UNC hires former NFL head coach Freddie Kitchens as TE coach Florida hires Armstrong as DC to replace NFL-bound Toney LSU’s Kelly promoted Jancek to special teams cooridantor

CHAPEL HILL, NC — NC Hires Former Cleveland Browns Head Coach Freddy Kitchens as game play coordinator and tight ends coach.

The school announced a job Tuesday and Kitchens was named to replace John Lilly after Lilly joined Frank Reich’s NFL Carolina Panthers.

Kitchens spent 16 seasons in the NFL, leading the Browns to a 6–10 record as head coach in 2019. He also served as offensive coordinator with the Browns, and in 2021 became the New York Giants’ game operator.

Kitchens also spent 11 years with the Arizona Cardinals, including their Super Bowl appearance in the 2008 season. He has worked as a college coach in North Texas and Mississippi and spent his last year as a senior analyst in South Carolina.

GAINESVILLE, FL – Florida hired Austin Armstrong as a defense coordinator, poaching a member Nick Sabanemployees from Alabama who worked less than two months.

29-year-old Armstrong replaces Patrick Tonywho left Gainesville after one subpar season to become a defensive assistant with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Gators coach Billy Napier approached Armstrong to fill the position, making him the youngest defensive coordinator in Power Five football. Armstrong, who has spent the past two seasons as South Mississippi’s defensive coordinator, was Napier’s inside linebacker coach at Louisiana-Lafayette in 2020.

Armstrong will be asked to help refurbish the unit, which in 2022 was ranked 97th in the nation for overall defense.

The Southern Miss defense, known as the “Nasty Gang” during Armstrong’s tenure, finished sixth in the Sun Belt Conference and 45th in the nation in defensive scoring (23.5 ppg). The Golden Eagles were third nationally in losses (8.3), fifth in sacks (3.38), and seventh in steals (17).

Tony is one of three outfield assistants who have bailed out Napier in recent weeks and escaped to the NFL. Receiver Trainer Kiri Colbert left to take the same position with the Denver Broncos, and tight ends coach William Pigler He reportedly took a job with the Cardinals.

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – LSU Coach Brian Kelly promotes Senior Defense Analyst John Yanchek special teams coordinator and outside midfield coach.

“John is an experienced SEC coordinator with extensive knowledge related to the scheme we teach,” Kelly said Tuesday, referring to Janczek’s previous work as defense coordinator in Georgia and Tennessee. “He deserved this opportunity.”

Janczek takes the place vacated Brian Polianwho remains at LSU in a leadership position, overseeing the roster and monitoring the transfer portal.

At the start of last season, LSU suffered from several special teams mishaps, from a critically blocked extra-point hit in the season opener, a one-point loss, to several failed kickbacks.

During his three decades of coaching at the college level, Janczek was also part of the Kelly team at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan.

Janczek said he liked Kelly’s “vision and the way he runs the program”.

In addition to Georgia and Tennessee, Janzek’s coaching career has also included work in Kentucky, Cincinnati, South Florida and Colorado State.

Prior to reuniting with Kelly in 2022, Janczek was a defensive quality control assistant at Georgia, where he was part of the 2021 national title team.

Jansek grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. He played defensive end at Grand Valley State from 1986 to 1990.