The Kansas offense soared to new heights during the 2022 season, averaging 438.6 yards per game, ranking No.4 in the Big 12 conference. The improvement over 110 yards per game can largely be attributed to Kansas having more time in head coach Lance Leipold and offensive Andy Kotelnicki’s system.
Due to the success of the offense and a solid relationship with Leipold, Kotelnicki was promoted to associate head coach. The pair have worked as far back as 2013 at Wisconsin-Whitewater
“From our first weeks working together in Whitewater, Andy told me that he's always asked for other responsibilities, other things he can do because that's part of his goals,” Leipold said. “He's got a good feel for the big picture.”
That feel for the big picture is instilled into quarterback Jalon Daniels and the rest of the offense through a variety of ways. Most notably, another course for the student athletes.
“We do something where it's called class on grass,” Daniels said. “We have a class on grass before every game to go over every play that he put into that week. We're walking over those plays to be able to make sure that we're able to run it on cue when we go to the game.”
The class won’t be seen on any transcripts, but the offense got a huge boost from being well versed in Kotelnicki’s offense that keeps opposing defenses off-balanced.
“The defense will never know what formation we're in pre-snap,” Daniels said. “They'll never know how we're going to end up for real because of how much stuff and how much detail Coach K puts into the offense.”
Daniels also has benefitted from the coaching change from when he was a freshman in Les Miles’ offense. He credits the philosophy of Leipold and Kotelnicki for getting him there.
“When Coach Leipold and Coach K got here, they put a big emphasis on being a progression-based offense,” Daniels said. “That helped me tremendously because now I can say, pre-snap, if I look at it, I can tell one's not going to be there. So I can get to two if I really need to.”
Between having a quarterback who is more confident than ever, and having an offense exploding on the scene, it was important for Kansas football that Kotelnicki signed his contract for $1 million dollars a year through 2027. He also gets to take on a bigger, more diverse role with the associate head coach job.
“It's small things right now, but Andy and I have talked also about other ways that I'd like to include him on, maybe some things that I get to do and maybe some meetings I go to and stuff like that,” Leipold said.
Leipold also has expressed his interest in Kotelnicki advancing his career beyond being an offensive coordinator.
“I think many guys have aspirations and some will be there,” Leipold said. “I just feel that Andy's taken on the role of associate head coach and when opportunity presents itself, I want to make sure that- I think part of my responsibility at this stage of my career is to help guys out”
The move to associate head coach could be a big steppingstone for Kotelnicki, who has impressed Leipold and Daniels during their time together. Kotelnicki and 91% of his offensive production are set to return.
