Red Wolves announce new additions to coaching staff for 2019

Arkansas State has announced three new additions to the Red Wolves’ coaching staff for the 2019 season. Head coach Blake Anderson addressed the press Wednesday afternoon on the matter.

Keith Heckendorf will assume the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, while Sean Coughlin will take over the offensive line and run game. Malcolm Kelly will take over as the wide receivers coach.

Anderson started the presser off by squashing a few rumors.

“I’m not resigning, I’m not stepping down, I’m not taking a leave of absence. I’m not going anywhere. To those of you who were hoping I would, sorry. It’s a bad day for you is all I’ve got to tell you. At no point has (me leaving) ever been part of our conversation. If you know (Wendy Anderson), you know it has never even been a conversation. Our plan is to fight and beat cancer,” Anderson said. “Please keep praying because we are in a fight, literally for our lives.”

The changes come in the midst of a less-than-ideal finish to the season in the Arizona Bowl, a game the Red Wolves lost in overtime. In that game, the offense came up short seemingly a dozen times, prompting many to believe it was time for a change on that side of the ball.

Anderson agreed.

“It has become clear to me over the past few months that some changes needed to be made in our program. To put it bluntly, I was not doing a very good job at my job. I became focused on my wife and got distracted at times. I didn’t do my job very well and it affected our football team. I think we can be better than what we were. I think we should have been better.”

Anderson served as the primary play-caller, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach while also, obviously, being head coach during the 2018 campaign. Family issues aside, a change needed to be made. Throw in a sick family member, and the load became overwhelming.

“It became painfully obvious during bowl prep that I was making the right decision. I was exhausted. I don’t think I was very focused and it showed in the bowl game in some big ways,” Anderson said. “When you get into these seasons where it’s really close, a play here and a play there, there’s no margin for error and I just spread myself too thin trying to be the head coach, offensive coordinator, trying to coach the quarterbacks, recruit effectively and then care for a wife that is ill. I found my limit.”

In response to the issues, Anderson hired a new offensive coordinator in Heckendorf. The two previously worked together at North Carolina, as well as for a brief stint at A-State. Anderson brought him to A-State when he was hired on, but North Carolina stole him back before coaching a single game.

“I felt like a new perspective was needed, some new ideas. I needed someone I thought was going to be truly in line with my philosophy, someone I knew I could turn things over to completely,” Anderson said. “He was my right-hand man (at North Carolina). There’s a level of comfort and trust between the two of us. I’m turning it over to him. He will call it, he will run it, he will design it, and I will do everything I can to help him do so. I’m stepping out of that role and turning him loose.”

Heckendorf served as the quarterbacks' coach for the Tar Heels for the final five of his eight seasons at North Carolina. In 2015, the Tar Heels finished ranked 15th in the nation behind an offense that led the country in yards per play and placed ninth in points per game at 40.7. Under his leadership, the Tar Heels broke their school record for passing yards three times in five seasons.

Perhaps his biggest claim to fame is coaching Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, one of the best young talents in the league. Trubisky was drafted second overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his second year as a starter, he led the Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff appearance.

“Coach Heck is one of the best I’ve been around. He is extremely detailed and a great teacher,” Trubisky said. “His passion for the game and his players make him an awesome coach to play for. He pushed me to be a better player and helped prepare me for the next level. I’m thankful for my time with coach Heck and the relationship we built. He will be a great addition at Arkansas State.”

Coughlin, the new offensive line coach, spent the last 13 seasons at Missouri State. He served as associate head coach for the 2018 season after being the offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017. He oversaw the college careers of All-Americans David Arkin, Clay Harbor, and Randy Richards. The former plus two others (Jake Duron and Riley Shantz) all inked NFL contracts after leaving college.

Kelly has plenty of experience with wide receivers. He was a two-time All-Big 12 wide receiver and a freshman All-American at Oklahoma. From 2005 to 2007 he totaled 2,285 yards and 21 touchdowns as a Sooner. He was later drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the NFL Draft. He might know a thing or two about catching the ball and running routes.

Overall, some much-needed changes were made. The 2018 season was supposed to be one of necks hurting from watching players zoom up and down the field so fast, scoring at will. In the end, the offense is what doomed the team on several occasions. All phases deserve some level of blame and credit for the season, but the Arizona Bowl made it obvious that the offense needed some tweaks, if not overhauls. Now, they’ve been made.

Will these be the changes that put the Red Wolves over the top? Only time will tell. In the end, the University is aware of problems and is addressing them. The 2019 season may seem forever away, but it’s really just around the corner. Spring practice begins on March 26.

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