OSU Hires Kasey Dunn as Running Backs Coach

Originally Published: Jan 24, 2011 11:8 AM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

STILLWATER, Oklahoma-- Oklahoma State University head football coach Mike Gundy announced Monday the program has hired Kasey Dunnto be the running backs coach for the Cowboys.

"Kasey is a good fit for our program," said OSU head coach Mike Gundy. "He has a wealth of experience coaching running backs and receivers, which is a great benefit in our offense. He's a good recruiter and he will provide discipline and he will instill a strong work ethic in our running backs."

Dunn replaces Robert Gillespie, who took a similar position under former OSU offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who now runs the offense at West Virginia.

“From everyone I have spoken to, Coach Gundy is great to work with and I’m excited about joining this staff and working with these players,” said Dunn. “Where the program is now, it’s definitely among the elite in the country.”

Dunn spent the past year as the receivers coach at Southern Mississippi, where he worked for former OSU offensive coordinator and now Golden Eagles head coach Larry Fedora. Prior to his move to Hattiesburg, Dunn spent two years coaching running backs in the National Football League with the Seattle Seahawks.

“They’ve had a lot of success here, so there isn’t any need to re-invent the wheel,” said Dunn. “My plan is to meet with these players and let them know that I’m here for them. I’m looking forward to helping OSU finish out a great recruiting class and then getting on the field for spring practice.”

As a player, Dunn graduated from the University of Idaho in 1992 and was a standout receiver at Idaho from 1987-91. He was a three-time All-American and ended his career with school records in receptions (268), yards (3,847) and second in touchdowns (25). At the end of his career, his catch total and receiving yards ranked second all-time in the Football Championship Subdivision, trailing only Jerry Rice. His career receptions and career yards totals still stand as Vandals' school records, while his 25 career touchdown receptions are second all-time.

The native of San Diego, Calif., went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League with British Columbia (1992) and Edmonton (1993) of the CFL and in the National Football league for Houston (1992) before launching his coaching career.

OSU will be the eighth college job the 41-year old Dunn has held. In addition to Southern Miss and the Seahawks, his coaching stops have included the University of Arizona, where he tutored three NFL running backs, the Denver Broncos (internship), TCU, Washington State, New Mexico and Baylor. He served as assistant head coach at both Washington State and Baylor. He began his full-time coaching career at the University of San Diego. He is a native San Diegan.

Dunn has enjoyed ample team success during his career. He was on the staff that helped Washington State to the Rose Bowl in 2003 and consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history. At TCU, where he coached cornerbacks, he was part of an 11-win team and he was at New Mexico when the Lobos appeared in the Insight Bowl.

Dunn and his wife, Janelle, have two daughters: Kayla and Lauren.