 Concluded his initial regular season with the Sooners with Tom Wort (53 tackles) and Corey Nelson (47 stops) pacing the linebacker corps, while RS freshman Frank Shannon rapidly matured under his tutelage.
One of the nation's most-veteran defensive coaches and has established himself as one of the country's top recruiters.
Has three decades of coaching experience in the
Big Ten, the Ohio prep ranks, at two Mid-American
Conference schools and at a major I-A independent.
Named a top 25 national recruiter for Arizona in each of
the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Named interim head coach of the Arizona Wildcat
football team on October 10, 2011. Previously, he served
as defensive coordinator since December 2010 and was
co-defensive coordinator during the 2010 season. He also
served as UA's assistant head coach.
Developed three new starters in 2010 with junior
college transfer Paul Vassallo earning honorable mention
All-Pac-10 honors in his first go-round. Vassallo became
the first Cat since Lance Briggs to post more than 100
tackles. Kish also coordinated a defense that finished
fourth in rushing, passing and pass efficiency defense in a
league full of 400+ offenses.
Mentored Xavier Kelley into a second-team All-Pac-10
pick in 2009, plus Vuna Tuihalamaka into an honorable
mention selection off the league's No. 2 total defense unit.
They were second and fourth on the club in tackles with a
combined 150 hits and 11 for losses.
Under his guidance, Ronnie Palmer was a four-year,
41-game starter and 2008 honorable mention All-Pac-10
pick his senior year.
In the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl, Arizona linebackers
showcased the downhill style Kish has developed with a
combined 30 tackles from three positions. UA's starting
linebackers recorded 20+ tackles in 12 games in 2007-08.
Spencer Larsen was a first-team All-Pac 10 honoree in
2007, when he led the league with 131 tackles and 10.9
per game. Kish developed Larsen into a 2008 NFL Draft
pick by the Denver Broncos. Larsen earned second-team
All-Pac-10 honors in 2006.
Despite missing 14 games in 2005, UA's linebacking
trio of Larsen, Palmer and sophomore Dane Krogstad
combined for 127 tackles. Each had break-out games of
14+ tackles. Palmer earned honorable mention freshman
All-America honors in his abbreviated 2005 debut season.
Helped Northwestern win two Big Ten Conference titles
and earn consecutive appearances in the Rose and Citrus
Bowls.
Part of an Illinois staff that took a 0-11 team in 1997
and improved the squad's mark to 8-4 by 1999. His Illini
unit that year recovered 13 fumbles, had 30 sacks and
intercepted 14 passes, plus knocked off No. 9 Michigan
in Ann Arbor and posted another big road victory at No.
22 Ohio State. The Illini beat Virginia in the Micronpc.com
Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 24.
During his time at Army, he helped the Cadets make
three bowl appearances, including a 31-29 victory over
Illinois in the 1985 Peach Bowl. That season Army posted
a 9-3 record and held eight of 12 opponents to 17 points
or less. Kish also guided an Army defense that held the
opposition to 17 points or less 42 times during his tenure
at West Point. |
|
| Coach Kish |
| Hometown |
Westerville, Ohio |
| High School |
Westerville HS, 1972 |
| College |
Otterbein, 1976
Bowling Green State, 1978 |
| Family |
wife, Angela
daughter, Megan
daughter, Emily
son, Michael |
| Coaching History |
2012-present - Oklahoma
Linebackers |
2011- Arizona
Interim Head Coach |
2011 - Arizona
Defensive Coordinator, Asst. Head Coach, LBs |
2010 - Arizona
Co-Defensive Coordinator, Asst. Head Coach, LBs |
2007-2010 - Arizona
Assist. Head Coach, Linebackers |
2004-2006 - Arizona
Linebackers |
2002-2003 - Indiana
Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers |
2001 - Ohio
Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers |
1997-2000 - Illinois
Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers |
1992-1996 - Northwestern
Defensive Ends, Linebackers |
1992-1992 - Northwestern
Linebackers |
1984-1991 - Army
Defensive Ends, Outside Linebackers |
1983 - Ball State
Defensive Line |
1982 - Ball State
Quarterbacks |
1979-1981 - Purdue
Assistant Secondary Coach |
1978 - Bowling Green State
Graduate Assistant Coach |
1976-1977 - Mariemont High School
Assistant Coach |
| Bowls Coached (12) |
| 2013 Cotton |
Oklahoma |
| 2010 Alamo |
Arizona |
| 2009 Holiday |
Arizona |
| 2008 Las Vegas |
Arizona |
| 1999 MicronPC.com |
Illinois |
| 1996 Citrus |
Northwestern |
| 1995 Rose |
Northwestern |
| 1988 Sun |
Army |
| 1985 Peach |
Army |
| 1984 Cherry |
Army |
| 1980 Liberty |
Purdue |
| 1979 Bluebonnet |
Purdue |
PROMINENT PUPILS
Spencer Larsen (Arizona), Broncos
2007 All-Pac 10
Ronnie Palmer (Arizona)
Freshman All-American
Ricky Elmore (Arizona), 49ers
Danny Clark (Illinois), Saints
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
1995 All-Big Ten; 1996 All-Big Ten
Accomplishments as a Player
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PLAYER
Four-year letterman as a defensive back at Otterbein
College.
Also played collegiate basketball. |
