Football
Evan McKissack
- Title:
- Tight Ends
Evan McKissack enters his first season as the program's tight ends coach.
McKissack arrives to Gainesville after the last two seasons (2024-25) as Tulane’s Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach. The 2025 Green Wave offensive line finished the regular season ranked sixth in sacks allowed (10) and seventh in tackles-for-loss (48) allowed. They were one of three teams (Cincinnati and Navy) to finish in the top-7 in both categories. A season ago, the group placed eighth in tackles-for-loss (53) allowed and 24th in sacks (18) allowed.
“I’m thrilled that Coach McKissack will be joining our staff here in Gainesville,” Sumrall said. “Coach McKissack is an innovative football mind and has experience coaching not only tight ends, but also offensive line, running backs and special teams among others. He will be invaluable on this staff with his knowledge and ability to get the most out of his players.”
An American First Team selection this season, McKissack has developed guard Shadre Hurst to rank sixth in pass block (89.6), and seventh in both run block (81.8) and overall grade (81.0) per Pro Football Focus. He has not allowed a sack in 435 pass blocking attempts.
The Green Wave earned a berth to the College Football Playoff in 2025 after capturing the American Athletic Conference (AAC) title. From 2022-25, McKissack’s teams at Tulane and Troy made four-consecutive conference championship games, winning one AAC and two Sun Belt crowns.
"Extremely thankful to Coach Sumrall for this opportunity,” McKissack said. “He's a great leader of men and a winner. I’m looking forward to getting this season rolling! Our tight ends unit will be a position that plays with an edge, displayed through traits of physicality, toughness, technique, discipline, detailed execution and competitive playmakers. This is Florida - making Atlanta a place Gator Nation can expect to be at every December and playing for national championships is the expectation!"
In his first season at Tulane, the offense led the league in third-down conversions (52.5%), completion percentage (65.6%) and scoring offense (37.2). Nationally, the Green Wave placed fourth in third-down percentage, seventh in yards per completion (14.16), eighth in passing efficiency (157.36), 16th in scoring offense and 25th in rushing offense (195.6).
Prior to his stint at Tulane, McKissack was the Tights Ends Coach and Director of Offensive Recruiting at his alma mater, Troy, from 2022-23. He was part of the staff that had 23 victories across the two seasons, which were tied for the third most nationally, trailing only Georgia, Michigan and Washington. Troy and Michigan were the only two programs to win conference titles in both seasons.
McKissack’s first season at Troy produced program best for the tight end unit in their Sun Belt history, setting bests in receptions, receiving yards and tied for touchdown receptions. That same season, the Trojans finished the season ranked in the AP (19) and Coaches Poll (20) for the first time in program history along with a program first appearance in the College Football Playoff (24).
He arrived back at his alma mater after spending two seasons (2020-21) at Murray State as their Tight Ends and Running Backs Coach. 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.
In his first season (2020) at Murray State, McKissack helped 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. The Racers led the OVC and ranked 25th nationally in scoring offense during his first season and had a top-25 rushing attack in 2021.
McKissack started his collegiate coach 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 helped coach five different offensive linemen that were tacked in the NFL Draft – George Asafo-Adjei, Luke Fortner, Darian Kinnard, Logan Stenberg and Landon Young.
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 at Enterprise (Ala.) High School as the defensive line coach before moving to Colquitt County (Ga.) High School where he was the linebackers coach in 2015 and special teams coordinator in 2016. He helped Colquitt win the 6A State Championship and High School Football America National Championship in 2015.
His senior year at Troy, McKissack graded out as the highest-rated offensive linemen for Troy 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.
A former walk-on, McKissack went from playing in just two games on special teams in his 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.
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, have a daughter, Arya, and a son, Riley.
Evan McKissack Coaching History
Evan McKissick NFL Draft Picks
McKissack arrives to Gainesville after the last two seasons (2024-25) as Tulane’s Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach. The 2025 Green Wave offensive line finished the regular season ranked sixth in sacks allowed (10) and seventh in tackles-for-loss (48) allowed. They were one of three teams (Cincinnati and Navy) to finish in the top-7 in both categories. A season ago, the group placed eighth in tackles-for-loss (53) allowed and 24th in sacks (18) allowed.
“I’m thrilled that Coach McKissack will be joining our staff here in Gainesville,” Sumrall said. “Coach McKissack is an innovative football mind and has experience coaching not only tight ends, but also offensive line, running backs and special teams among others. He will be invaluable on this staff with his knowledge and ability to get the most out of his players.”
An American First Team selection this season, McKissack has developed guard Shadre Hurst to rank sixth in pass block (89.6), and seventh in both run block (81.8) and overall grade (81.0) per Pro Football Focus. He has not allowed a sack in 435 pass blocking attempts.
The Green Wave earned a berth to the College Football Playoff in 2025 after capturing the American Athletic Conference (AAC) title. From 2022-25, McKissack’s teams at Tulane and Troy made four-consecutive conference championship games, winning one AAC and two Sun Belt crowns.
"Extremely thankful to Coach Sumrall for this opportunity,” McKissack said. “He's a great leader of men and a winner. I’m looking forward to getting this season rolling! Our tight ends unit will be a position that plays with an edge, displayed through traits of physicality, toughness, technique, discipline, detailed execution and competitive playmakers. This is Florida - making Atlanta a place Gator Nation can expect to be at every December and playing for national championships is the expectation!"
In his first season at Tulane, the offense led the league in third-down conversions (52.5%), completion percentage (65.6%) and scoring offense (37.2). Nationally, the Green Wave placed fourth in third-down percentage, seventh in yards per completion (14.16), eighth in passing efficiency (157.36), 16th in scoring offense and 25th in rushing offense (195.6).
Prior to his stint at Tulane, McKissack was the Tights Ends Coach and Director of Offensive Recruiting at his alma mater, Troy, from 2022-23. He was part of the staff that had 23 victories across the two seasons, which were tied for the third most nationally, trailing only Georgia, Michigan and Washington. Troy and Michigan were the only two programs to win conference titles in both seasons.
McKissack’s first season at Troy produced program best for the tight end unit in their Sun Belt history, setting bests in receptions, receiving yards and tied for touchdown receptions. That same season, the Trojans finished the season ranked in the AP (19) and Coaches Poll (20) for the first time in program history along with a program first appearance in the College Football Playoff (24).
He arrived back at his alma mater after spending two seasons (2020-21) at Murray State as their Tight Ends and Running Backs Coach. 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.
In his first season (2020) at Murray State, McKissack helped 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. The Racers led the OVC and ranked 25th nationally in scoring offense during his first season and had a top-25 rushing attack in 2021.
McKissack started his collegiate coach 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 helped coach five different offensive linemen that were tacked in the NFL Draft – George Asafo-Adjei, Luke Fortner, Darian Kinnard, Logan Stenberg and Landon Young.
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 at Enterprise (Ala.) High School as the defensive line coach before moving to Colquitt County (Ga.) High School where he was the linebackers coach in 2015 and special teams coordinator in 2016. He helped Colquitt win the 6A State Championship and High School Football America National Championship in 2015.
His senior year at Troy, McKissack graded out as the highest-rated offensive linemen for Troy 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.
A former walk-on, McKissack went from playing in just two games on special teams in his 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.
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, have a daughter, Arya, and a son, Riley.
Evan McKissack Coaching History
| Year | Position, School |
|---|---|
| 2026-pres. | Tight Ends Coach, Florida |
| 2024-25 | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach, Tulane |
| 2022-23 | Tight Ends/Director of Offensive Recruiting, Troy |
| 2020-21 | Tight Ends/Running Backs, Murray State |
| 2017-19 | Graduate Assistant - Offense, Kentucky |
| 2016 | Special Teams Coordinator, Coach Colquitt County (Ga.) High School |
| 2015 | Linebackers, Coach Colquitt County (Ga.) High School |
| 2014 | Defensive Line, Enterprise (Ala.) High School |
Evan McKissick NFL Draft Picks
| Year | Round | Team | Player | Pos. | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | Tennessee Titans | Jha'Quan Jackson | WR | Tulane |
| 2024 | 7 | Green Bay Packers | Michael Pratt | QB | Tulane |
| 2022 | 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | Darian Kinnard | G | Kentucky |
| 2022 | 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Luke Fortner | C | Kentucky |
| 2021 | 6 | New Orleans Saints | Landon Young | T | Kentucky |
| 2020 | 4 | Detroit Lions | Logan Stenberg | G | Kentucky |
| 2019 | 7 | New York Giants | George Asafo-Adjei | T | Kentucky |
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