Following two years serving as the offensive coordinator at the University of Mary, a Division II program,In Bismarck, North Dakota, Andy Kotelnicki saw an opportunity to advance his coaching career by taking a position at the prestigious Division III program in Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Having played as an offensive lineman at Division III Wisconsin-River Falls, he accumulated five seasons of experience as the offensive coordinator there before being recruited by Myron Schulz, a former coach at Mary. During this time, Kotelnicki was contacted by Lance Leipold, the previous head coach of Whitewater, after they had secured five out of six national championships.The Warhawks offered a larger platform and a significant opportunity for Kotelnicki to demonstrate that his offensive strategies could succeed at various competitive levels.

“I want to be in an environment where success depends on my abilities,” Kotelnicki expressed to Schulz, indicating his desire for a program with talent and resources comparable to other leading teams.

Schulz acknowledged this commitment with respect.

After contributing to Whitewater’s consecutive victories as undefeated national champions in 2013 and 2014, Kotelnicki joined Leipold at Buffalo, then moved on with him to Kansas, where he played a key role in the Jayhawks’ swift improvement and development.

Starting from the lower ranks of the Bowl Subdivision, Kotelnicki has taken a remarkable journey. However, he now finds himself at one of the most prominent programs in college football—Penn State—in his inaugural year. This Saturday, he will face a major challenge as the No. 3 Nittany Lions go up against No. 4 Ohio State. Under Kotelnicki’s guidance, an innovative and ever-changing offense has fueled their perfect record as they head into November.

and ignited hopes that this could be the year PSU ascends to the pinnacle of the Big Ten.

“We began examining which coordinators and teams excel in generating explosive plays, and not simply due to superior talent,” stated Penn State coach James Franklin. “What sources are these explosive plays coming from? How are they being developed? Are they occurring regularly? Moreover, are they achieving this against their most formidable opponents? When we analyzed those aspects,

The selection process was refined rapidly.

Kotelnicki’s Unique ‘Fusion’ and ‘Blizzard’ Offense

The offensive strategy that Kotelnicki introduced at Penn State showcases a blend of different elements: it’s intricate yet straightforward, hard to categorize into a single approach, and while it revolves around the quarterback, it doesn’t overly rely on passing.

A key feature of this scheme is its capacity to create uncertainty and hesitation through various pre-snap movements and adjustments.

The system can be likened to a Dairy Queen Blizzard — a delightful mix of various elements that still primarily consists of vanilla ice cream.

“The Blizzard is truly an amazing treat,” Kotelnicki remarked in August. “It may seem complex due to its mixed appearance, but the preparation involves combining it with ice cream in the machine. At its core, it’s largely just vanilla ice cream.”

It’s a matter of simplicity versus complexity. Although it may seem intricate, it essentially consists of just two components combined.

Kotelnicki crafted his strategy by integrating various elements from the coaches and systems he has experienced throughout his career. These influences eventually merged to create one of the most innovative offenses in the Power Four.

“He is incredibly insightful and skilled, especially when it comes to blending different cultures, much like combining various cuisines,” Shulz remarked. “He has a talent for taking different ideas and merging them into something new.”

The challenges in defending this system stem from the deceptive tactics used during the brief moments after the offense huddles—what Kotelnicki refers to as “Sugar Huddles”—and before the ball is snapped. This period showcases a dynamic interaction that keeps defenses unsettled: players in skill positions are frequently moved around, repositioned on and off the line of scrimmage, creating confusion.

In football, players often shift into unusual positions — like a wide receiver starting in the backfield — before settling into a more conventional setup.

“Every defensive scheme has its vulnerabilities,” noted former Wisconsin-River Falls coach John O’Grady. “He seems to grasp that concept very well and knows how to take advantage of it. He dedicates time to analyzing defenses and can effectively exploit their weaknesses.”

The primary objective is to unsettle defenses and throw off their timing, causing defenders to react just a moment too late as they try to respond.

run through pre-snap assessments and predict what might happen next.

“His aim was consistently to put pressure on the defense in some way,” Shulz stated. “This could be achieved by playing quickly, implementing checks, or creating confusion with formation changes and motions. The defenders can’t just stand still and get ready; they must always be alert and adjusting.”

From Small-School Beginnings to Penn State

Kotelnicki began his coaching journey during his final year at River Falls after an ankle injury cut his playing season short. He approached O’Grady with a question: “Can I assist with the coaching?”

“Andy immediately dove in,” O’Grady remarked. “It was clear that this wasn’t merely a passing interest for him; it was about to become a core part of his life.”

Once he sustained that injury and transitioned into coaching, it quickly became clear that he had a strong desire to coach and a real talent for it.

Kotelnicki’s journey to Penn State, originating from the lower tiers of college football, has significantly influenced his career and his perspective on coaching, as noted by colleagues who have collaborated with him at the Division II and III levels.

The considerably smaller coaching staffs at these levels compared to those in the Bowl Subdivision often require coaches to take on various roles. For instance, at River Falls, where there were just three full-time assistant coaches, Kotelnicki contributed by coaching the secondary.

According to Schulz, the resources available are quite limited in comparison to the more comprehensive programs at institutions like Kansas and Penn State, which forces coaches to “make do with less.”

“Moreover, you become skilled in various roles and must master coaching all positions. This experience truly enhances your coaching abilities and broadens your expertise, preventing you from becoming too focused on just one area.”

What stands out most about Kotelnicki’s journey to Penn State is simply that it occurred at all. The vast majority of head coaches and co-offensive coordinators in FBS face different circumstances.

Coordinators typically don’t begin their careers at the lowest ranks of college football; however, notable examples like Leipold, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, and Kansas State’s Chris Klieman have defied this norm.

“Climbing to higher levels from a Division III background is very challenging,” O’Grady noted. “It’s quite tough to break into prestigious coaching circles. While I’m not shocked by his achievements, it is surprising how he’s managed to ascend.”

It’s impressive how far he’s come. It’s a challenging journey.

“Did I imagine he would achieve this? Probably not, since I didn’t believe he had much of a chance. However, did I think he had grown enough as a coach to lead almost anywhere? Absolutely, without a doubt.”

Significant Offensive Growth at Penn State

The influence of Kotelnicki on Penn State is evident in their perfect record and the remarkable enhancement of an offense that has demonstrated considerable progress.

Franklin’s period has been a mix of successes and challenges.

Last season, the Nittany Lions were ranked 55th in the country for average yards gained per game and 75th in yards per play. They struggled even more within their conference, landing at 100th for yards per snap. While they managed to minimize turnovers effectively, their passing game was still tied for 90th nationally in terms of yards gained per pass and held a 57th-place efficiency rating.

Fast forward to this year: after eight games, the team has made significant strides. They now sit at 13th nationally for average yards per game—an increase of over 60 yards from last season—and have moved up to fifth among Power Four teams in terms of yards gained per play.

The progress in their passing game has been quite impressive: the Nittany LThe Nittany Lions currently rank 29th in the FBS for passing yards per game, even though they are 115th in total attempts nationwide. They stand sixth in yards gained per pass and hold the fifth spot for efficiency rating.

However, this boost in performance has occurred while facing a schedule that lacks any teams currently listed in the US LBM Coaches Poll. In fact, only two of their opponents—Illinois and Wisconsin—have managed to secure a win.

The Ohio State defense presents a unique challenge.

This matchup serves as an important indicator of the progress made by the offense under Kotelnicki. Last year, the Nittany Lions managed to score only 27 points combined and averaged a mere 3.7 yards per play in their losses to both Ohio State and Michigan. From 2021 to 2023, in 12 games against ranked teams, Penn State completed 55.8% of their passes with an average gain of 6.3 yards per attempt. However, winning against Ohio State for just the second time during James Franklin’s tenure is the ultimate measure of success.

“We will face significant challenges this week and it’s crucial that we rise to meet them,” said left t

Last weekend, the Nittany Lions demonstrated their ability to adapt during their victory over the Badgers. When starting quarterback Drew Allar got injured late in the first half, backup Drew Pribula stepped in and successfully completed 11 out of 13 passes for 98 yards along with a touchdown. He also contributed an additional 28 rushing yards, which were crucial for securing a 28-13 win. Similarly, last season with the Kansas Jayhawks, they faced a setback when starting quarterback Jalon Daniels was sidelined after just three games. However, backup Jason Bean took over and led the team to nine wins, achieving a Top 25 finish for the first time since 2007.

The Kotelnicki system is designed to be versatile—similar to a Blizzard—allowing for various components of the offense to be rearranged, leading to refined adjustments within the overall strategy.

“One of the great aspects about our team, which was a significant factor in bringing Andy on board,” Franklin explained, “is that we incorporate enough variety and richness in our playbook. This enables us to capitalize on the unique strengths of each player on the field.”