Donnell Kirkwood Jr. joins the Indiana State football coaching staff in 2026 as he joins the program by way of Washington State. He’s added additional coaching stops at Wyoming, North Dakota, Western Illinois, and Northern State.
Kirkwood Jr. spent the 2025 season at Washington State as the running backs coach. During the season, the Cougars’ offense tied for fourth nationally in time of possession, tied for No. 12 nationally in red-zone offense, and averaged 16.78 yards per kickoff and punt return, ranking sixth in the country.
He also served as the running backs coach at the University of Wyoming from January through March 2025. During his time in Laramie, Kirkwood participated in the team’s winter workouts and coached the kick and punt return units before departing.
Prior to Wyoming, Kirkwood Jr. spent two seasons as the running backs coach at the University of North Dakota. There, he mentored Gaven Ziebarth, who totaled 240 carries for 1,234 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns across the 2023-24 seasons, highlighted by a 700-yard, nine-touchdown campaign that ranked No. 16 nationally in yards per carry and among the MVFC’s top rushers. Isaiah Smith also developed under his guidance, producing 198 carries for 1,299 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over two seasons, while adding significant receiving production and multiple 100-yard rushing performances.
Kirkwood Jr. spent the 2022-23 season at Western Illinois University, where he served as the player experience coordinator, organizing community service initiatives and conducting weekly check-ins with true freshmen. He also worked as the assistant special teams coach, overseeing all scout special teams units that ranked second nationally in NCAA FCS punt defense (-0.5 yards per return) and first in the MVFC in net kickoff average (42.6). While with the Leathernecks, he coached Erin Collins, the first WIU running back to rush for more than 150 yards in a game since 2016.
Kirkwood Jr. began his collegiate coaching career at Northern State University in January 2020 as the running backs coach. With the Wolves, he also served as the player experience and academic coordinator and coached the kickoff and punt return units. He mentored Vance Barnes, who led the NSIC and set a school single-season record with 848 kickoff return yards, averaged 24.2 yards per return on 35 attempts, ranked second in the NSIC and 19th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (139.45), and earned All-NSIC North Division First Team honors as a returner.
Kirkwood Jr. played for University of Minnesota Football from 2010-14. He won the 2014 Paul Giel award, which is awarded to the team’s top offensive player, and was named the 2013 Offensive Back of the year and Offensive player of the year, while achieving Academic All-Big 10. Kirkwood graduated with a bachelor’s degree in youth studies.
Following his graduation from the University of Minnesota, Kirkwood Jr. worked at Minneapolis Southwest High School from 2015-19 as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator. He also worked at River Bend Education Center from 2015-20 as a special education teacher.
