Troy Adds Evan McKissack to Football Staff

TROY, Ala. – Evan McKissack, a former All-Sun Belt offensive lineman for the Trojans, has been named Troy's new tight ends coach, head coach Jon Sumrall announced Thursday. McKissack joins the Troy staff following two years at Murray State.

A former walk-on, McKissack went from playing in just two games on special teams in his Troy career to the Trojans' starting center and an All-Sun Belt selection despite checking in at just 5-foot-10 and 256 pounds as a senior.

"I saw firsthand the kind of person and coach Evan was while we were at Kentucky, and I couldn't wait to get him back to Troy," Sumrall said. "He is a grinder and has worked with some of the best in the business as he's progressed through his coaching career. Evan demonstrated as a player the type of person he is with his work ethic and determination no matter the odds that were stacked against him. I'm excited to welcome Evan and Erica back home."

At Murray State, McKissack coached both the Racers' tight ends and running backs during his two-year tenure. Under his guidance, Damonta Witherspoon earned back-to-back All-America and All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. He rushed for 912 yards with eight touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2021 after leading the Racers with 501 yards and five touchdowns in the shortened 2020 season; he was also named to the 2020 OVC All-Newcomer Team.

"There's nothing like being back home," McKissack said. "The impact that Troy University has had on my life can't be measured, and I'm excited to give back what this great institution instilled in me. I want to thank Jon Sumrall for this amazing opportunity and can't wait to get to work with the great staff and players we have."

In his first season at Murray State, the Racers improved from 4-8 the previous year to 5-2 with a victory over No. 16 Southeast Missouri State. The Racers posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2011.

Murray State led the OVC and ranked 25^th nationally in scoring offense during his first season, while the Racers had a top-25 rushing attack in 2021. The Racers also ranked second nationally in sacks allowed during the 2020 campaign.

McKissack began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kentucky (2017-19), where he worked primarily with John Schlarman, who was his offensive line coach while a player at Troy. McKissack coached a trio of All-Americans – Bunchy Stallings, Logan Stenberg and George Asafo-Adjei – all were selected in the NFL Draft. Additionally, McKissack's offensive line were key blockers for All-American running back Benny Snell.

The Wildcats played in a bowl game in each of McKissack's three seasons on staff, including a Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State and No. 14 final College Football Playoff ranking in 2018. Kentucky's offensive line finished as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top offensive line.

After graduating from Troy, McKissack began his coaching career just up the road at Enterprise (Ala.) High School as the defensive line coach before moving to Colquitt County (Ga.) High School for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

While coaching the Packers, Colquitt won the Georgia AAAAAA state title and the High School America National Championship. McKissack coached the linebackers in his first season and was the special teams coordinator in his second year.

His senior year at Troy, McKissack graded out as the highest-rated offensive linemen for the Trojans and was charged with just 0.2 sacks allowed on the season. In addition, he recorded 27.5 knockdown blocks and graded out at over 90 percent in five games and held his own against ACC runner-up Duke where he graded out at 93 percent.

McKissack graduated magna cum laude from Troy with a degree in math education in 2014 and earned his master's degree in sport leadership from Kentucky in 2019.

He and his wife, Erica, are expecting their first child in February.

Troy University Athletics

Troy Adds Evan McKissack to Football Staff

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