Kliff Kingsbury
Encyclopedia
Klifford "Kliff" Kingsbury (born August 9, 1979) is an American Football Coach, serving as the current co-offensive coordinator for the University of Houston
Cougar football team. Prior to his current role, Kingsbury was a Quarterback in the NFL and NFL Europe, winning a Super Bowl
with the New England Patriots in a back-up role. He also played with the New York Jets. He was a record breaking college player at Texas Tech
, and was the first Quarterback to play in the "Air Raid" offense under former coach Mike Leach.
at New Braunfels High School
, where his father was head coach. Kingsbury also excelled in baseball, basketball and track.
for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
from 1998-2002. Kingsbury played 43 games at Texas Tech, completing 1,231 of 1,883 passes for 12,429 yards and 95 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. He finished his career as the school's most decorated player. He left Texas Tech as the owner of 39 school records, 13 Big Twelve Conference and seven NCAA Division I-A records and is only the third player in college football history to throw for over 10,000 yards, gain over 10,000 yards in total offense and complete over 1,000 passes in a career. He also became just the fourth player in college football annals to throw for over 3,000 yards three times during his career.
Kingsbury also excelled in the classroom as he was one of 14 collegiate football players to receive a post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame as he also garnered Verizon Academic Player of the Year honors in 2002. As a senior he was awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy
, annually presented to the nation's best college quarterback. He was also selected Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American and Player of the Year as well as being a unanimous All-Big Twelve Conference first-team pick and named the Associated Press' Offensive Player of the Year after a season during which he shattered his own school single-season records as he completed 479 of 712 passes (67.3 percent) for 5,017 yards, 45 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions. He also added two rushing scores on 102 carries.
He averaged 350.2 yards per game and his 45 touchdown passes nearly doubled his previous season's mark. As a junior, Kingsbury was a Verizon All-District first-team selection and All-Big Twelve Conference second-team pick by the league's coaches for his performance. He completed 365 of 529 passes for 3,502 yards, 25 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. Kingsbury was an Academic All-Big Twelve Conference choice following his sophomore campaign. He assumed the starting role and connected on 362 of 585 passes for 3,418 yards, 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He added two scores on 78 carries. In his red-shirt freshman year, Kingsbury appeared in six games, starting the season finale against Oklahoma. He completed 25 of 57 passes for 492 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in his initial collegiate season.
He held 39 school, 13 Big 12 and seven NCAA records at the time of his graduation. He was a management major in college. He was also a member of the Epsilon Nu Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Texas Tech. He, along with Graham Harrell
are the only Tech Quarterbacks to have beaten both Texas and Oklahoma in their careers as starters.
in the sixth round of the 2003 Draft with the 201st overall selection. He spent his rookie season of 2003 on the Patriots' injured reserve list with an arm injury and was waived by the Pats on September 6, 2004 and subsequently was signed to the New Orleans Saints
' practice squad, where he spent the entire 2004 season. He went to training camp with the Saints this season and completed 10-of-21 passes for 139 yards with a long of 57 yards and two interceptions.
' practice squad on Sept. 6, 2005 and was released on Sept. 21, 2005. As a Free agent he signed with the New York Jets
on September 28, 2005.
Kingsbury made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos on November 20, 2005, while a member of the New York Jets.
of NFL Europe
in 2006. He posted the top quarterback rating of any Cologne quarterback (73.7) while completing 58 of 102 passes for 633 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Cologne with a 56.9 completion percentage. Kingsbury was subsequently signed by the Buffalo Bills and attended training camp with the Bills, but did not see any regular season action with the team in 2006.
. He spent part of training camp in Montréal before being traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
on June 20 in exchange for quarterback Brad Banks
.
.
football staff in the position of quality control.
Kingsbury currently serves as a co-offensive coordinator for the Cougars with former UH receiver Jason Phillips.
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
Cougar football team. Prior to his current role, Kingsbury was a Quarterback in the NFL and NFL Europe, winning a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
with the New England Patriots in a back-up role. He also played with the New York Jets. He was a record breaking college player at Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, and was the first Quarterback to play in the "Air Raid" offense under former coach Mike Leach.
High school career
Kingsbury played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at New Braunfels High School
New Braunfels High School
New Braunfels High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in New Braunfels, Texas that was established in 1845. Up until 2008, New Braunfels was one of the largest, 4A, high schools in Texas...
, where his father was head coach. Kingsbury also excelled in baseball, basketball and track.
College career
Kingsbury played collegiatelyCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
from 1998-2002. Kingsbury played 43 games at Texas Tech, completing 1,231 of 1,883 passes for 12,429 yards and 95 touchdowns and 40 interceptions. He finished his career as the school's most decorated player. He left Texas Tech as the owner of 39 school records, 13 Big Twelve Conference and seven NCAA Division I-A records and is only the third player in college football history to throw for over 10,000 yards, gain over 10,000 yards in total offense and complete over 1,000 passes in a career. He also became just the fourth player in college football annals to throw for over 3,000 yards three times during his career.
Kingsbury also excelled in the classroom as he was one of 14 collegiate football players to receive a post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame as he also garnered Verizon Academic Player of the Year honors in 2002. As a senior he was awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy
Sammy Baugh Trophy
The Sammy Baugh Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top college passer. The award is named in honor of former Texas Christian University and Washington Redskins quarterback "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh. The trophy has been given out by the Touchdown Club of Columbus since 1959...
, annually presented to the nation's best college quarterback. He was also selected Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American and Player of the Year as well as being a unanimous All-Big Twelve Conference first-team pick and named the Associated Press' Offensive Player of the Year after a season during which he shattered his own school single-season records as he completed 479 of 712 passes (67.3 percent) for 5,017 yards, 45 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions. He also added two rushing scores on 102 carries.
He averaged 350.2 yards per game and his 45 touchdown passes nearly doubled his previous season's mark. As a junior, Kingsbury was a Verizon All-District first-team selection and All-Big Twelve Conference second-team pick by the league's coaches for his performance. He completed 365 of 529 passes for 3,502 yards, 25 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. Kingsbury was an Academic All-Big Twelve Conference choice following his sophomore campaign. He assumed the starting role and connected on 362 of 585 passes for 3,418 yards, 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He added two scores on 78 carries. In his red-shirt freshman year, Kingsbury appeared in six games, starting the season finale against Oklahoma. He completed 25 of 57 passes for 492 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in his initial collegiate season.
He held 39 school, 13 Big 12 and seven NCAA records at the time of his graduation. He was a management major in college. He was also a member of the Epsilon Nu Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Texas Tech. He, along with Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell is an American football quarterback. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers and is currently on their scout team. He played college football at Texas Tech.-Early years:...
are the only Tech Quarterbacks to have beaten both Texas and Oklahoma in their careers as starters.
2003 & 2004 (NFL)
Kingsbury, 6-3, 213-pounds, was selected by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the sixth round of the 2003 Draft with the 201st overall selection. He spent his rookie season of 2003 on the Patriots' injured reserve list with an arm injury and was waived by the Pats on September 6, 2004 and subsequently was signed to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
' practice squad, where he spent the entire 2004 season. He went to training camp with the Saints this season and completed 10-of-21 passes for 139 yards with a long of 57 yards and two interceptions.
2005 (NFL)
The 26-year old native of San Antonio, TX was signed to the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' practice squad on Sept. 6, 2005 and was released on Sept. 21, 2005. As a Free agent he signed with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 28, 2005.
Kingsbury made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos on November 20, 2005, while a member of the New York Jets.
2006 (NFL/NFLE)
The New York Jets assigned Kingsbury to the Cologne CenturionsCologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
of NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
in 2006. He posted the top quarterback rating of any Cologne quarterback (73.7) while completing 58 of 102 passes for 633 yards and two touchdowns. He also led Cologne with a 56.9 completion percentage. Kingsbury was subsequently signed by the Buffalo Bills and attended training camp with the Bills, but did not see any regular season action with the team in 2006.
2007 (CFL)
On March 30, 2007, Kingsbury signed with the Montréal AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. He spent part of training camp in Montréal before being traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
on June 20 in exchange for quarterback Brad Banks
Brad Banks
Brad Banks is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Washington Redskins...
.
AAFL career
Kliff is listed on the Team Texas Roster for the All American Football LeagueAll American Football League
The All American Football League was a proposed professional American football league. The league, which was to combine a professional pay structure with the requirement that all players be college graduates, had originally been scheduled to start in the spring of 2007, but later postponed its...
.
Coaching career
In August 2008, Kingsbury joined the University of HoustonHouston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
football staff in the position of quality control.
Kingsbury currently serves as a co-offensive coordinator for the Cougars with former UH receiver Jason Phillips.