Coach -

As coaches we love hearing stories about the coach who climbed the ranks from a small program to the big time.

Few stories are as inspiring as that of Andy Kotelnicki. Known for his innovative offensive strategies and ability to maximize player potential, Kotelnicki's journey to becoming the offensive coordinator at Penn State is a testament to hard work, adaptability, and football acumen.

Early Beginnings

Kotelnicki’s coaching career began modestly at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he served as a graduate assistant. His passion for the game and knack for understanding offensive dynamics quickly became evident. He honed his skills in various roles, gaining experience as a running backs coach, wide receivers coach, and eventually, an offensive coordinator.

Making a Mark at Buffalo

Kotelnicki's first significant breakthrough came at the University at Buffalo, where he joined head coach Lance Leipold’s staff in 2015. Under his guidance, the Bulls’ offense flourished. Known for his versatility, Kotelnicki implemented a balanced attack that seamlessly integrated run and pass plays, making Buffalo a formidable opponent in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). His innovative schemes helped the team to multiple winning seasons and bowl game appearances, earning him recognition as one of the most promising offensive minds in college football.

Success at Kansas

When Leipold took the head coaching job at the University of Kansas in 2021, Kotelnicki followed, becoming the Jayhawks' offensive coordinator. Despite the challenges of rebuilding a struggling program, Kotelnicki's impact was immediate. He transformed Kansas’ offense, emphasizing distortion of the defense and creative play-calling that maximized the talents of his players. His ability to adapt to the Big 12 Conference’s competitive landscape further solidified his reputation.

The Penn State Opportunity

In 2024, Penn State was in search of a new offensive coordinator. Impressed by Kotelnicki’s track record and his innovative approach to the game, they offered him the position. For Kotelnicki, it was an opportunity to showcase his skills on one of the biggest stages in college football.

A New Era for Penn State Offense

At Penn State, Kotelnicki brings his trademark creativity and adaptability. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how he will shape the Nittany Lions offense. Known for his ability to develop quarterbacks and create dynamic, multi-faceted offenses, Kotelnicki is poised to elevate Penn State's offensive play and help the team compete for Big Ten titles and national championships.

Distorting the Defense

Coach Kotelnicki brings to Happy Valley a comprehensive approach to using RPOs to distort and manipulate defenses. With his methods and philosophies, he effectively employs RPOs to create confusion and gain an edge on the defense.

The Philosophy Behind RPOs

Kotelnicki begins by addressing the fundamental question: Why use RPOs? He emphasizes that the primary goal is to stress the defensive coaches and players, forcing them to be precise in their schematics. According to Kotelnicki, the essence of RPOs lies in the concept of "distortion." This term, inspired by the Hoberman sphere—a toy that expands and contracts—illustrates how an offense can stretch and manipulate a defense. By integrating RPOs, offenses can create uncertainty and force defenders to be responsible for multiple options, complicating their reads and reactions​.

He shares his philosophy behind using RPO’s in this video.

Video: Why RPO?

Simplifying the Quarterback's Role

A critical element in Kotelnicki's approach is simplifying the quarterback's decision-making process. He advocates for a "one stimulus, one response" system, eliminating unnecessary variables that could paralyze the quarterback with too many options. By clearly defining the read—whether it’s a linebacker, safety, or first-level defender—the quarterback can make quick, decisive plays. This streamlined process ensures that the quarterback knows exactly what to do based on the defender's actions, enhancing execution and efficiency​.

Executing Efficiently

Kotelnicki's offensive philosophy revolves around two key metrics: execution and efficiency. Execution is driven by clear communication and practice, while efficiency is measured by gaining consistent yardage on each down. For instance, gaining four yards on first down or half the distance needed on second down is considered efficient. This focus on consistent, manageable gains ensures that the offense stays ahead of the chains and maintains a rhythm, crucial for sustaining drives and scoring points​​.

See Coach Kotelnicki explain his philosophy on execution in this video.

Video: Efficiency and Execution

Handling the Plus One Box

One of the challenges Kotelnicki addresses is the "plus one box," where defenses add an extra player to the box to stop the run. He outlines four strategies to counter this:

1. Throw the Ball: This is the most straightforward response, attacking the defense through the air when they overcommit to stopping the run.
2. Read the Extra Defender: This is where the RPO shines, reading the extra defender to determine whether to hand off the ball or throw it. This can include zone read schemes, power read schemes, or other options where the quarterback makes a decision based on the defender’s actions.
3. Run Away from the Extra Defender: Using perimeter runs or outside zone plays, the offense can exploit the side of the field away from the extra defender, creating advantageous matchups.
4. Make the Extra Defender Fit and Tackle: By designing plays that force the extra defender to make tackles, offenses can exploit weaknesses in tackling ability or positioning, gaining yardage through physical execution.

An Example: Dump

“Dump” is a third level read, this one again is very much in the think-throw RPO world. You have a guy on a bang eight. You have a guy in the dump route and he's going to work basically two yards down the hash. The quarterback's movement key, is the safety. If he gets depth, the quarterback understands that he's going to be looking right now to the dump route. Coach Kotelnicki explains and illustrates with game film in this video.

Video: Dump

Kotelnicki's approach to RPOs is a masterclass in using strategic distortion to keep defenses off balance. By simplifying the quarterback's reads, focusing on execution and efficiency, and employing diverse strategies to counter defensive adjustments, Kotelnicki's RPO system is designed to create consistent offensive success. 

As defenses continue to evolve, the cat-and-mouse game between offensive coordinators like Kotelnicki and their defensive counterparts ensures that RPOs will remain a dynamic and essential part of offensive strategy.

Now Kotelnicki gets to test his ability as an offensive coordinator against the BigTen this fall. It will be fun to watch.

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. Coach Kotelnicki’s “Developing an Offensive Game Plan” clinic is part of our annual Ultimate OC School in which we curate the best clinics of offensive strategies from the year. You can see it here.