In recent years, the Western Kentucky football program has served as a launching platform for players across college football and into the professional ranks, and the story is similar with coaches, primarily on the offensive side of the ball.
From Texas Tech to Washington State, here are three recently former Hilltoppers making impacts at their very next stop:
Ben Arbuckle, Offensive Coordinator, Washington State: Just last season, Arbuckle was the offensive coordinator on the Hill. At Western, he led quarterback Austin Reed to a season which earned him 2022 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and All C-USA Second Team honors, all while leading the nation in passing yards with 4,744 and finishing third in passing touchdowns (40). At the same time, running backs Davion Ervin-Poindexter and Kye Robichaux would combine for 1,021 yards and six scores on the ground. So far in 2023, Arbuckle has guided the Wazzu offense to 69 points across two games, with quarterback Cameron Ward combining for 746 yards and six touchdowns between the ground and air, all while completing 70.4% of his passes. Washington State is currently 2-0.
Bryan Ellis, Offensive Coordinator, Georgia Southern: Ellis spent his final season on the Hilltop in 2021, serving as the co-offensive coordinator, before leaving for Georgia Southern in 2022. Taking his own scheme and combining it with Zach Kittley’s own Air Raid, he shattered GSU records, as quarterback Kyle Vantrease finished the 2022 campaign with 4,235 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns. Three different receivers saw 700+ receiving yards, and the Eagles ground game was able to accumulate 23 touchdowns. So far in 2023, the Eagles have posted 10 offensive touchdowns and 21 points from the field goal unit, good for 81 points across two games. Georgia Southern is 2-0.
Zach Kittley, Offensive Coordinator, Texas Tech: Kittley - the man responsible for Western Kentucky’s absolute scorched-earth offensive run in 2021. In this historic season, current NFL quarterback Bailey Zappe threw for 62 touchdowns and 5,967 yards - each of which were single season FBS records. Jerreth Sterns, currently of the CFL, led the nation in receptions (150), receiving yards (1,902) and receiving touchdowns (17). In 2022, Kittley became the offensive coordinator for the Red Raiders, where three different quarterbacks combined for 3,926 yards and 27 touchdowns. The ground game was magnificent, putting 2,102 yards and 28 touchdowns. So far in 2023, quarterback Tyler Shough has thrown for 620 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions in two games. The ground game has totalled 269 yards and two scores, totalling Kittley’s offense at 63 points and 889 yards so far.
Drew Hollingshead, the current Western Kentucky offensive play caller, is seeing no shortage of offensive success either - across two games, Hollingshead’s offense has posted 903 yards and 81 points. Quarterback Austin Reed has been deadly - completing 67.5% of his passes for 589 yards and six touchdowns, adding 41 yards and two scores on the ground.
Needless to say, Western Kentucky is quickly becoming a widely known superpower on the offensive side of the ball.
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