Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus ITF W35 on November 10, 2025 at TBA
TBA
Women's Tennis
vs. ITF W35
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White - Coach Kittley Intro Press Conference
Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White
"First of all, thank you all for being here today. What an exciting day for Florida Atlantic. I'm really excited to be talking with all of you, but some key thank yous first. I want to thank President Volnick and Chair Bussani. Our Board Chair and President have had an unwavering support of athletics, and absolutely nothing would be possible without that support, so thank you both. Round of applause for both. I also want to thank our entire board of trustees, our foundation board, all of our donors, fans, and those in the community. We've had incredible support here across the board, and I'm just so grateful for all of you, so thank you.
"That being said, Zach, Kittley family, Emily, Knox, Ford, Rhoads, I want to thank you all and welcome you to Paradise. Round of applause for the Kittley family.
"As we sit here in the Schmidt Family Complex for academic and athletic excellence, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the Schmidt family and all they've done for not only FAU athletics but for this university and this community. So, I want to thank the Schmidt family. Also, there's not enough time to thank everybody and to list everybody, but just some key people I also want to thank, as I announce, the Hagerty family head football coach. Single out the Hagerty family as well for all they've done, again, for not just this athletics department, but this university and this community. The generosity in this community is just so incredible. So maybe, how about a round of applause for all of our donors, with the Schmidts and Hagertys.
"The next group that I think is critical to thank is our football founders. Howard Schnellenberger had a dream of football in Paradise, and he was able to inspire with the mindset of, “To believe is to be strong.” The belief among many of our football founders, so I know we have some in this room. Thank you to all of our football founders, because again, we wouldn't be here today without you, and so how about a round of applause for our football founders.
"And probably most importantly, I want to recognize Beverly Schnellenberger. Thank you for being here today, at all of our games, and being so supportive of everything FAU, football, athletics, university, etc. So thank you.
"Former players, I know we have some former players here. Would you stand up, or if you are standing up, raise your hand just for the former players to be recognized in the room.
"That was one thing that I think Coach Kittley really emphasized in the in-person interview, that I thought was pretty inspirational, was about the importance of former players and bringing former players back, and I know we're very aligned on that. We want this place to feel like a program and not just a team, and we know those that have come before us have really paved the way for what we're able to build in the future. So, we definitely want our former players to always feel welcomed back and to feel like family.
"The final group to thank is probably too big to name, but these searches, it really takes a village, and it's an all-hands-on-deck approach. So, I want to thank the university staff, my staff, everybody that's been involved. It's been an arduous task, a fun one as well, but we've had a whole lot of people pitch in.
"So, with that, a little bit about our process. These searches, they start and end with student-athletes in my view. I think that's the most important thing. If I just decide that I know in my head the characteristics and traits that our next coach should have, and that's not aligned with our student-athletes, I don't think that's the right way to do it. So, the first group we met with was our student-athletes, and I think as fans and alums, you would be highly impressed with the thoughtfulness and intelligence of the feedback our student-athletes gave us. I think it was really valuable, and it weighed heavy on us throughout the process, as we were thinking about even who to talk to. Then once we decide whom we're talking to, as we guide that conversation, the things that our student-athletes, and it wasn't just one or two, it wasn't just a leadership group, it was a good majority the team gave us really thoughtful feedback on the things they did want in their next head football coach, and maybe just as importantly, the things they didn't want. And so, for us, you know, Coach Kittley met that at every step and every turn, so that was very exciting and important for us.
"So, as I mentioned, we conducted a national search. One thing that was of interest is, I mean, I probably got 1,000 plus text messages, some from people in this room. I apologize if I haven't responded yet, but you do the best you can with getting back to people, but also the good news is the interest, and the recommendations, and the suggestions were from people in every different type of candidate you can imagine, and everyone we talked to, because we wanted to cast a wide net and wanted to talk to a lot of people, but everyone we talked to had the same mindset about FAU, and it aligns with how we see ourselves. The coaching community nationally sees FAU, how we see FAU, and that is, we're a stock on the rise. They recognize the academic accomplishments of the university, how great we are as a university from a facilities perspective, this facility comes up, the stadium comes up, our great recruiting base comes up. I mean, everybody was bullish on FAU. Thank you to the NIL donors in this room, the fact that we were competitive in NIL this past year, and we need that to continue, but thankfully, we have been competitive in every asset that it's going to take to build a program, and the coaches see that, and so, I think that was a very encouraging sign.
"You know, the next piece, I'd say, obviously, we did several rounds of interviews, and Coach Kittley rose to the top. So, you might ask, you know, ‘why is that? What stood out about Coach Kittley?’ I think the first thing that was really important for all of us and our players was that he really wanted to be here. He really believed in FAU. I mean, everybody believed in FAU, but it really stood out with him, the passion he had, not just to be a head coach, but to be a head coach at FAU. This job. He believes he can win championships here, and I think as you meet him, get to know him, you'll see that that's very real. So that stood out to everybody on the committee and everybody he interacted with. That was number one. Number two, the last thing I ever want to do is compete with Ken LaVicka, but he listed all the football stats that I have written down here and, in a way, better way than I could ever do. But I do think it was important to know he’s won at every level, and he's been a difference-maker at every level. For him to be 26 years old and go call an offense at Houston Baptist, and all of a sudden, that's one of the best offenses in college football, that's pretty darn impressive. Then go on to Western Kentucky and lead one of the best offenses in the history of college football, that’s pretty darn impressive, that led the country in scoring, touchdowns, points, all the good things we want to see here. And then finally, the work at Texas Tech, I thought, was really important. Because, you know, a lot of people, offensive-minded coaches, and highly potent offenses get almost a bad rap, that they can be one-sided, that it's all passing. For us, it was great to see having a 1,500-yard running back each of the last two years, makes me realize that for our players, and whatever they do well, he's going to help them be successful. I love that for our players and our recruits. And I think that was important, that it's not just a niche system, it's a whatever players can do, he's going to allow them to be successful. I thought that was critically important.
"The next piece, you know, probably even more important than the above two, is who he is as a person: highly authentic, high character, high integrity. Everybody we spoke to who has ever worked with him raves about him as a human being, on top of being a great football coach and a great offensive mind, and all those things you can see when you google him. But I think that came up time and time again, and then speaking with him through several rounds of interviews, I think we all felt like that was very real. So, with all that being said, I would say that he was definitely our number one choice throughout, and he was the only person offered the job. And with that, I couldn't be more excited to announce your next head football coach, Zach Kittley."
"First of all, thank you all for being here today. What an exciting day for Florida Atlantic. I'm really excited to be talking with all of you, but some key thank yous first. I want to thank President Volnick and Chair Bussani. Our Board Chair and President have had an unwavering support of athletics, and absolutely nothing would be possible without that support, so thank you both. Round of applause for both. I also want to thank our entire board of trustees, our foundation board, all of our donors, fans, and those in the community. We've had incredible support here across the board, and I'm just so grateful for all of you, so thank you.
"That being said, Zach, Kittley family, Emily, Knox, Ford, Rhoads, I want to thank you all and welcome you to Paradise. Round of applause for the Kittley family.
"As we sit here in the Schmidt Family Complex for academic and athletic excellence, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the Schmidt family and all they've done for not only FAU athletics but for this university and this community. So, I want to thank the Schmidt family. Also, there's not enough time to thank everybody and to list everybody, but just some key people I also want to thank, as I announce, the Hagerty family head football coach. Single out the Hagerty family as well for all they've done, again, for not just this athletics department, but this university and this community. The generosity in this community is just so incredible. So maybe, how about a round of applause for all of our donors, with the Schmidts and Hagertys.
"The next group that I think is critical to thank is our football founders. Howard Schnellenberger had a dream of football in Paradise, and he was able to inspire with the mindset of, “To believe is to be strong.” The belief among many of our football founders, so I know we have some in this room. Thank you to all of our football founders, because again, we wouldn't be here today without you, and so how about a round of applause for our football founders.
"And probably most importantly, I want to recognize Beverly Schnellenberger. Thank you for being here today, at all of our games, and being so supportive of everything FAU, football, athletics, university, etc. So thank you.
"Former players, I know we have some former players here. Would you stand up, or if you are standing up, raise your hand just for the former players to be recognized in the room.
"That was one thing that I think Coach Kittley really emphasized in the in-person interview, that I thought was pretty inspirational, was about the importance of former players and bringing former players back, and I know we're very aligned on that. We want this place to feel like a program and not just a team, and we know those that have come before us have really paved the way for what we're able to build in the future. So, we definitely want our former players to always feel welcomed back and to feel like family.
"The final group to thank is probably too big to name, but these searches, it really takes a village, and it's an all-hands-on-deck approach. So, I want to thank the university staff, my staff, everybody that's been involved. It's been an arduous task, a fun one as well, but we've had a whole lot of people pitch in.
"So, with that, a little bit about our process. These searches, they start and end with student-athletes in my view. I think that's the most important thing. If I just decide that I know in my head the characteristics and traits that our next coach should have, and that's not aligned with our student-athletes, I don't think that's the right way to do it. So, the first group we met with was our student-athletes, and I think as fans and alums, you would be highly impressed with the thoughtfulness and intelligence of the feedback our student-athletes gave us. I think it was really valuable, and it weighed heavy on us throughout the process, as we were thinking about even who to talk to. Then once we decide whom we're talking to, as we guide that conversation, the things that our student-athletes, and it wasn't just one or two, it wasn't just a leadership group, it was a good majority the team gave us really thoughtful feedback on the things they did want in their next head football coach, and maybe just as importantly, the things they didn't want. And so, for us, you know, Coach Kittley met that at every step and every turn, so that was very exciting and important for us.
"So, as I mentioned, we conducted a national search. One thing that was of interest is, I mean, I probably got 1,000 plus text messages, some from people in this room. I apologize if I haven't responded yet, but you do the best you can with getting back to people, but also the good news is the interest, and the recommendations, and the suggestions were from people in every different type of candidate you can imagine, and everyone we talked to, because we wanted to cast a wide net and wanted to talk to a lot of people, but everyone we talked to had the same mindset about FAU, and it aligns with how we see ourselves. The coaching community nationally sees FAU, how we see FAU, and that is, we're a stock on the rise. They recognize the academic accomplishments of the university, how great we are as a university from a facilities perspective, this facility comes up, the stadium comes up, our great recruiting base comes up. I mean, everybody was bullish on FAU. Thank you to the NIL donors in this room, the fact that we were competitive in NIL this past year, and we need that to continue, but thankfully, we have been competitive in every asset that it's going to take to build a program, and the coaches see that, and so, I think that was a very encouraging sign.
"You know, the next piece, I'd say, obviously, we did several rounds of interviews, and Coach Kittley rose to the top. So, you might ask, you know, ‘why is that? What stood out about Coach Kittley?’ I think the first thing that was really important for all of us and our players was that he really wanted to be here. He really believed in FAU. I mean, everybody believed in FAU, but it really stood out with him, the passion he had, not just to be a head coach, but to be a head coach at FAU. This job. He believes he can win championships here, and I think as you meet him, get to know him, you'll see that that's very real. So that stood out to everybody on the committee and everybody he interacted with. That was number one. Number two, the last thing I ever want to do is compete with Ken LaVicka, but he listed all the football stats that I have written down here and, in a way, better way than I could ever do. But I do think it was important to know he’s won at every level, and he's been a difference-maker at every level. For him to be 26 years old and go call an offense at Houston Baptist, and all of a sudden, that's one of the best offenses in college football, that's pretty darn impressive. Then go on to Western Kentucky and lead one of the best offenses in the history of college football, that’s pretty darn impressive, that led the country in scoring, touchdowns, points, all the good things we want to see here. And then finally, the work at Texas Tech, I thought, was really important. Because, you know, a lot of people, offensive-minded coaches, and highly potent offenses get almost a bad rap, that they can be one-sided, that it's all passing. For us, it was great to see having a 1,500-yard running back each of the last two years, makes me realize that for our players, and whatever they do well, he's going to help them be successful. I love that for our players and our recruits. And I think that was important, that it's not just a niche system, it's a whatever players can do, he's going to allow them to be successful. I thought that was critically important.
"The next piece, you know, probably even more important than the above two, is who he is as a person: highly authentic, high character, high integrity. Everybody we spoke to who has ever worked with him raves about him as a human being, on top of being a great football coach and a great offensive mind, and all those things you can see when you google him. But I think that came up time and time again, and then speaking with him through several rounds of interviews, I think we all felt like that was very real. So, with all that being said, I would say that he was definitely our number one choice throughout, and he was the only person offered the job. And with that, I couldn't be more excited to announce your next head football coach, Zach Kittley."