WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (March 20, 2013)—William and Mary head football coach Jimmye Laycock announced the hiring of Kevin Rogers as the Tribe's offensive coordinator Wednesday afternoon.
Rogers, who played linebacker at W&M from 1971-73 and was the Tribe's running backs coach from 1980-82, returns to Williamsburg with impressive credentials that include nearly 30 years as a Division I coach and five seasons in the NFL as the Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach.
In addition to being named the offensive coordinator, Rogers will also serve as W&M's quarterbacks coach.
“Kevin brings a great deal of valuable experience to our staff,” stated Laycock. “He has a proven track record of success in developing talent and has experienced the game at its highest levels. I am excited to have him back in Williamsburg and think he will prove to be a tremendous asset to our program.”
Rogers joins the Tribe staff after serving as Temple's associate head coach and quarterback coach in 2012 and as Boston College's offensive coordinator in 2011.
Prior to returning to the collegiate ranks, Rogers spent five seasons in the NFL as the Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach. During his tenure with the Vikings, he helped veteran quarterback Brett Favre post one of the best statistical seasons of his career during the 2009 campaign. That season, Minnesota advanced to the NFC Championship game.
Before joining the Vikings, Rogers was Virginia Tech's quarterbacks coach from 2002-05 and helped Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick establish themselves as two of the most prolific signal callers in school history. Under Rogers' tutelage, Randall earned Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 2004 as the Hokies made a Sugar Bowl appearance. During the following season, Vick led the league in passing efficiency and VT posted the ACC's top scoring offense (33.8). During Rogers' tenure in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech recorded a 39-14 record, won the ACC title in 2004 and played in the first ACC Championship Game in 2005.
Prior to his successful stint at Virginia Tech, Rogers worked as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 1999-01. In addition to helping the Irish post a 9-3 record and make a Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2000, Rogers helped quarterback Jarious Jackson set ND's single-season passing yardage record in 1999 and establish school marks for attempts and completions.
Rogers coached at Syracuse from 1991-98 and helped the Orange achieve tremendous success during his tenure, as the squad registered a 68-26-1 record and six bowl appearances – including two trips to the Fiesta Bowl and one to the Orange Bowl. In addition to coaching the quarterbacks during his entire time at Syracuse, he served as the team's recruiting coordinator from 1993-94 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1997. SU became the first team in Big East history to win three consecutive league championships during his tenure, and he was instrumental in the success of Donovan McNabb, who set the majority of Syracuse's passing records and was drafted No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rogers worked on Navy's staff as an assistant from 1983-90 and coached future NFL standout Napolean McCallum. His first college coaching position came at W&M when he served as Laycock's running backs coach from 1980-82. Prior to joining the Tribe's staff, he worked as a graduate assistant at Ohio State under the legendary head coach Woody Hayes in 1977-78.
Rogers is a 1974 graduate of William & Mary, where he also played linebacker. He received his master's degree in physical education from Ohio State in 1978.
Rogers and his wife, Betty, have three children — Kevin, Jr., a former quarterback at Villanova and now the Associate Director of Pro Scouting for the Indianapolis Colts; Megan, a Notre Dame graduate, is currently the Director of Legal Affairs for the Cleveland Browns; and Ryan, a 2005 Notre Dame graduate, is an associate professor at Marist College — and two grandchildren, Grady and Lucille.
Rogers' Coaching Career Timeline
2012 – Temple, Associate Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach
2011 – Boston College, Offensive Coordinator
2006-11 – Minnesota Vikings, Quarterbacks Coach
2002-05 – Virginia Tech, Quarterbacks Coach
1999-01 – Notre Dame, Offensive Coordinator
1997-98 – Syracuse, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
1995-96 – Syracuse, Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach
1993-94 – Syracuse, Recruiting Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
1991-92 – Syracuse, Quarterback Coach
1983-90 – Navy, Assistant Coach
1980-82 – William and Mary, Running Backs Coach
1979 – Mainland High School (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Head Coach
1977-78 – Ohio State, Defensive Graduate Assistant
1974-76 – Bayside High School (Virginia Beach, Va.), Defensive Coordinator
