of the nations top offenses at the FCS level. The Hilltoppers find themselves near the top of this list after totaling 6,857 yards of total offense, most in the country by a team that played 13 games during the season. When I left [HBU], there was a little inkling in me thinking that he would leave, he had an SEC offer and a Big 12 offer. Dan Mullen would be considered a consensus homerun for Sam Pittman even though it would likely be very temporary. New Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley will make close to $2.2 million over the life of a three-year deal he signed last week. When the strong safety would begin to cheat down in an effort to eliminate the stick concept (often in the red zone), Y corner was the obvious constraint play because it took advantage of the open void that was now left behind the cornerback: As the safety came down, the Y would run a 4 step corner, giving a slight head fake to the Mike before cutting to an aiming point 1 yard inside the back pylon ( it is better to be too high on the corner route than too flat because it is easier to come back to the ball). 1)Total offense: 528.5 ypg (No. Steve Sarkisian is an elite offensive mind who will have tons of weapons to work with for 2022. Western Kentucky traded in a clunker for a Ferrari and its new offensive coordinator didn't need USF recently fired head coach Jeff Scott, which means his top-end assistants are being courted by other programs as we speak. Zappe, just the sixth quarterback in FBS history to record at least 5,000 passing yards and 50 touchdowns, was named the Conference USA Most Valuable Player as well as the winner of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. Mahomes is one of two NFL Draft selections to tutor under Kittley as Western Kentucky gunslinger Bailey Zappe heard his name called in the fourth round this past May by the New England Patriots. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. He took over as co-offensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic after Kendal Briles left for Houston in 2018. Tight ends aren't a big part of the WKU This has not been the season most expected out of Arkansas and Sam Pittman will have coaching staff decisions to make very soon. He was a finalist for the prestigious Manning Award and a semifinalist for both the Davey OBrien and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. Hes like, Look, you got the keys to the Ferrari. 74 in the country in total offense, No. WKU Football hired Houston Baptist University offensive coordinator Zach Kittley in December of 2020 to reshape the Hilltoppers offense. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Western Kentucky defeated Appalachian State, 59-38, in Saturday's Boca Raton Bowl. Kittleys protg quarterback Bailey Zappe is the nations leading passer, despite it being his first season playing at the FBS level. Please check your email for a confirmation. Running Backs should be heavily involved as well. Considering the potential return of offensive playmakers Spencer Rattler, Jaheim Bell and Antwane Wells among others for a program inside the top 25, Beamer is expected to swing for the fences with this search for a new play-caller. The move was first reported by @AaronDickens. Whenever I was still at HBU I was kind of nervous that [Zappe] might go to the NFL on me, Kittley said. 114)Passing offense: 164.3 ypg (No. Academic Majors. Offense has always been a signature for the Red Raiders, dating back to the days of Mike Leach. Outside of the quarterback position, the Big 12 returns some of the most electric players in the country. 58 in red zone offense and No. Not great numbers on the surface but is young and has potential. He valued his basketball experience but knew he wanted to pursue a different path. I have no way of knowing for sure without access to their playbook, but it is possible that this is kind of an option route, where their outside receiver is coached to work back toward the sideline if he doesnt initially get the ball on the slant: Backside slant touchdown throw on a redzone 4th down: Again on 4th down, UTSA is in man free and Zappe works the vertical/out combo to the backside: Here against Marshall, Zappe works a high/low combo on the backside flat defender: Later on in the game they run snag and go, where the outside receiver basically fakes snag and then runs vertical. Mahomes led the Big 12 in passing yards in 2015 (5,052) and led the NCAA as a whole in 2016 (5,052) while working with Kittley. It was weird being on the visiting sideline and seeing the Masked Raider run out.it was kind of a rush for me.. @PatrickMahomes I don't think there's any better person out there than Bailey Zappe. WKU offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is returning to Lubbock, Texas, to become the next offensive coordinator for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. I knew absolutely nothing about Houston Baptist, to be honest with you, other than we practiced in their facility when we played down in the Houston Bowl in 2015. Zach Kittley finished up his first season with Western Kentucky on Saturday as the WKU Hilltoppers defeated Appalachian State 59-38. Offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, quarterback Bailey Zappe, and wide receiver Jerreth Sterns all made the move to Bowling Green. Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is the son of the longtime Texas Tech track coach and NCAA championship winner Wes Kittley. The mind-boggling numbers are impressive on their own, but compared to last season they're seemingly impossible to comprehend -- and it's a testament to head coach Tyson Helton, who saw the need to take a chance by hiring a then-29-year-old offensive coordinator with a creative approach. The quarterback will now throw off of the flat defenders movement: If executed correctly, snag should be impossible to defend with zone coverage. That process led him to Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, who made an incredible jump from 115th to 2nd nationally in scoring in his first season calling the offensive shots, setting all kinds of 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Zappe led the nation with 35 passing touchdowns in 2019 and ranked second in passing yards per game for a Huskies offense that was third nationally in passing offense with 334.3 yards per game through the air. I mean, you look at a guy that came in here and he led his team to the conference championship game. Heres a look at seven candidates that could be on Arkansas radar as the next offensive coordinator. Was football and basketball star at Frenship High School before serving on Raiders! Texas Techs Track and Field and Cross County Director elite offensive mind will! 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