First-year Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers has his new running backs coach, sources tell FootballScoop.
Donnell Kirkwood Jr., most recently the running backs coach at Wyoming after previously serving in a similar role at North Dakota, is joining the Cougars staff in the same capacity.
Robbie Rouse was the previously Washington State running backs coach but resigned for what the school termed as "personal reasons." Multiple reports indicated that Rouse had been arrested.
247Sports first reported that Kirkwood Jr. would join the Wazzu staff.
For Kirkwood Jr., the chance to join Washington State is a de facto leap to Power Conference football -- the same level of his playing career, which spanned work in the backfield at the University of Minnesota from 2010-13.
Kirkwood also has high school and smaller college coaching experience.
Wyoming coach Jay Sawvel had earlier Wednesday announced that Kirkwood Jr. had departed the Cowboys program for a different position.
Washington State hired Rogers away from South Dakota State, where he had helped the Jackrabbits maintain powerhouse status at the FCS level.
He replaced Jake Dickert, who exited Washington State to take over when Dave Clawson stepped down at Wake Forest.
The Cougars, set for their spring game April 12, open their 2025 season Aug. 30 at home against Idaho.