Des Kitchings
	Position: Running Backs Experience: 2nd season Alma Mater: Furman '00

Desmond `Des' Kitchings
(Furman `00)
Running Backs
10th year in coaching

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - A standout receiver/return specialist at Furman. As a senior in 1999, Kitchings helped Furman win the first of three conference championships. He ranks among the school's all-time leaders in receptions and returns. As a specialist, he averaged 29.3 yards on 33 kickoff returns - the second-best mark in Southern Conference history. Four were returned for touchdowns - also a school record. A consensus all-Southern Conference selection as both a receiver and returner, Kitchings earned All-America honors as a return specialist in 1999 after leading the NCAA I-AA division in return average. He became the youngest inductee into the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.; Professional - selected by Kansas City in the 2000 NFL Draft, and spent four years on practice squads and rosters of NFL squads.

EDUCATION: Earned a B.S. in health and exercise science from Furman in 2000.

PERSONAL DATA: A native of Wagener, S.C., Kitchings and his wife, Heather, have three children: Aiden (6), Ava (4) and Austen (2).

BOWL EXPERIENCE: As a coach - 2012 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, 2012 Military Bowl, 2008 Music City Bowl.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: As a coach: 2004 Furman; As a player: 1999 Furman.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: As a coach - In his first season at NC State, coached both running backs and tight ends in 2012. Freshman Shadrach Thorton finished the season with three straight games over 100 yards rushing, the first Pack player to do so since 2002. Thornton finished fourth in the ACC in rushing (69.4). In his one season at Air Force, 2011, the Falcons ranked third nationally in rushing averaging 314.8 yards per game. Air Force also finished third nationally with 43 rushing touchdowns. Served as Vanderbilt's offensive coordinator for the 2010 season. He was a key player in the development of true freshman tailbacks Warren Norman and Zac Stacy, who ranked 1-2 on the team in rushing in 2009, with Norman producing one of the finest all-purpose campaigns ever by an SEC freshman. He ended the season as the SEC Freshman of the Year and a freshman All-American. Prior to his time at Vanderbilt, Kitchings coached at Furman from 2004-07 where he was the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. He helped mentor Larry Hedden, Willis Sudderth and John Rust to all-conference recognition. During his tenure at Furman, the Paladins went 10-3 and captured a conference title in 2004, and advanced to the NCAA I-AA national semifinals in 2005.

Des Kitchings Coaching Career