Chris Ash Adds Zak Kuhr to Coaching Staff
Dec 26 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash named Zak Kuhr Wide Receivers Coach, it was announced today. Kuhr served as co-offensive coordinator at James Madison in 2015 and previously worked with new Rutgers offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer on the Dukes' staff.
"I am excited to welcome Zak to Rutgers football," said Ash. "His knowledge and understanding of our offense will be important in the teaching and development of our wide receivers. He is also from the Urban Meyer coaching tree and understands our program structure and our expectations."
Kuhr coached the James Madison running backs the past two seasons, before adding co-offensive duties in 2015. In his first season as running backs coach, JMU's rushing offense amassed over 2,800 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Dukes averaged 215.5 rushing yards per game, which ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association and 21st in all of FCS.
As co-offensive coordinator, James Madison finished with a 9-3 record, advancing to the second round of the FCS playoffs against Colgate in 2015. The JMU offense ranked in the top 10 nationally in several statistical categories, including leading the country in third down conversion percentage (54 percent). The Dukes were second in scoring offense (44.3 ppg), third in total offense (528.8 ypg), third in first down offense (329), seventh in rushing offense (273.8 ypg) and ninth in red zone offense (89.4 percent).
Prior to joining the JMU staff, Kuhr spent the 2013 season at Old Dominion as a graduate assistant working with the running backs and special teams. Before ODU, he coached two seasons at Ohio State under head coach Urban Meyer as an intern working with the same personnel groups. Kuhr also assisted in developing game strategies for the special teams against opposing defenses.
He had a two-year stint at Edwards College as a special teams coordinator. His coaching career began as an assistant at Mandarin and N.B. Forrest high schools, including serving as offensive coordinator at Forrest.
Kuhr is a University of Florida graduate, earning his bachelor's degree in sports management in 2013.
