MANHATTAN — Former Kansas State standout Andre Coleman, who has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Youngstown State, will return to his alma mater to tutor the wide receivers, Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder announced Wednesday.
A four-year letterwinner at wide receiver under Snyder from 1990-93, Coleman spent the last three seasons on head coach and former K-State offensive lineman Eric Wolford’s staff. Coleman, who went on to have a successful five-year career in the NFL as a player, also became the first Wildcat football player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl.
“We are pleased to have Andre join our staff,” Snyder said. “As a successful ex-player from our program he has a strong understanding and belief in the philosophy and intrinsic values we believe in. Having worked with Eric Wolford, also an ex-Kansas State player, Andre has experience coaching in a program with a very similar approach to ours. He is a caring person who works well with young men and fits in well with our coaching staff.”
In 2011 and 2012, Coleman worked with no seniors and only one junior as he coached multiple freshmen and sophomoreswho were called into action early in their careers to the tune of 109 total receptions by underclassmen. He helped YSU post a 7-4 record, including a 31-17 victory at Pittsburgh, which served as the school’s first-ever victory over a BCS opponent.
During his first season as the receivers coach in 2011, Coleman guided a group that caught 22 of a school-record 27 touchdown passes, while the Penguins’ 227.5 passing yards per game were the second most in school history and the highest since 1972. Christian Bryan set school freshman records under Coleman’s watch in receptions (46) and yards (722), while his yardage total was the most by a freshman at the FCS level that season. Coaching the tight ends in his first season on the staff in 2010, Coleman’s group hauled in 17 receptions and two touchdowns, helping YSU’s offense set a then-school record at 412 offensive yards per game.
A 1993 All-America selection and All-Big Eight performer, Coleman left his mark at K-State during his four years by accumulating 3,443 all-purpose yards, including 1,556 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 95 receptions and 1,458 kickoff-return yards on 60 returns. He still sits in K-State’s top 10 in 13 offensive or return categories, including top marks in both single-game all-purpose yards per play (27.0 vs. Missouri in 1993) and career all-purpose yards per play (18.2), and a second-place ranking in both career kickoff-return attempts and yards.
The Hermitage, Pa., product was drafted in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft by San Diego and put together a solid five-year professional career playing for the Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. A two-time Pro Bowler and 1994 NFL All-Rookie squad honoree, Coleman helped the Chargers win the 1994 AFC Championship and earn a trip to Super Bowl XXIX in which he established eight Super Bowl records at the time, including a then-record 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Coleman completed his degree in social sciences from Kansas State in the summer of 2011. He and his wife, Brandi, have two daughters, Kyla and Shyla.
