Powell Named Special Teams Coordinator

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Andre Powell, who has over 35 years of coaching experience, has been named East Carolina's special teams coordinator according to an announcement by head coach Mike Houston Monday. He will also work with the offensive staff in a variety of different ways.

Powell's appointment to the Pirates' staff ends a nine-year stint at Pittsburgh where he served as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In 2016, he was named FootballScoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year.

"We are thrilled to welcome Andre and his family to Greenville and lead our special teams unit," Houston said. "Andre, who I consider as one of the best, if not the best special teams coordinator in the country, has a tremendous passion for outstanding special teams play and is highly respected in the football industry. He has great character and is a great recruiter, teacher and builder of young men.

"Andre possesses over 35 years of coaching experience working with the some of the top programs in college football and has played or coached in over 20 bowl games. We are excited for our program, university and Pirate Nation to meet Andre, his wife Jody and their children Andre II, Alayna and Mikala."

Pitt has featured game-changing special teams under Powell's direction. That was especially apparent in the Panthers' 37-35 win over UCLA in the 2022 Sun Bowl, when Ben Sauls kicked five field goals, including a game-winning 47-yarder with four seconds left. Sauls was named the game's Special Teams MVP and to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team.

During the 2023 campaign, Powell mentored a special teams group that stood first nationally in blocked punts (three), blocked punts allowed (none) and blocked kicks (none), while standing 30th in FBS in kick return defense (17.56 ypg). Rasheem Biles ranked second in the country in blocked kicks (three and Kenny Johnson was sixth in kickoff return touchdowns (one) and 24th in kickoff return yards per game (23.1).

In 2021, Cal Adomitis, now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, was named a first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and won the Patrick Mannelly Award as college football's top long snapper. Additionally, Sam Scarton was an All-ACC honoree after setting a Pitt single season kick scoring record with 120 points.

In 2020, Kirk Christodoulou was a Pro Football Focus All-American after averaging a career-high 44.7 yards per punt. The Panthers set a school record with a net punting average of 41.94, which ranked 11th in the country.

Quadree Henderson finished his career (2015-17) with a Pitt-record seven kick return touchdowns. Henderson was the 2016 NCAA statistical champion in kickoff return TDs (a school-record three) and combined kick return yards (1,166). He earned consensus All-America honors, becoming the first Pitt player to earn that stature as a return specialist.

Pitt's two most prolific placekickers were mentored by Powell. Chris Blewitt (2013-16) concluded his career as Pitt's all-time kick scoring leader (363 points). His most memorable kick was a 48-yard field goal that lifted Pitt past eventual national champion Clemson, 43-42, in 2016.

Alex Kessman (2017-20) ranks second in kick scoring with 341 points. He set Pitt records for career field goals (69) and longest field goal (58 yards). Kessman additionally set marks for 50-yard field goals in a career (12) and season (four in 2018 and 2020). His 66.7% success rate from that long range (12 of 18) set an NCAA record, eclipsing Arizona's Max Zendejas (60.9% from 1982-85).

Under Powell, the Panthers have a well-earned reputation for producing prolific and punishing runners. A list of his recent standouts—including Israel Abanikanda, James Conner, Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall—serves as a vivid illustration of Pitt's excellence at the position.

In 2022, Abanikanda was the ACC rushing champion with 1,431 yards and led the nation in scoring (11.6 points per game), total touchdowns (21) and rushing touchdowns (20). Named a first team All-American by CBS Sports and ESPN, he was selected by the New York Jets in the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2018, Pitt had two 1,000-yard rushers in a season for the first time ever in Ollison (1,213) and Hall (1,144) both reached the milestone and earned All-ACC accolades.

For Ollison it was his second 1,000-yard season under Powell. He was the 2015 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,121 yards. Hall averaged 7.48 yards per carry in 2018, ranking seventh nationally, and eclipsed the long-standing Pitt season record held by the legendary Tony Dorsett (6.6 in 1975; minimum 1,000 yards gained).

Conner was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2016 after rambling for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns. He concluded his college career as the ACC's all-time leader with 52 rushing touchdowns and 56 total TDs. Conner, a two-time Pro Bowler, now plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

Powell spent four seasons at Maryland (2011-14), where he coached the running backs and, in his final three seasons, served as special teams coordinator. In ESPN's 2014 team efficiency rankings, the Terrapins' special teams were rated No. 11 in the country. Maryland's Brad Craddock was selected the 2014 winner of the Lou Groza Award as college football's top kicker.

Powell coached at Clemson from 2007-10, overseeing the running backs each of his four seasons and coordinating the special teams his last three. He mentored all-time Clemson great C.J. Spiller, a 2009 unanimous All-American and ACC Player of the Year. Spiller became the first running back in ACC history to compile 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season.

Spiller concluded his Clemson career with 7,588 all-purpose yards, the second most in FBS history. His seven kickoff return touchdowns set an NCAA record, while his eight total kick return TDs (including one punt) tied the national mark.

Powell coached running backs at North Carolina from 2001-06. He was the Tar Heels' special teams coordinator his final three seasons in Chapel Hill.

At Virginia from 1996-2000, Powell coached the running backs (1996 and 2000) and receivers (1997-99). Among his pupils were future NFL players Tiki Barber, Germaine Crowell, Thomas Jones, Charles Kirby, Pat Washington and Terrence Wilkins. Powell's other coaching stops include Rhode Island (1993-94), Virginia Military Institute (1992), Army (1991 and 1995), South Carolina (1990) and Indiana (1989).

After spending two years at Lees McRae Junior College, Powell earned two letters as a fullback at Indiana (1986-87) where he helped pave the way for 1,000-yard rusher Anthony Thompson and was a member of two bowl teams for the Hoosiers (1986 All-American Bowl and 1988 Peach Bowl). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Indiana in 1989.

The Lockhart, S.C. native is married to Jody and has two daughters (Alayna and Mikala) and one son, Andre II.

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