Texas Tech University Athletics
Kingsbury Named Head Coach of Arizona Cardinals
January 08, 2019 | Football
Former Red Raider quarterback and head coach was introduced as head coach of the Cardinals Tuesday
LUBBOCK, Texas – The National Football League gained another Red Raider among its head coaching fraternity Tuesday as the Arizona Cardinals formally announced Kliff Kingsbury as the organization's new head coach.
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Kingsbury, who spent the previous six seasons leading the Texas Tech football program, becomes the second Red Raider to earn an NFL head coaching opportunity, joining Anthony Lynn, who has the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC divisional round this weekend against the New England Patriots.
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With Kingsbury's hiring, Tech is one of three schools nationally with multiple former players as acting NFL head coaches, joining Miami (Ohio) and William and Mary.
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Since joining the coaching profession in 2008, Kingsbury has become known as one of the most creative offensive play-callers in college football. The Red Raiders finished in the top 10 for passing nationally in each of his six seasons as head coach and also ranked among the top 16 for total offense during that span as well.
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Kingsbury's offense excelled in sending players into the NFL, especially at the quarterback position where three of his former pupils – Patrick Mahomes II (Chiefs), Baker Mayfield (Browns) and Case Keenum (Broncos) – were starters this past year. Keenum dates back to Kingsbury's first-ever coaching position at the University of Houston. Former Tech quarterbacks Davis Webb and Nic Shimonek were both in NFL training camps this past summer as well.
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In the case of Mahomes, Kingsbury is credited with identifying and developing a possible NFL MVP candidate after Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in his first season as Kansas City's starter. Mahomes became only the third NFL quarterback all-time to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season, joining the likes of future Hall of Famers in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
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Dating back to his time as Tech's quarterback, Mahomes is the only signal caller in history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season at both the college and NFL levels. Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 12-4 record this season, earning the top seed in the AFC entering this weekend's divisional round matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, which features another former Kingsbury pupil in offensive lineman Le'Raven Clark.
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Kingsbury will now coach against several of his former players with the Cardinals, who have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Arizona is coming off a 3-13 season but are just three years removed from playing in the NFC Championship game in 2015.
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Kingsbury, who spent the previous six seasons leading the Texas Tech football program, becomes the second Red Raider to earn an NFL head coaching opportunity, joining Anthony Lynn, who has the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC divisional round this weekend against the New England Patriots.
Â
With Kingsbury's hiring, Tech is one of three schools nationally with multiple former players as acting NFL head coaches, joining Miami (Ohio) and William and Mary.
Â
Since joining the coaching profession in 2008, Kingsbury has become known as one of the most creative offensive play-callers in college football. The Red Raiders finished in the top 10 for passing nationally in each of his six seasons as head coach and also ranked among the top 16 for total offense during that span as well.
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Kingsbury's offense excelled in sending players into the NFL, especially at the quarterback position where three of his former pupils – Patrick Mahomes II (Chiefs), Baker Mayfield (Browns) and Case Keenum (Broncos) – were starters this past year. Keenum dates back to Kingsbury's first-ever coaching position at the University of Houston. Former Tech quarterbacks Davis Webb and Nic Shimonek were both in NFL training camps this past summer as well.
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In the case of Mahomes, Kingsbury is credited with identifying and developing a possible NFL MVP candidate after Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in his first season as Kansas City's starter. Mahomes became only the third NFL quarterback all-time to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season, joining the likes of future Hall of Famers in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
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Dating back to his time as Tech's quarterback, Mahomes is the only signal caller in history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season at both the college and NFL levels. Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 12-4 record this season, earning the top seed in the AFC entering this weekend's divisional round matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, which features another former Kingsbury pupil in offensive lineman Le'Raven Clark.
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Kingsbury will now coach against several of his former players with the Cardinals, who have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Arizona is coming off a 3-13 season but are just three years removed from playing in the NFC Championship game in 2015.
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Wishing the best of luck to Red Raider alum @KliffKingsbury in the NFL with the @AZCardinals!
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) January 8, 2019
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