12/2/2024 | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White announced Tuesday that Zach Kittley has been named the school’s Hagerty Family Head Football Coach. One of the brightest and most innovative offensive minds in college football, Kittley comes to Boca Raton after three seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas Tech.
Kittley signed his agreement Monday and will be officially introduced to the Florida Atlantic community with a press conference at FAU Stadium on Friday. Details on the press conference will be forthcoming.
“I am thrilled to welcome Zach, his wife Emily, and their boys Knox, Ford, and Rhoads to the Florida Atlantic family,” said White. “Following an extensive search with a tremendous amount of interest from candidates across the country, Zach emerged as the ideal choice to be our next head coach. He is a man of high integrity and character, with an incredible reputation in the profession for player development. Zach is one of the most innovative offensive minds in the game, and I am confident in his ability to build a championship program with an exciting brand of football that can be a source of pride for our fans, our alumni, and the FAU community.”
“What was clearly evident to me was Zach’s passion and excitement for the potential at Florida Atlantic,” said President Stacy Volnick. “He is an incredibly impressive person. I am excited about his authenticity, his energy, and his family-oriented approach. He is an ideal fit, and I welcome him, his wife Emily, and his family to our University and I look forward to the leadership he will provide our program.”
“I am thrilled at this opportunity to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic,” said Kittley. “I am extremely grateful. I want 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 know we can win here, and we have tremendous leadership from the top down to create a championship program. I am excited to get to know the student-athletes, build a staff, and get out in the community, and engage our tremendous supporters. My wife, Emily, and my family are excited and can’t wait to get to Boca Raton!”
CAREER SUMMARY
Kittley brings 12 years of Division I coaching experience to Florida Atlantic, beginning with his time as a student assistant and graduate assistant coach at Texas Tech from 2013 to 2017. His first full-time coaching appointment came at age 26 when he was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Houston Christian (Houston Baptist) from 2018 to 2020. He moved to Western Kentucky as the offensive coordinator and QB coach in 2021 and returned to his alma mater three seasons ago in the same position.
A highly-regarded developer of quarterbacks, Kittley, 33, has been the architect of the prolific offenses at each of his stops while coaching the likes of future NFL signal-callers Patrick Mahomes II, Bailey Zappe, and Davis Webb. In his seven seasons as an offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and play-caller, Kittley’s teams have averaged 457.3 yards and 34.8 points per game.
Each of his last four seasons have produced bowl-eligible teams, beginning in 2021 with Western Kentucky beating Appalachian State, 59-38, in the Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium to cap a 9-5 season. Texas Tech has been bowl eligible in each of the last three years, with the Red Raiders beating Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl in 2022, beating California in the 2023 Independence Bowl, and going 8-4 this past season.
At Texas Tech (2022-present; 2013-2017)
Kittley was named the offensive coordinator and quarterback at his alma mater on December 6, 2021, returning to Lubbock after beginning his coaching career as a student assistant in 2013 and rising to graduate assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach his final three seasons.
Working alongside former Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury in the development of Mahomes, Kittley tutored the future NFL MVP into becoming the nation’s leading passer in 2016 and an eventual top-10 selection by the Kansas City Chiefs. Future NFL draft pick Davis Webb, now the quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos, was also in Lubbock during Kittley’s first stint.
In Kittley’s first season as the offensive coordinator in 2022, he cemented his reputation as a quarterback developer as Texas Tech’s offense managed consistent numbers despite numerous injuries behind center. Each of the three Red Raider starters at quarterback threw for at least 1,000 yards as Texas Tech became just the second team since 1996 to have three different QBs throw for at least 1,000 yards in the same season.
Texas Tech averaged 34.2 points per game in 2022 en route to an impressive 8-5 record that included a win in the TaxAct Texas Bowl over Ole Miss. The Red Raiders led the Big 12 and ranked ninth nationally in passing offense in 2022, averaging 302.0 yards per game through the air as part of a unit that was in the top-25 nationally and second in the Big 12 for total offense.
With significant injuries under center again in 2023, Kittley adapted his offense to a more balanced attack with junior running back Tahj Brooks, who became only the fifth Red Raider in program history to rush for at least 1,500 yards in a season. Brooks, an All-Big 12 first team honoree, ranked fourth in the nation in rushing yards to push the Red Raiders to another 5-4 mark in Big 12 play and a victory in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl over Cal.
This season, with a healthy Morton starting all 12 games at quarterback and Brooks amassing another 1,500 yards on the ground, the Red Raiders are 8-4 and ranked top-10 nationally in nearly every offensive metric, including 10th in total offense, eighth in scoring and ninth in passing. The team averaged 459.8 yards in total offense and scored 38.6 points per game to lead the Big 12 in each. Individually, Morton is top-10 nationally in yards per game and touchdowns, while Brooks has amassed 1,505 yards on the ground to rank third nationally in rushing average at 136.8 yards – the first back-to-back 1,500-yard rusher at Texas Tech in school history.
In total, five different quarterbacks have started under center during Kittley’s 38 games as offensive coordinator the past three seasons, including two true freshmen at the time in Morton and Jake Strong. In games that Morton started last season and did not leave due to injury, the Red Raiders were 6-1 as he garnered honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades by the conference coaches after throwing for 1,757 yards and 15 touchdowns over his eight starts.
Western Kentucky (2021)
Behind the arm of Zappe, who followed Kittley from Houston Christian to WKU, Kittley transformed the Hilltoppers into one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, averaging an impressive 44.2 points per game and 535.3 yards of total offense. Western Kentucky closed the 2021 campaign as the FBS leader in passing yards per game (433.7) and first downs (384) and ranked second for both scoring offense and total offense and then 13th in red zone offense after scoring in 90.9 percent of their appearances inside the 20.
Just the sixth quarterback in FBS history to record at least 5,000 passing yards and 50 touchdowns, Zappe was named the Conference USA Most Valuable Player as well as the winner of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. He was also a finalist for the prestigious Manning Award and a semifinalist for both the Davey O’Brien and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. His 5,967 passing yards and 62 passing touchdowns were each single-season FCS records.
Zappe was the highest-drafted quarterback in WKU history when he was selected in fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Zappe has spent three years in the NFL with Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns.
The year prior to Kittley’s arrival at WKU, the Hilltoppers went 5-7, averaging 19.0 points and 290.3 yards per game.
Houston Christian (2018-2020)
Kittley was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Houston Christian in 2018 and spent three seasons constructing one of the top offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
In the first season under Kittley, the Huskies doubled their offensive production from the year prior, racking up 4,337 yards of offense, 301 points and 41 touchdowns – 2,975, 150 and 18, respectively, in 2017.
Zappe led the nation with 35 passing touchdowns in 2019 as Houston Christian improved its record from 1-10 in 2018 to 5-7 in 2019. He 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. Houston Christian also ranked second in the Southland Conference and 12th nationally after posting 426.6 yards of total offense that season.
During its COVID-shortened 2020 season, Houston Christian continually frustrated FBS opponents as Zappe, who later transferred to Western Kentucky after Kittley’s hire, completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,833 yards and 15 touchdowns with only one interception over four games.
PERSONAL
A native of Lubbock, Kittley originally attended Abilene Christian to play basketball before transferring back to Texas Tech to complete his bachelor’s in history in 2014. He earned his master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the university in 2016.
Kittley and his wife, Emily, were married in February of 2017 and are parents to three boys, Knox, Ford, and Rhoads. Kittley is the son of Wes Kittley, Texas Tech’s longtime Director of Track and Field, who has led the Red Raiders to two national titles at the 2019 NCAA Men’s Outdoor Championships and most recently at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Indoor Championships.
2025 TICKETS
Fans looking to join Coach Kittley for the 2025 season can lock in their spot with a season ticket deposit today by clicking HERE.
For fans who want to learn more about season tickets, click HERE.
ZACH KITTLEY FILE
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Education: Texas Tech, 2014 (Bachelor’s in History); Texas Tech, 2016 (Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies)
Wife: Emily
Children: Knox, Ford, Rhoads
Birthday: August 14, 1991
KITTLEY’S COACHING CAREER
2025 – Florida Atlantic (Head Coach)
2022-2024 – Texas Tech (Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks)
2021 – Western Kentucky (Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks)
2018-20 – Houston Christian (Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks)
2015-17 – Texas Tech (Graduate Assistant; Assistant Quarterbacks)
2013-14 – Texas Tech (Student Assistant; Offensive Intern)
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
2024 – Bowl TBD – Texas Tech
2023 – Independence Bowl – Texas Tech (def. California, 34-14)
2022 – Texas Bowl – Texas Tech (def. Ole Miss, 42-25)
2021 – Boca Raton Bowl – Western Kentucky (def. Appalachian State, 59-38)
2017 – Birmingham Bowl – Texas Tech
2015 – Texas Bowl – Texas Tech
2013 – Holiday Bowl – Texas Tech (def. Arizona State, 37-23)
ZACH KITTLEY HIGHLIGHTS
- One of the nation’s most highly-regarded offensive coordinators and quarterback coaches, Kittley has aided in the development of NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Bailey Zappe and Davis Webb
- Twelve seasons as a Division I assistant coach, including the last seven as an offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and play-caller.
- As a full-time offensive coordinator for seven seasons, Kittley’s teams have averaged 457.3 yards and 34.8 points per game.
- Led the FBS in passing offense, ranking second in total offense and second in scoring offense in 2021 at Western Kentucky.
- Ranked eighth nationally in scoring offense this season at Texas Tech, while ranking 10th in total offense and ninth in passing offense.
- Led the FCS in passing offense in 2020 at Houston Christian
- Has ranked in the top-25 nationally in passing offense six times in seven seasons as an offensive coordinator.
- Has ranked in top-25 nationally in total offense five times in seven seasons as OC
- Has ranked in top-25 nationally in scoring offense four times in seven seasons
- Been part of seven bowl-eligible teams in 12 years as a coach (4-2 record, won three straight).
- Kittley’s arrival at Houston Christian produced a 46% increase in total yards (2,975 to 4,337), a 56% increase in touchdowns (18 to 41), and a 100% increase in total points (150 to 301) from the year prior
- His arrival at Western Kentucky produced a 115% increase in total yards (3,484 to 7,507), a 192% increase in touchdowns (27 to 79), and a 171% increase in total points (228 to 619) from the year prior
