Washington State Head Football Coach Jimmy Rogers announced that Donnell Kirkwood Jr. has been named the Cougars running backs coach.
"I have followed Donnell's career for some time and have been impressed with the passion and energy he brings to coaching," said Rogers. "He is very knowledgeable, has a proven track record, all while being a great teacher and tremendous relationship builder, qualities essential to our program. We are excited to have Donnell as a Cougar."
Kirkwood Jr. comes to WSU after joining the Wyoming coaching staff in January and spent the prior two seasons coaching running backs at North Dakota. Last season, Kirkwood Jr. mentored a trio of running backs including Freshman All-American Sawyer Seidl.
In 2023, the Fighting Hawks rushed 399 times for 1,879 yards and 30 touchdowns averaging 4.7 yards per touch. Gaven Ziebarth emerged as the top running back for UND and recorded 107 touches for 700 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Ziebarth marks allowed him to finish the season ranked No. 16 nationally in rushing yards per carry (6.54) and fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in rushing yards per game (70.0). Isaiah Smith was also productive in the backfield with 95 rushes for 594 yards and a pair of scores while averaging 6.3 yards per touch.
Prior to his time at North Dakota, Kirkwood Jr. coached the running backs and was the director of player personnel at Western Illinois in 2022. He mentored Erin Collins to become the first running back at WIU to go over 150 yards rushing in a single game since 2016. Kirkwood Jr. also ran all scout special teams, helping the Leathernecks rank second nationally in punt return yardage allowed, only allowing teams an average of -0.50 yards per return.
He was on the staff at Northern State in 2020 and 2021 and coached the running backs. With his leadership, the Wolves piled up 1,485 yards rushing and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground during the 2021 season.
His coaching experience also includes serving as the running back coach for Minnesota's Southwest High School from 2015 to 2019. He also coordinated special teams and coached defensive backs coach during the 2019 season.
Kirkwood Jr. played for the University of Minnesota from 2010-14 where he won the 2014 Paul Giel Award and was named the 2013 Offensive Back of the Year and 2013 Offensive Player of the Year. He led Minnesota with 926 yards rushing and six touchdowns during his sophomore season.
Kirkwood Jr. earned his bachelor's degree in youth studies from the University of Minnesota in December of 2013.
