Nick Whitworth begins his third season as a member of Head Coach Jake Dickert’s coaching staff, being named tight ends coach/special teams coordinator on Jan. 14, 2022.
Whitworth joined the Cougar program having spent the previous three seasons as the special teams coordinator/running backs coach at Texas State in San Marcos, Texas.
In 2023, Cougar special teams shined, finishing second in the Pac-12 and 18th nationally in net punting at 41.7 ypp. The kickoff return unit also finished second in the Pac-12 at 22.0 ypr, which ranked 32nd nationally. That included a 98-yard kickoff return by Leyton Smithson against Colorado, the first by a Cougar since the 2018 season. Junior punter Nick Haberer was fourth in the Pac-12 and 26th nationally at 44.4 ypp, the highest average of his three-year career.
Whitworth’s first season in Pullman saw the Cougar special teams finish second in the Pac-12 in net punting at 41.4 ypp and punt return defense (3.9 ypr), both which placed 20th nationally. WSU was third (21.6 ypr) in kickoff returns and fifth in punt returns (9.1 ypr) in the Pac-12, respectively. Whitworth mentored punter Nick Haberer and punt returner Robert Ferrel to All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors.
During his time at Texas State, Whitworth led a resurgence in special teams play as the Bobcats led the Sun Belt Conference in punt returns and kickoff coverage during the 2020 season. During that season, The Bobcats featured Texas State’s first FBS First-Team All-American return specialist Jeremiah Haydel, an All-Sun Belt Conference punter, and kicker. Haydel ranked third nationally in combined kick return yardage and was one of only two FBS players to return a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in his first season as a returner. Seamus O’Kelly was named Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference punter by Pro Football Focus after averaging 41.0 yards on 57 punts. Phil Steele named Seth Keller a Fourth-Team All-Sun Belt kicker after scoring 62 points with eight field goals and 32 extra points.
The Bobcat offense was also stellar in 2020, increase its rushing output by nearly 65 percent from the previous season and averaged 369.7 yards of total offense and 27.7 points per game. It was the most yards gained for the Bobcats since 2015 and the most points scored since 2014.
Whitworth also coached running backs Brock Sturges, Calvin Hill, and Jahmyl Jeter, who combined to rush for 1453 yards and 13 touchdowns on 259 carries in 2020. Hill was a Third-Team All-Sun Belt selection by Pro Football Focus, and Sturges was named Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt in a poll of Sun Belt coaches and media.
The Bobcats also ranked third among Sun Belt leaders in kickoff returns with a 23.1 average in 2019. DeJordan Mask led the league in kickoff returns with a 29.5 average, while Hutch White was second in punt returns with an 8.6 average that year.
Prior to Texas State, Whitworth spent four seasons (2015-18) at Portland State and turned former wide receiver David Jones into a 1,000-yard rusher as a running back. The Vikings ran for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2015. Meanwhile on special teams, kicker Jonathan Gonzales enjoyed an All-Conference season and punter Marcus Kinsella became one of the most reliable players on the team, kick returner Kahlil Dawson averaged over 25 yards per return, and long snapper Kameron Canaday earned Third-Team All-American honors.
In 2016, Portland State’s offensive backfield averaged 243 yards per game and 35 total touchdowns. Nate Tago and Paris Penn earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Conference honors after combining for over 1,400 yards and 20 TDs. Meanwhile, Gonzales was named Third-Team All-Big Sky and Kinsella was an Honorable Mention All-Big Sky selection.
Mitchell Thompson earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors in 2016 and was an Honorable Mention selection in 2017 as a special teams player. In 2018, his freshman kicker Cody Williams was named a Third-Team All-Conference kicker.
Whitworth arrived at Portland State after serving in a similar role at Central Washington from 2011-14. In 2013, his Wildcat special teams ranked fifth nationally in punt return defense, 11th in kick return average and 13th in kick coverage. The 2014 team led the nation in kick return average (25.7) and 18th in punt return average (14.4).
Before joining Central Washington’s staff, he was the offensive coordinator at Montana Western in 2010, and Idaho State’s special teams recruiting and summer coordinator from 2003-10.
His 2010 special teams unit was the top overall unit in the Big Sky Conference after leading the league net punting, kick return defense and punt returns, and finishing second in kick returns.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Bengals, working with the running backs and special teams, from 2001-2002.
Whitworth also played at Idaho State, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference honors as a running back and kick returner. He earned bachelor’s degree in business administration and business finance at Idaho State in 2001.
Whitworth and his wife, Erin have one daughter, Olivia and one son, Colt.
