At the beginning of the year, Kansas fans got to welcome back one of its best assistants in recent history as Andy Kotelnicki returned to the program after a two-year stint at Penn State. Kotelnicki helped lead the Nittany Lions to a College Football Playoff semifinal berth in the 2024/25 season, before things went off the rails this past season, which saw head coach James Franklin be dismissed after a 3-3 start to the season.
Following Penn State’s 22-10 win over Clemson in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Kotelnicki was swiftly brought back into the KU program, with the changes being officially announced on January 2nd.
Kotelnicki’s role change
When the hire was initially announced, Kotelnicki was assigned as associate head coach. However, earlier today, head coach Lance Leipold spoke with the media, where he further elaborated on Kotelnicki’s duties.
“Andy will be the [offensive] playcaller…Jim [Zebrowski] will be the passing game coordinator…Andy will have the final say.”
Last season, the Jayhawks’ offense ranked 77th in offensive yards per game at 368.8 and 68th in points per game at 26.5.
Kotelnicki’s last stint at Kansas
According to KU athletics, Kotelnicki’s 2022 squad averaged 35.6 points per game, and the 2023 team averaged 34.8. In 2022, the Jayhawks averaged 7.0 yards per play, which established a new school record that still stands.
In 2023, Kotelnicki led a KU offense ranking seventh in the nation in yards per completion (14.8), eighth in yards per play (7.0), rushing (211.3), yards per rush (5.51), and explosive play percentage (17.2), and ninth in first down efficiency percentage (56.4) and rushing touchdowns per game (2.5).
This is a Kansas team that is enlisting 30 new transfers, with the highest rated being former Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards, who sits with a .8900 rating. In 247Sports’ transfer portal team rankings, the Jayhawks currently sit 52nd in the nation, with an average grade of 85.4.
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