Pat Kirkland

Biography

The Kirkland File Personal Information Hometown Akron, Ohio Education Muskingum, 1997 (Bachelor's) Muskingum, 2000 (Master's) Child Sadie Coaching History 1997-98 John Glen High School (Ohio) - Assistant Coach 1998-99 Muskingum - Secondary Coach/Academic Coordinator 2001-06 Glenville State - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach 2004-06 Glenville State - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/ Secondary Coach 2007-08 West Virginia - Outside Linebackers/Safeties 2009-11 West Virginia - Coordinator of Recruiting 2011-22 Charleston (W.Va.) - Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator 2022-24 Jacksonville State - Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach 2025-Present West Virginia - Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Coach Pat Kirkland is in his first year as the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant coach on the WVU football coaching staff, marking the third time that Kirkland has worked with Rich Rodriguez, having served on his staff at WVU in 2007 and at Jacksonville State from 2022-2024. Kirkland was the special teams’ coordinator and linebackers coach under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State for three years. In 2024, his special teams ranked No. 2 in Conference USA in kickoff return and kick return defense, net punting, punt returns and punt return defense. The kick return defense ranked No. 22 nationally and punter Jack Dawson was No. 17 nationally. During the 2023 season, the Gamecocks averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff with 39 touchbacks. On defense, Jax Stat