Post by alum on Apr 11, 2023 15:55:35 GMT -5
Apparently, these were not official until now?
goholycross.com/news/2023/4/11/football-announces-updates-to-coaching-staff.aspx
"Holy Cross football head coach Bob Chesney has announced the promotion of Dean Kennedy to offensive coordinator and the addition of Chris Zarkoskie as Holy Cross' offensive line coach. Nick Sproles has also been added to the staff in an offensive quality control role.
Kennedy joined the Holy Cross staff in 2022 as the team's quarterbacks coach. Holy Cross had one of the top offenses in all of FCS in 2022, paced by quarterback Matthew Sluka, who was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and an All-Patriot League first team selection. As a whole, the Crusaders ranked second in FCS in yards per completion (16.2), sixth in rushing offense (245.1 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (37.4 points per game). Sluka finished with 1,234 rushing yards, the most of any FCS quarterback, while passing for 2,489 yards. He passed for 26 touchdowns while rushing for 11 more.
"We're thrilled to have Dean continue working on our staff in an elevated capacity," Chesney said. "He brings a strong set of skills and leadership quality that helped transform our offense this past fall, and his development of everyone in our quarterbacks room, both on and off the field, is undeniable. We are excited to see him continue to help our offense flourish in 2023 and beyond."
Zarkoskie joins the Holy Cross staff after two seasons as the offensive line coach at Princeton. In two seasons with the Tigers, he helped lead the team to a combined 17-3 record. In 2022, Princeton ranked first in the Ivy League in passing offense (274.2), first in passing efficiency (146.6), second in scoring offense (27.6) and third in total offense (366.3). The 2021 season saw Princeton go 9-1 and earn an Ivy League title. The offense ranked first in the Ivy League in scoring (33.4), second in passing offense (265.5), second in passing efficiency (147.0) and third in total offense (392.4).
He previously coached at the University of New Hampshire, Brown and Lehigh. A 2013 graduate of New Hampshire, Zarkoskie was a strong student-athlete, earning major honors both on and off the field. He was a three-year starter, as well as an All-CAA selection and team captain as a senior. Zarkoskie was both a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and a two-time member of the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team, while earning Academic All-CAA honors and receiving the CAA Commissioner's Academic Award three straight years (2010-12).
Zarkoskie will guide one of the best offensive lines in FCS, with all five Holy Cross starters earning All-Patriot League honors in 2022.
"I have known Chris for many years, and he brings extended experience from championship-caliber programs with high academic standards, which makes him a perfect fit for Holy Cross," Chesney said. "He knows what it means to 'Have It ALL' as a student-athlete, and already embodies the culture of this program. We're confident that his expertise will provide a seamless transition in the continued development of an elite offensive line. We couldn't be more proud to have him join the Holy Cross family."
Sproles comes to Worcester following a one-year stint as the quarterbacks coach at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., where he helped guide the Panthers to a 10-3 season and a district championship.
Sproles spent four years at University of Florida as a quarterback where he was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. Sproles spent his final year of eligibility at Southwestern Oklahoma State. A native of Winter Park, Florida, Sproles graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in finance in May 2020, and graduated with a Master of Business Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State in May 2021.
"We're excited to welcome Nick to the Holy Cross football family," Chesney said. "He is familiar with being part of a highly competitive football environment, which will make this transition to Holy Cross a successful one. It will be great to have him reunite with Coach Kennedy as they work together to help take our offense to the next level."
The Crusaders return to the gridiron this fall after a historic 2022 season, in which Holy Cross won a program-record 12 games and finished with a 12-1 record, falling in the NCAA FCS quarterfinals to eventual national champion South Dakota State. Holy Cross earned a No. 6 postseason national ranking, and enters 2023 in hopes of earning a fifth consecutive berth in the FCS playoffs."
