Donnie Kirkpatrick - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Donnie Kirkpatrick

Title:
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Email:
kirkpadl@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517
Physical Address:
Plecker APC 214 (220 Champions Dr.) / MSC 2201

Donnie Kirkpatrick was hired in January 2016 as James Madison University's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

In his two years with the program, he’s led one of the top offenses in the FCS, including a record-breaking 2016 that resulted in JMU winning the NCAA Division I national championship.

In 2017, JMU’s offense was top 25 in five categories, including third in first downs (325). The Dukes were also ninth in completion percentage (64.9%), 15th in scoring offense (34.4), 22nd in pass efficiency (142.46 rating), 25th in rushing offense (194.3) and 30th in total offense (419.0).

A pair of offensive linemen were named All-Americans as Aaron Stinnie was a First Team All-American by four organizations while earning Touchdown Club of Richmond Division I Offensive Lineman of the year. Jahee Jackson earned Sophomore All-America status.

JMU quarterback Bryan Schor completed his career as one of the most decorated in school history. Schor, who was voted the CAA Chuck Boone Leadership Award winner, was a Second Team All-CAA selection who threw for over 3,200 yards and 26 touchdowns while ranking in the top 10 in the FCS in completion percentage (65%).

In his first year leading the offense, JMU set several conference records, including marks for total points scored (700), rushing yards (4,125), total offense (7,612) and first downs (380). Nationally, the Dukes led the FCS in completion percentage (70.8%), team pass efficiency (181.69) and first downs (380).

The Dukes also ranked second in the FCS in scoring average (46.7), fourth in third-down conversions (50%), fifth in rushing average (275.0), sixth in fumbles lost (4), eighth in turnover margin (1.13) and 10th in turnovers lost (13). JMU’s rushing attack produced 18 100-yard rushing performances, including a team-best 11 from All-American running back Khalid Abdullah.

Schor was named the 2016 CAA Offensive Player of the Year while also being voted the Bill Dudley Award winner, honoring the top Division I player in Virginia. Schor led the country in completion percentage (73.1%), pass efficiency (186.2) and also ranked sixth in passing touchdowns (29), 11th in both passing yards (3,002) and point responsibility per game (16.7), 14th in yards per completion (13.83) and 25th in rushing touchdowns (10).

JMU’s offense broke the program record for points in a game twice in 2016, tallying 80 in the season opener against Morehead State and later scoring 84 versus Rhode Island. JMU scored 50 or more points six times, which also included a 65-7 triumph in the FCS quarterfinals against Sam Houston State – the second-largest win in FCS playoff history.

Kirkpatrick brought 32 years of collegiate coaching experience to Harrisonburg, including three as a head coach. Prior to his hiring at JMU, he spent the past 11 seasons at East Carolina, where he served as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, as well as the assistant head coach for the 2015 season.

During his tenure managing the Pirate receivers from 2005-15, he produced six First Team All-Conference (C-USA, AAC) selections, two All-Rookie Team choices, an Associated Press All-American, a league most valuable player award, an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision career record and three NFL draft picks.

He helped lead ECU to back-to-back Conference USA championships in 2008-09 and eight bowl appearances, including wins in the 2007 Hawai’i Bowl against Boise State and the 2013 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl against Ohio.

In 2014, Kirkpatrick concluding his tutoring of Justin Hardy, who set a NCAA career record with 387 career receptions on his way to being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Formerly a walk-on, Kirkpatrick coached Hardy to ECU rookie records of 64 receptions and 658 yards in 2011.

While Hardy’s 88-catch, 1,105-yard receiving season opened more eyes in 2012 and his 114-reception, 1,284-yard junior campaign put him on a national stage, it didn’t match his record-setting 2014 effort. The Vanceboro, N.C. native eclipsed his earlier school standards as a senior with 121 catches for 1,494 yards. His 387 career catches surpassed former record holder Ryan Broyles (349) from Oklahoma (2008-11). He also broke ECU career records for receiving yards (4,541) and touchdown catches (35), nabbed at least two receptions in all 49 of his career games and surpassed 100 receiving yards in a game 17 times.

Other NFL draftees under Kirkpatrick included Aundrea Allison, his first 1000-yard receiver, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2007 draft by the Minnesota Vikings, and Dwayne Harris, who was a sixth-round draft choice in 2011 to the Dallas Cowboys.

The 2010 season saw ECU’s receiving corps reach greater heights, as Harris was named C-USA MVP after setting then-single season and career records at ECU for receptions (101/268) and reception yardage (1,123/3,001).

Most recently, Kirkpatrick coached Second Team All-AAC receiver Isaiah Jones for the past three seasons. In only three years, Jones accumulated 241 catches for 2,527 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Prior to ECU, Kirkpatrick served as wide receivers coach for two seasons (2003-04) at Western Carolina after a three-year head coaching stint at Chattanooga (2000-02).

In his short time at the helm of the Mocs’ football program, Kirkpatrick orchestrated one of the top aerial attacks in Southern Conference history, ranking first in passing offense (339.1) and total offense (453.5) in his initial season in 2000. His offensive units followed that up by ranking third in passing in 2001 (192.7) and second in 2002 (220.4).

Before being named head coach, he was offensive coordinator at Chattanooga for two years (1998-99), years which saw the offense lead the SoCon in passing (326.5) and total offense (454.4) in his final season before taking over the head coaching job.

Kirkpatrick spent three seasons on Ron Cooper’s staff at Louisville (1995-97), where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He began the development of Chris Redman, who was a third-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 and one of the top passers in school and C-USA history.

He coached with Cooper for two seasons at Eastern Michigan (1993-94), handling wide receivers the first season before being promoted to assistant head coach, a role in which he led the quarterbacks and running backs. He worked directly with then-rookie Charlie Batch, a second-round draft selection by the Detroit Lions. He went on to play 15 years between Detroit and the Pittsburgh Steelers and win two Super Bowls.

His initial two coaching stops included South Carolina (1989-92) and Appalachian State (1984-1988).

Kirkpatrick earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1982, before receiving his master’s in secondary education from App State in 1984.

He is married to the former Misty McReery and the couple have two children, Molly and Davis. Davis is currently a pitcher for the ECU baseball team.

Kirkpatrick Coaching History:

Years	School	Positions
2016-pres.	James Madison	Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2005-15	East Carolina	Asst. Head Coach, Wide Receivers, Recruiting Coordinator
2003-04	Western Carolina	Wide Receivers
2000-02	Chattanooga	Head Coach
1998-99	Chattanooga	Offensive Coordinator
1995-97	Louisville	Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
1993-94	Eastern Michigan	Asst. Head Coach, Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers
1989-92	South Carolina	Quarterbacks, Recruiting Coordinator
1984-88	Appalachian State	Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Defensive Ends