Desmond Kitchings

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1978)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Desmond Kitchings

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team = Virginia Cavaliers

| position = Offensive coordinator

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|7|19|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| high_school = Wagener-Salley (SC){{Cite web|date=2020-06-12|title=A true Palmetto State product: Des Kitchings' journey from small-town SC to Gamecocks|url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article242489451.html|access-date=2024-02-12|website=The State|language=en-US}}

| college = Furman (1996–1999)

| draftyear = 2000

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 207

| pastteams =

Kansas City Chiefs ({{nfly|2000}})*{{cite web |title=Desmond Kitchings |url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Desmond+Kitchings&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&ILChkBx=yes&NBADLChkBx=yes&InjuriesChkBx=yes&PersonalChkBx=yes&DisciplinaryChkBx=yes&LegalChkBx=yes&submit=Search |website=Pro Sports Transactions |access-date=24 July 2024}}
New York Jets ({{nfly|2000}})
Indianapolis Colts ({{nfly|2001}})
St. Louis Rams ({{nfly|2003}})

| pastcoaching =

Furman (2004–2007)
Tight ends coach & special teams coordinator
Vanderbilt (2008–2009)
Running backs coach & special teams coordinator
Vanderbilt (2010)
Co-offensive coordinator & running backs coach
Air Force (2011)
Running backs coach
NC State (2012)
Running backs coach & tight ends coach
NC State (2013–2015)
Running backs coach
NC State (2016–2018)
Assistant head coach & running backs coach
NC State (2019)
Co-offensive coordinator & running backs coach
South Carolina (2020)
Running backs coach
Atlanta Falcons ({{nfly|2021}})
Running backs coach
Virginia (2022–present)
Offensive coordinator & tight ends coach

}}

Desmond "Des" Kitchings (born July 19, 1978) is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is currently the offensive coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers.

Playing career

Kitchings played as a receiver/return specialist at Furman University. He averaged 29.3 yards per kick return and set a school record of four kick returns for touchdowns. Kitchings was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2000 NFL draft, but never played in the pro leagues.{{Cite web|title=Untitled Document|url=http://eweb.furman.edu/athletics/football/seasons/1999/press%20releases/kitchingsnfl.html|access-date=2021-02-28|website=eweb.furman.edu}}{{Cite web|last=Serby|first=Steve|date=2001-08-17|title=WINGS AND A PRAYER – HAIL MARY PUTS KITCHINGS IN JET WR HUNT|url=https://nypost.com/2001/08/17/wings-and-a-prayer-hail-mary-puts-kitchings-in-jet-wr-hunt/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Desmond Kitchings Stats, News and Video - WR|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/desmond-kitchings/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=NFL.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2000 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2000/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

Coaching career

Kitchings began his coaching career at Furman, working as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator from 2004 to 2007. He then spent 3 seasons coaching at Vanderbilt{{Cite web|date=2008-03-10|title=Johnson promotes two assistants as Commodores prepare for Spring Practice|url=https://vucommodores.com/johnson-promotes-two-assistants-as-commodores-prepare-for-spring-practice/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website|language=en-US}} serving one of them as the offensive coordinator.{{Cite web|date=2014-08-21|title=Des Kitchings|url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/coaches/des-kitchings/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Saturday Down South|language=en-US}} After spending 2011 at Air Force, he went on to coach 8 seasons at NC State.{{Cite web|last=Muma|first=Steven|date=2019-12-28|title=NC State co-offensive coordinator Des Kitchings will not return in 2020|url=https://www.backingthepack.com/nc-state-football/2019/12/28/21040955/des-kitchings-nc-state-football-offensive-coordinator-not-retained|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Backing The Pack|language=en}} In 2020{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2020-04-24|title=South Carolina hires Des Kitchings as running backs coach|url=https://abcnews4.com/sports/south-carolina-hires-des-kitchings-as-running-backs-coach|access-date=2021-02-28|website=WCIV}} he served as the running backs coach for South Carolina.{{Cite web|title=South Carolina football: Gamecocks adding Des Kitchings to staff|url=https://southcarolina.n.rivals.com/news/bot-meeting-set-des-kitchings-joining-south-carolina-football-staff|access-date=2021-02-28|website=southcarolina.n.rivals.com|date=23 April 2020 }} In 2021 he was named the running backs coach{{Cite web|title=Falcons hire Desmond Kitchings as RBs coach|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/falcons-hire-desmond-kitchings-as-rbs-coach/ar-BB1dblGQ|access-date=2021-02-28|website=www.msn.com}} for the Atlanta Falcons.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-28|title=Falcons hire Desmond Kitchings as RBs coach|url=https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2021/01/28/falcons-desmond-kitchings-nfl-news-atlanta-coaching-staff/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Falcons Wire|language=en-US}} After week 17 of Kitching's first year with the Falcons, it was announced that he would become the offensive coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers.