Stanford announced the hiring of new assistant coaches Bobby Kennedy (wide receivers) and Kevin Carberry (offensive line/run game coordinator) Thursday just before the start of the Big Visit recruiting weekend.
Stanford defensive coordinator Lance Anderson was also promoted to associate head coach, recognizing the effort he's put into the program since arriving with Jim Harbaugh in 2007. Anderson is a critical member of the staff because of his work with the defense and recruiting.
"Lance has done an outstanding job with our defense through the years and this addition to his title shows the respect that our staff and players have for him," said head coach David Shaw in a press release.
Kennedy and Carberry are on campus and able to meet the current and future Cardinal players who they will be coaching. They provide an interesting range of experience to bring to The Farm.
Kennedy has coached at the college level for 26 years, including from 2004 to 2010 at Texas on the same staff as Stanford defensive backs coach Duane Akina. Kennedy's last stops were Colorado (2011-12) and Iowa (2013-2016). He had accepted the same position at SMU in December but opted to instead head West.
"Bobby Kennedy is a well-respected wide receiver coach who has trained multiple All-Americans and record-setters. Bobby is also a proven top-notch recruiter and a great mentor of young men," Shaw said
Stanford welcomes back its top wide receiver contributors from the 2017 season. Redshirt sophomore J.J. Arcega-Whiteside became a nearly unstoppable force when competing with defensive backs for any ball within his catch radius. He caught 48 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns.
Trent Irwin was the team's second leading receiver (461 yards and two touchdowns on 43 catches) and he and Arcega-Whiteside have potential to be key pieces for Kennedy to use to help build an explosive passing game.
Freshman talent Connor Wedington showed his potential all season and ended on a high note with three catches for 41 yards in the Alamo Bowl. Donald Stewart (131) can also provide depth and competition with his lanky, 6-3 frame.
Incoming freshmen Simi Fehoko and Michael Wilson have exciting potential as four star recruits for Kennedy to teach.
Kennedy played quarterback at Northern Colorado (1985-88) and immediately went into coaching as a graduate assistant first at Illinois and then Penn State. Kennedy also has experience coaching running backs during stints at Arizona and Wake Forest.
Carberry shares a mentor with Shaw and consequently a high level of comfort is expected between the new coach and what Stanford's run game is built on.
"Kevin Carberry comes to us after spending the last four years in the NFL and working under Bill Callahan, who trained me in our style of running game, so I anticipate a smooth transition," Shaw said. "Kevin is also an outstanding teacher, and I look forward to the new ideas he will bring to us."
Carberry played at Ohio University and after graduating in 2005 bounced around several playing opportunities, including the Arena Football League. He showed his work ethic by taking on coaching responsibilities at local Illinois high schools from 2006-2008.
That first taste of coaching led him to take graduate assistant work at Kansas (2009-2011) and then coaching defensive ends at Stephen F. Austin.
Carberry first joined Callahan's staff in 2014 with the Cowboys. He stayed with the Cowboys in 2015 and helped coach the tight ends in Dallas.
Carberry rejoined Callahan in 2016 at the Washington Redskins and was an assistant to Callahan through this past season.
There are high expectations for the unit that Carberry will take over from Mike Bloomgren, who is now the head coach at Rice. Stanford is expected to return every starter except do-it-all fifth year David Bright, who was a leader of the unit for several years.
Guard Nate Herbig, center Jesse Burkett, guard Brandon Fanaika, right tackle A.T. Hall, and left tackles Walker Little and Devery Hamilton each return with starting experience. Little and freshman Foster Sarell are promising young tackles and Hamilton made significant strides over the course of the season.
One of the most important questions for Carberry to answer will be which of the tackle prospects will need to move inside to compete at guard and relieve the logjam on the outside. Depending on how it all shakes out there could be a dominant line on The Farm.
