Jan. 22, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Former Furman assistant football coach Des Kitchings has accepted an assistant coaching position at Western Michigan University, it was announced today.

Kitchings, who coached Furman's tight ends the past four seasons and this past year served as the Paladins' co-special teams coordinator, will coach wide receivers at WMU.

"We certainly hate to lose an assistant coach of the quality and character as Des Kitchings, but the word had gotten out on him and we knew it was only a matter of time before someone snapped him up," said Paladin head coach Bobby Lamb. "We certainly wish Des and Heather the very best at Western Michigan."

In his four seasons at Furman, Kitchings coached four all-conference tight ends, including consensus 2007 first team honoree Larry Hedden, who led all SoCon tight ends with 36 receptions for 421 yards and three touchdowns.

A native of Wagener, S.C., Kitchings starred for four seasons at Furman as a receiver and return specialist before graduating in 2000 with a degree in health and exercise science. His 112 receptions, 1,808 receiving yards, and 11 touchdown catches rank among the Top 10 in school history. He also earned All-America honors as a return specialist in 1999 and averaged 29.3 yards on 33 career kickoff returns, four of which went for touchdowns.

He was a seventh round NFL draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2000 and later spent time with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and St. Louis Rams before returning to his alma mater in 2004.