It now appears that Texas Tech will have to replace both of its coordinators from 2024 this offseason. Just one day after the program fired defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, it is now being reported that offensive coordinator Zach Kittley has emerged as the frontrunner to become the next head coach at Florida Atlantic University.
Pete Nakos of On3 Sports reported on social media Monday afternoon that Kittley is the "top candidate" for the Owls who fired former head coach Tom Herman late last month. This means that the Red Raiders and head coach Joey McGuire will likely have to find a new leader for an offense that led the Big 12 in yards this season at 459.8 yards per game.
The 33-year-old Texas Tech alum began his career as a student assistant at Tech from 2013-14. He then served as a graduate assistant for the Red Raiders from 2015-17. That's when he worked closely with Patrick Mahomes, who has since praised the work he did with Kittley while Mahomes was at Texas Tech.
In 2018, Kittley moved to FCS program Houston Baptist to serve as offensive coordinator. He would hold that position until 2020. Of course, in the first game of the 2020 season, his offense hung 600 yards on the Texas Tech defense as the Huskies almost pulled off a stunning upset of the Red Raiders. That 35-33 loss opened eyes to what Kittley had to offer as a coordinator and helped vault him to the FCS level a year later.
Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley has emerged as the top candidate for the FAU head coaching job, sources tell @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) December 2, 2024
The former Houston Baptist and WKU OC has led a Red Raiders offense that is averaging 459.8 yards per game.
More: https://t.co/9inPHFpQSa pic.twitter.com/tZzufZ3YG5
In 2021, Kittley worked as the offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky where he would coach future backup NFL QB Bailey Zappe who followed him from Houston Baptist. Then, when Joey McGuire was hired to lead the Texas Tech program, he picked Kittley to run his offense in Lubbock but only after former Texas Tech OC Sonny Cumbie got the head coaching job at Louisiana Tech.
Kittley's first year as OC in Lubbock saw him have to start three different quarterbacks (Tyler Shough, Donovan Smith, and Behren Morton), each for multiple games. Each one of those players threw for at least 1,000 yards and Tech had the No. 22 offense in the NCAA.
Then, in 2023, he lost Shough, the week-one starting quarterback, for the season in the fourth game of the year. What's more, his backup, Morton, played the remainder of the season with a sprained throwing shoulder.
Therefore, Kittley turned to running back Tahj Brooks to be the focal point of the offense. He ran for 1,538 yards and ten touchdowns to help the Red Raiders to a 7-5 season.
This fall, Kittley finally had the benefit of a healthy starting QB for 12 games (except the second half of the TCU game) and the offense took off. Tech ranked 10th nationally in yards per game, 9th in passing offense, and 8th in points per game.
What's more, Brooks rushed for another 1,505 yards and 17 touchdowns to become the program's all-time leading rusher. Also, wide receiver Josh Kelly had his first career 1,000-yard season in his only year playing for Kittley.
At times, some fans grew frustrated with Kittley's play-calling. However, that's likely true of every fan base and its offensive coordinator from Pop Warner football to the NFL.
The reality is that Kittley did a fantastic job leading the Red Raider offense and he will be tough to replace. In fact, finding the next leader of the offense has to be McGuire's most important offseason task.