Florida Atlantic has employed Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley as its subsequent head coach, the varsity introduced Monday.
The 33-year-old is now the youngest head coach within the FBS.
“Following an intensive search with an incredible quantity of curiosity from candidates throughout the nation, Zach emerged as the best option to be our subsequent head coach,” FAU athletic director Brian White mentioned in a press release. “He is a person of excessive integrity and character, with an unimaginable fame within the career for participant growth. Zach is among the most modern offensive minds within the sport, and I’m assured in his capability to construct a championship program with an thrilling model of soccer that may be a supply of satisfaction for our followers, our alumni, and the FAU neighborhood.”
Kittley has led a few of the prime passing offenses in school soccer throughout his stints as offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, Western Kentucky and FCS program Houston Christian. The Red Raiders produced the No. 9 passing offense within the FBS this season throughout their run to an 8-4 common season, they usually ranked twelfth nationally in passing in 2022.
Kittley, a Kliff Kingsbury protégé, returned to Lubbock, Texas, below coach Joey McGuire after one season at Western Kentucky, the place he coached the No. 1 passing offense and No. 2 scoring offense within the FBS. Hilltoppers quarterback Bailey Zappe threw for five,967 yards and 62 touchdowns in 14 video games and have become a fourth-round draft decide of the New England Patriots.
“I’m thrilled at this chance to be the top coach at Florida Atlantic,” Kittley mentioned in a press release. “I’m extraordinarily grateful. I need to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White and President Stacy Volnick for believing in me to take over this nationally-regarded program. I do know we will win right here, and we’ve got large management from the highest right down to create a championship program.”
FAU fired coach Tom Herman on Nov. 18 amid an 0-6 begin to AAC play and completed 3-9 this season. Herman, the previous head coach at Texas and Houston, went 6-16 in lower than two seasons.
Kittley served in varied roles below Kingsbury from 2013 to 2017, rising from scholar assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach. During that point, he labored carefully with Kingsbury in creating Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs‘ three-time Super Bowl champion.
Kittley is the son of longtime Texas Tech observe and area coach Wes Kittley and performed basketball at Abilene Christian earlier than ending his diploma at Texas Tech.
