Fresno State Athletics
Eric Kiesau Hired as Offensive Coordinator
12/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 31, 2015
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head coach Tim DeRuyter added to his coaching staff by appointing Eric Kiesau as the Bulldogs' new offensive coordinator.
Kiesau previously worked as offensive coordinator at Washington and Colorado. He also brings with him to the Central Valley extensive ties recruiting across the state of California.
"After an extensive search, I've chosen Eric Kiesau to be our new offensive coordinator," DeRuyter said. "Eric brings a great mix of passion, energy and a history of high achievement as a coordinator at Power 5 conference schools. I am sure the Red Wave will love his up-tempo, explosive offense as we return to competing for championships in 2016."
Kiesau currently serves as an analyst at Alabama helping direct the Crimson Tide's offense that landed them in a spot in Thursday's College Football Playoff Semifinal as well as produce this season's Heisman Trophy winner in running back Derrick Henry.
He will continue with the Crimson Tide through their run in the College Football Playoffs and will begin his duties with the Bulldogs immediately.
Prior to his time at Alabama, Kiesau was the wide receivers' coach at Kansas in 2014 and its interim offensive coordinator and play-caller for the last five games of the season. He was the offensive coordinator at Washington from 2012-13 and also has coaching experience from his time at Cal (2002-05, 2011) and Colorado (2006-10).
That is all a part of the loaded resume that Kiesau brings with him to Fresno State.
At Washington his offense produced the 2013 John Mackey Award winner as the nation's top tight end in Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Seferian-Jenkins along with running back Bishop Sankey both garnered All-American accolades in 2013 under his play-calling.
Sankey was the first running back selected in the 2014 NFL Draft after he was one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award given to the nation's top running back in 2013. That year, Sankey ranked fourth in the country in rushing with 143.8 yards per game and he set a new Washington single-season rushing record with 1,775 yards.
Kiesau's 2013 Huskie offense ranked No. 13 nationally in total offense by averaging 499.3 yards per game and was 18th in the FBS in scoring at 37.9 points per game.
At Colorado, Kiesau developed walk-on receiver Scotty McKnight, who finished his career in 2010 as the school's all-time leader in receptions (219), yards (2,588) and receiving touchdowns (22). McKnight is one of many wide receivers who have excelled playing under Kiesau.
At Cal, he coached highly decorated receivers in Keenan Allen, Geoff McArthur as well as DeSean Jackson during his freshman season when the future NFL All-Pro set Cal freshman records for receptions and receiving yards. Allen won the 2013 NFL Rookie of the Year Award with the San Diego Chargers while McArthur earned second-team All-American accolades in 2003 under Kiesau when he was second in the nation with 115.7 receiving yards per game.
In his first Division I job at Utah State in 2000, Kiesau coached All-American running back Emmitt White who led the nation in all-purpose yards when Kiesau was the running backs coach. In 2001 taking over the wide receivers position, he coached Kevin Curtis to All-America honors after Curtis led the nation in receptions with 100.
Kiesau is a native of Pasadena, Calif., and graduate of Glendale High in the Los Angeles area. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in communications from Portland State, where he played quarterback, starting in 1995. He began his college playing career at Glendale CC and garnered All-American honors there.
He and his wife, Wendy, have two children.
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