McKenzie, Rudolph join A-State Football coaching staff
McKenzie, Rudolph join A-State Football coaching staff
Arkansas State head football coach Blake Anderson has officially announced the additions of running backs coach Norval McKenzie and offensive line coach Allen Rudolph to the Red Wolves’ staff.
“We’re excited to have Norval and Allen join our staff,” said Anderson.
“They are both great additions who will make a big impact for our program in all areas. Norval is a young, energetic coach who possesses great football knowledge and is well-respected by his peers. Allen not only has valuable experience coaching within our league, but I think his time in the CFL will also be a great benefit to our players.”
McKenzie comes to AState after spending the last five seasons as a member of the Furman University coaching staff in a variety of roles, including running backs coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
During his time with the Paladins, McKenzie coached a pair of All-Southern Conference running backs and two others who were named to the league’s All-Freshman Team. Jerodis Williams was a two-time All-SoCon choice after rushing for 2,225 yards and 20 touchdowns over his junior and senior campaigns, in addition to earning All-America honors in 2012 when he led the FCS in kickoff returns (35.9 avg., 2 TDs).
McCloud, who completed his career ranked 10th in Furman rushing history, garnered all-conference recognition in 2013 after running for 1,110 yards and five scores. Triston Luke rushed for 385 yards and a pair of scores in 2015 to find a place on the league’s All-Freshman Team, while Marcus Anderson earned the recognition in 2013 when he posted 334 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
McKenzie helped lead Furman to a 2013 SoCon championship and several victories over FCS nationally- ranked teams, including No. 5 Wofford in 2011. The Paladins also knocked off then-FCS member and No. 3-ranked Appalachian State in 2011.
A Powder Springs, Ga., native and former football standout at McEachern (Ga.) High School, McKenzie was a four-year football letterman for Vanderbilt (2001-04), where he rushed for 1,411 career yards. He battled back from a serious leg injury his sophomore year to lead Vanderbilt in rushing as both a junior and senior.
McKenzie was a rare triple major, earning an undergraduate degree in secondary education, political science, and American history in 2005. He completed his master’s degree in education at Vanderbilt in 2010.
Following graduation, he began his coaching career at Hiram (Ga.) High School, working two seasons there before returning to Vanderbilt as a graduate assistant coach for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns.
The 2008 season saw him help Vanderbilt post its first winning season (7-6) since 1982 and a 16-14 victory over Boston College in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl – the program’s first bowl victory since 1955.
McKenzie assumed the duties of assistant recruiting coordinator, while also helping with player development and coordinating the Gridiron Club for former Commodore letter winners, in 2010.
Rudolph, a 21-year coaching veteran, comes to Arkansas State after most recently spending the last three seasons as the offensive line coach for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His time with Hamilton saw him help lead the team to the playoffs every year, including appearances in the 2013 and 2014 Grey Cup.
From ASU Media Team
