Football
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Zach Kittley, the architect behind one of the nation’s top offenses at both Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky as well as now with the Red Raiders, enters his third season on the Texas Tech staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Known as one of the top quarterback developers in college football, Kittley returned Texas Tech to its high-scoring ways during his debut season as the Red Raiders averaged 34.2 points per game en route to 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.
Kittley earned his reputation as a quarterback developer in his debut season as the Texas Tech offense managed to compile consistent numbers despite numerous injuries behind center. Texas Tech utilized three different starters at quarterback, all of which threw for at least 1,000 yards on the season. Texas Tech was only the second FBS program since 1996 to have three different quarterbacks throw for at least 1,000 yards in a season, joining Oklahoma State from the 2012 campaign.
The Red Raiders were forced to utilize three different starting quarterbacks again a year later in what Kittley describes as his “biggest season of growth as a play-caller.” With significant injuries under center, Kittley turned to the ground game in Tahj Brooks, who became only the fifth Red Raider in program history to rush for at least 1,500 yards in a season. Brooks, a first team 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.
Five different quarterbacks have started under center during Kittley’s 26 games as offensive coordinator the past two seasons, including two true freshmen at the time in Behren Morton and Jake Strong. Morton returns for his junior season this fall after pushing the Red Raiders to a 6-1 record in games he started and did not leave due to injury in 2023. 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.
The 2022 season began Kittley’s second stint on the Texas Tech coaching staff as he previously served in various roles under Kliff Kingsbury from 2013-17, rising from a student assistant to graduate assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach his final three seasons. Kittley worked alongside Kingsbury in the development of Patrick Mahomes II as a graduate assistant, tutoring the future NFL MVP into becoming the nation’s leading passer in 2016 and an eventual top-10 selection by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes closed his Red Raider career ranked third all-time in passing yards (11,252), touchdown passes (93), attempts (1,349) and completions (857) despite foregoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. Mahomes, who was also second in the school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (22), is one of three quarterbacks in FBS history to record 5,000 yards of total offense twice in a career, joining fellow Red Raider signal caller Graham Harrell (2007-08) and Houston’s Case Keenum (2008-09, 2011).
The Chiefs eventually selected Mahomes with the No. 10 overall selection, making him the highest-picked quarterback in program history and the seventh Red Raider all-time to be chosen in the opening round. It took Mahomes only two seasons from there to garner NFL MVP honors as he was named the league’s top player in his first year as Kansas City’s starter in 2018. He followed a year later by leading the Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl LIV, becoming the youngest quarterback in NFL history to be named Super Bowl MVP in the process.
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. 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).
Zappe actually broke the previous FBS record set by Texas Tech’s own B.J. Symons that stood nearly 20 years up until Western Kentucky’s win in the Boca Raton Bowl. 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. He was a finalist for the prestigious Manning Award and a semifinalist for both the Davey O’Brien and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards.
Behind the arm of Zappe, Kittley transformed the Western Kentucky into one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, averaging an impressive 44.2 points per game and 535.3 yards of total offense. The Hilltoppers 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.
Kittley was hired by Western Kentucky after three seasons in a similar role at Houston Baptist where he, similarly, built one of the nation’s top offenses at the FCS level. During its shortened 2020 season, Houston Baptist 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.
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. Houston Baptist also ranked second in the Southland Conference and 12th nationally after posting 426.6 yards of total offense that season.
Houston Baptist was Kittley’s first full-time coaching position after his time on the Texas Tech staff. The Red Raiders annually ranked among the nation’s top offenses during his three seasons as a graduate assistant as Texas Tech led the country in total offense and passing offense and ranked fifth in scoring during the 2016 campaign. 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.
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 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.
ZACH KITTLEY CAREER EXPERIENCE
2022-present – Texas Tech Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks)
2021 – Western Kentucky Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks)
2018-20 – Houston Baptist Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks)
2015-17 – Texas Tech Graduate Assistant (Assistant Quarterbacks)
2013-14 – Texas Tech Student Assistant (Offensive Intern)
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT ZACH KITTLEY...
“I was fired up to hear the news that Coach Kittley was coming back to Texas Tech. He’s worked his tail off to earn this opportunity, and I know how passionate he is about the university and the Red Raider football program. He invested a ton of time in me while we were there together and really helped me develop as a college quarterback. He certainly had an impact on my career, but beyond the field, he’s an incredible person, and I couldn’t be more excited to see him lead this offense.” – Patrick Mahomes, NFL MVP and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
“I have such a high regard for Zach and his ability to coach, develop and shape players. He did such an incredible job when we were together at Texas Tech, and he definitely had a profound impact on Patrick (Mahomes) and his development. Early on, it was clear what a high football IQ he has and he’s built upon that at every stage of his career. For him to return to Lubbock is so special not only considering his own history there but obviously because of his dad’s legendary status. I couldn’t be more excited for him and for the Texas Tech program.” – Kliff Kingsbury, former Texas Tech head coach and head coach of Arizona Cardinals
“Coach Kittley bleeds Red and Black. He was very instrumental in my career and one of the big reasons I am still playing today. He’s a great coach and even better person. I can’t wait to watch him light up the scoreboard. Welcome home, Kittley!” – Davis Webb, former Texas Tech and NFL quarterback and current quarterbacks coach of the Denver Broncos.
Strong endorsements on our new OC!
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) December 7, 2021
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