Clint Killough, a former UIW student-athlete and associate head coach, was promoted to the position of UIW head football coach in December of 2022. Killough was named head coach in the midst of the best season in program history, heading to the FCS Semifinals for the deepest playoff run in the UIW football era.
His second season was one for the books. The Cardinals rolled through the regular season never leaving the FCS Top-25 and went 7-0 in conference play, 11-3 overall. UIW claimed it’s third Southland title in four years and earned a first round bye in the FCS Playoffs. The Cards took down Villanova 13-6 in round two and eventually fell to South Dakota State in the quarterfinal.
Under the lead of coach Killough five Cardinals were named FCS All-Americans and five were named to the Dave Campbell’s All-Texas Team. Zach Calzada reigned as the SLC Player of the Year and 15 players found a spot on the Southland All-Conference team.
Killough’s Cardinals got it done on and off the field as five student-athletes earned Southland All-Academic Team honors including Student-Athlete of the Year, Roy Alexander.
Alexander was one half of the best receiving duo in the country. Him and Jalen Walthall accounted for 185 catches, 27 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards through the air.
He went on to be named Southland Conference Coach of the Year and was an Eddie Robinson Award Finalist.
During his inaugural season, the 2023 UIW football team finished with a 9-2 (6-1 SLC) overall record, marking the third-most wins in program history behind 2022 and 2021. Killough took over a program that saw 66 total departures from the 2022 roster and rebuilt the Cardinals into a conference championship-contending team with only one returning defensive starter and three returning offensive starters. Killough, along with his new coaching staff, united the 2023 Cardinals to become the top statistical offense (total offense and scoring offense) and statistical defense (total defense and scoring defense) in the Southland Conference. Nationally, the Cardinals reached rankings in five different defensive categories and four offensive categories. Defensively, UIW finished first for team passing efficiency defense, tied for fourth for defensive touchdowns, fifth in third down conversion percentage, eighth for first downs defense, and tenth for total defense. Offensively, UIW ended the season ranked second in the nation for passing offense, second in total offense, eleventh for team passing efficiency, and twelfth for scoring offense.
The Cardinals appeared in the Coaches Poll Top 25 and FCS Stats Perform Top 25 Rankings every week during the 2023 season, coming in as high as No. 4 in weeks six and seven. UIW had been active in the rankings for 37 straight weeks, the fifth-longest streak in the nation behind North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Montana, and Montana State.
Final Poll Rankings: 2023
NCAA Coaches Poll – 11th
FCS Stats Perform Top 25 – 19th
The 2022 Cardinals, with Killough as associate head coach and wide receivers coach, rewrote the record book. The team had two wide receivers sitting in the top five in FCS for receiving touchdowns and receiving yards after winning back-to-back Southland Conference Championships.
Killough, a UIW alum, played for the Cardinals for three seasons (2013-2015) before returning to UIW in 2018 as the quality control coach for the inside receivers. He quickly climbed the coaching ranks as he was elevated to associate head coach/wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator in January of 2022. Killough has been with the program through all three Southland Conference Championships ('18, '21, '22) and all three FCS Playoff runs.
Upon winning the 2021 Southland Conference Championship, the Cardinals defeated Stephen F. Austin to advance to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. Killough mentored a wide receiver core in an offense that threw for 4,680 yards and 48 touchdowns.
Robert Ferrel nabbed a first team All-Southland Conference honor, while
Trevor Begue, currently playing with the Edmonton Elks (CFL), produced 474 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Even through the shortened 2021 spring season, the Cardinals achieved their highest ranking in school history (No. 13) while Killough guided the top two wide receivers in Tre Wolf and Ferrel. Ferrel produced 474 receiving yards and six TDs, while Wolf added 467 yards and two touchdowns. Ferrel finished the season with second team all-conference honors.
In 2019, Killough coached Kam Williams to become the program's first student-athlete to average 100 receiving yards per game through five games while also adding four touchdowns and 35 receptions.
During his first coaching season at UIW, Killough mentored Kody Edwards and Phillip Baptiste to first team All-SLC selections. Baptiste broke the single-season program record for receptions (59), total points (357), and receptions per game (5.36). Edwards set program bests with five 100-yard receiving outings and 1,389 all-purpose yards while breaking the program record for career receiving yards (2,353) and receptions (140). As a program, the 2018 team set multiple records to include total offense (5,315), total points (357) and touchdowns (48) as it finished the season with the first Southland Conference Championship and berth to the FCS Playoffs.
Killough began his career in 2017 at Bowling Green State University under Head Coach Mike Jinks. He worked directly under Defensive Coordinator Perry Eliano as the defensive backs/ special teams graduate assistant while also serving as the WRs graduate assistant under coach Seth Doege.
Graduating from UIW in 2015, Killough obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
The Word on Clint Killough
G.J. Kinne, Head Football Coach
Texas State University
"Clint has been my right-hand man since I got to UIW. There is nobody that loves UIW more and represents what this great university stands for, more than him. His sharp offensive mind, natural leadership ability, and work ethic will produce tremendous success. UIW is in great hands for years to come."
Eric Morris, Head Football Coach
University of North Texas
"UIW hit a home run with this hire. I have a lot of love for Clint and I am so excited to watch him start his head coaching career. He has a great offensive mind and is one of the most competitive people I've been around. I know he will elevate UIW to new heights and bring the best out of those young men."
Ephraim Banda, Defensive Coordinator
Utah State (UIW Alumni)
"Richard Duran could not have hired a more passionate, dedicated, Cardinal-loving individual in this profession! As UIW reaches national recognition,
Clint Killough is a perfect fit to lead our program to the next level. There is no coach in college football who better understands the institution, program, and people because he is one of us! Go Cards!"
Perry Eliano, Safeties Coach
Ohio State
"Clint is one of the brightest young stars in college football. His energy, passion, and work ethic are second to none. A tireless recruiter who understands it's about bringing the right type of young men to continue the championship success at UIW. He's a phenomenal human being that will bring young men together for a common goal to be the very best versions of themselves daily. UIW has a winner!"
Mike Jinks, Assistant Head Coach – Running Backs
University of Houston
"I knew very early in Clint's career that he was destined for greatness. San Antonio is getting a homegrown start. He will be a tremendous leader for UIW football and the University of the Incarnate Word."
Ron Rittimann, Athletic Director & Head Coach
Alamo Heights High School
"What a tremendous hire for the UIW Football Program. I have admired Clint as a competitor and leader for a long time. Coach Killough has strong ties within San Antonio and will continue the success and trajectory the program is currently on. I look forward to watching him assemble a great staff and build strong relationships within the community and boosters."
