Walden Names Jared Kaster Offensive Line Coach

12/17/2023 9:44:00 AM

EL PASO – UTEP Football Head Coach Scotty Walden announced the hiring of Jared Kaster, the Miners' new offensive line coach on Sunday.

Kaster follows Walden to the Sun City after serving as his co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach during the Governors' United Athletic Conference Championship season in 2023.

"Coach Kaster is one of the best technicians I have been around up front. He has a great blend of coaching his guys hard, building genuine relationships, and elevating his OL technically as well," Walden said. "He is one of the brightest offensive minds in the game and sees thing holistically. He was vital to developing our offense at Austin Peay into one of the most explosive in the nation that included a 3,000-passer yard and 1,300-yard back. I am so thankful to have Coach Kaster and his family join us in El Paso. He will do a great job leading our guys up front for the 'Blue Blaze' offense!"

Austin Peay's scoring offense averaged 34.1 points per game in 2023, ranking ninth in FCS and first in the UAC. The team's passing efficiency (162.2) ranked third in the country and first in conference. The Governors averaged 426.8 yards of total offense, rating 14^th in the FCS and second in the UAC. Austin Peay produced six All-UAC first team players on offense, including a trio of offensive linemen. All-UAC members C Jalen Armstrong, RG/C Chandler Kirton and LT Isaiah Wright helped pave the way for the Governors' offense to succeed.

Prior to coaching in Clarksville, Tenn., Kaster was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Houston Christian for five seasons (2018-22).

Kaster helped mentor the program's first offensive lineman to earn first team All-Conference recognition as Christian Hood received that honor in 2020. The Huskies had one of the nation's most prolific offenses in 2019, ranking second in the Southland Conference and 12^th nationally in total offense with 426.6 yards per game and third nationally in passing offense with 334.3 yards per game. HBU improved from 124.5 rushing yards per game in 2018 to 128.3 in 2019. Despite playing one more game, the Huskies cut down their sacks allowed from 44 in 2018 to 29 in 2019.

Prior to joining the Huskies' staff, Kaster was the offensive line assistant and offensive quality control for head coach Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech in 2016 and 2017.

He played four seasons for the Red Raiders from 2012-2015. Kaster was voted one of five team captains in 2015 and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention three times at center. He started 37-straight games to finish his career and in 2015, helped pave the way for Texas Tech's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies from Texas Tech in 2015.

An Altair, Texas, native, Kaster played at Altair Rice High School, where he was ranked the No. 5 center prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, No. 8 by ESPN.com and was a Class 2A All-State selection in 2010.

KASTER'S COACHING CAREER
2023 – Austin Peay (co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach)
2018-22 – Houston Christian (offensive line coach/run game coordinator)
2016-18 – Texas Tech (quality control/offensive line assistant coach)
2015-16 – Texas Tech (student-assistant coach/offensive line)

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