Andy Kotelnicki (/ˌkoʊtɪlˈnɪkiː/ ko-til-NI-kee)[2] is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator at Pennsylvania State University. He previously served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Kansas from 2021 to 2023. Kotelnicki played college football at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls as a center before entering coaching.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Offensive coordinator |
| Team | Penn State |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | September 2, 1981[1] Litchfield, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2001–2003 | Wisconsin–River Falls |
| Position(s) | Center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2004–2005 | Western Illinois (OA) |
| 2006–2010 | Wisconsin–River Falls (OC) |
| 2011–2012 | University of Mary (OC) |
| 2013–2014 | Wisconsin–Whitewater (OC) |
| 2015–2020 | Buffalo (OC) |
| 2021–2023 | Kansas (OC) |
| 2024–present | Penn State (OC) |
Early life and playing career
editKotelnicki was born and raised in Litchfield, Minnesota and attended Litchfield High School.[3][4] He played college football at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he was a team captain as a senior.[5]
Coaching career
editEarly career
editKotelnicki began his coaching career as a student offensive line coach during his senior year at Wisconsin–River Falls. He was hired as an offensive assistant at Western Illinois in 2004. After two seasons, he returned to UW-River Falls as the Falcons' offensive coordinator. Kotelnicki was hired as the offensive coordinator of Division II University of Mary in 2013 and coached there for two seasons before being hired by Lance Leipold at Wisconsin–Whitewater for the same position.[6] Kotelnicki followed Leipold after he was hired as the head coach of the University at Buffalo.[7]
Kansas
editIn 2021, Kotelnicki was hired as the offensive coordinator at the University of Kansas, following head coach Lance Leipold.[8] He added more option elements to Kansas' offense to compliment the skillset of starting quarterback Jalon Daniels for the 2022 season, in which the team became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008.[9] During the season, Kotelnicki was nominated for the Broyles Award.[10] After the season, he signed a contract extension through the 2027 season that also raised his yearly salary from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year.[11]
Penn State
editOn December 1, 2023, Kotelnicki was hired as the offensive coordinator at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) under head coach James Franklin.[12][2]
Personal life
editKotelnicki and his wife have two children.
Kotelnicki's brother, Josh Kotelnicki, is also a football coach and was previously the head coach at the University of Mary.[13]
References
edit- ^ Smeltzer, Joe (September 2, 2024). "Joe Smeltzer on X: "Penn State OC Andy Kotelnicki turns 43 today. Gave himself one hell of an early birthday present Saturday."". X.
- ^ a b "Andy Kotelnicki Named Penn State's Offensive Coordinator". Penn State University Athletics. December 1, 2023. Archived from the original on October 27, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Penn State's Andy Kotelnicki aims to create more explosive plays with fun". Reading Eagle. July 13, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
- ^ Kotelnicki, Andy (May 21, 2021). "Andy Kotelnicki: Born to be a Coach". KUAthletics.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ Opatz, Louie (January 6, 2015). "Litch native ready for next football challenge". Litchfield Independent Review. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Kotelnicki new Warhawk QB Coach". Janesville Gazette. January 26, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "UB's new offensive aide wants to keep points rolling". Buffalo News. April 18, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "Kansas football coach Lance Leipold, OC Andy Kotelnicki on identity". The Topeka Capital-Journal. August 26, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Olson, Max (October 7, 2022). "How Kansas' offense under Andy Kotelnicki is terrorizing defenses: 'Let's get crazy'". The Athletic. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ "KU football vs. K-State: Five things to know about Jayhawks entering Saturday's game". The Kansas City Star. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki has a new contract. Here's his salary, buyout and more". The Kansas City Star. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ Feldman, Bruce; Snyder, Audrey (November 30, 2023). "Penn State football hires Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki to replace Mike Yurcich". The Athletic. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "Kotelnicki headlines sports banquet". Litchfield Independent Review. July 5, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2022.