NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea has announced the addition of veteran coach Chris Klenakis as the team’s new offensive line coach.
Klenakis brings over three decades of collegiate experience to Nashville, including time as both an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. He has seen 24 of his former offensive linemen reach the NFL. Klenakis served as the offensive coordinator at Nevada, mentoring Colin Kapernick, and Louisville, leading the offense during Lamar Jackson’s Heisman campaign.
“Chris’ depth of experience across football speaks for itself,” Lea said. “As a coach, he has been a part of some of the most prolific offenses in college football history. I know his tutelage will have a tremendous impact on our program.”
Klenakis is the only coordinator in FBS history to have led the nation in rushing offense (2009) and passing offense (1997) during his career. He is also the only coordinator in FBS history to produce three 1,000-yard rushers in the same season (2009) and mentored two of the only three players in FBS history to post 50 passing and 50 rushing touchdowns in their career (Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson).
Klenakis got his start in collegiate coaching at Nevada under the head coach Chris Ault, helping develop the pistol offense. He served as an assistant coach for the WolfPack from 1990-99, with the last three seasons as offensive coordinator. During his time, Nevada set 24 NCAA records and regularly was atop the national leaderboard in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense. Nevada won the Big Sky in 1990 and 91, reaching the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) title game in 1990.
He then spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Southern Miss and one at Central Missouri before a return to Nevada. Under his guidance, the 2003 Central Missouri offense was second nationally among Division II schools at 41.5 points per game. Southern Miss set eight offensive school records in his three seasons and twice reached bowl games.
Klenakis returned to the WolfPack 2004, serving as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. The Nevada offense was one of the most prolific in the FBS during his time back in Reno. The 2005, the WolfPack shared the WAC title, led the nation in time of possession and ranked eighth nationally in third-down conversions. The 2006, Nevada ranked 24th nationally in rushing offense.
The 2007 team saw the arrival of freshman quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the offense hit another gear. Kaepernick threw for 2,175 yards and 19 touchdowns as a freshman, helping Nevada to the New Mexico Bowl. He added 593 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
The 2008 team set school records for total offense, rushing yards and touchdowns, all of which were immediately broken in 2009.
In 2008, Kaepernick threw for 2,849 yards and 22 touchdowns, while running for 1,130 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was just the sixth player in NCA history to record 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season and was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year.
In 2009, Nevada went 8-5 and finished second in the WAC behind undefeated Boise State. Kaepernick finished the season with 2,052 passing yards and 20 touchdowns while contributing 1,183 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. With Via Taua and Luke Lippincott joining Kaepernick in the 1,000-yard rushing club, Nevada became the first team in Division I history to have three 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. The WolfPack averaged 7.4 yards per carry that season, second all-time behind the 1941 Naval Academy squad.
Klenakis then made his first move to the Southeastern Conference, spending 2010-11 as the offensive line coach at Arkansas. In his first season with the Razorbacks, Arkansas went 9-3 and reached the Sugar Bowl while ranking second in the SEC at 36.5 points per game. The next season, Arkansas topped the SEC with 36.8 points per game with offensive tackle DeMarcus Love earning first team All-SEC honors. The Razorbacks returned to a BCS game (Cotton Bowl) while finishing the season ranked fifth in the AP Top 25, the highest finish in the poll for Arkansas since 1979.
Klenakis then spent two seasons at Iowa State as offensive line coach. The 2013 Cyclone team scored the 10th-most points in school history and ranked among the top-20 nationally in red zone efficiency.
From Ames, Iowa, Klenakis moved to Louisville to reunited with head coach Bobby Petrino. After spending his first season on the defensive side, Klenakis coached the offensive line for two seasons, then tight ends for two, while also spending one year as the Cardinals’ co-offensive coordinator.
His 2016 campaign as co-offensive coordinator turned in one of the most prolific offenses in Louisville history. The Cardinals set school records in rushing yards (3,148) and rushing touchdowns (37) and led the ACC in total offense and scoring offense. They ranked among the top-5 nationally in total offense and scoring offense, as well. The team posted a 9-4 record with a 7-1 mark in conference play to tie eventual national champion Clemson atop the ACC standings and earn a trip to the Citrus Bowl.
Louisville was led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jackson that season. Jackson was responsible for 51 touchdowns (30 passing, 21 rushing) that season, winning the Heisman over fellow finalists Deshaun Watson, Dede Westbrook, Jabrill Peppers and Baker Mayfield. Jackson finished the year passing for 3,543 yards while rushing for 1,571 to become the youngest Heisman winner in history.
Most recently, Klenakis spent 2023 as the offensive coordinator at Kennesaw State. The Owls played an independent schedule in their final season as an FCS team, but the KSU offense ranked 14th in FCS in rushing offense at 195.6 yards per game and led FCS with just five turnovers.
Klenakis spent the 2022 campaign at Liberty as offensive line coach. The Flames reached the Boca Raton Bowl. Liberty ranked among the top 50 in FBS in rushing offense and won eight games in its final season as an independent. The Flames secured wins over BYU and Arkansas during the year. He spent the 2021 season at South Alabama as an analyst.
Prior to his college days, Klenakis spent four seasons as a high school coach in Nevada. He was twice named Nevada Coach of the Year at Churchill County.
As a college player, Klenakis was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Caroll College. He earned his undergraduate degree from Caroll in 1987, majoring in physical education and history, before earning a master’s degree from Nevada in exercise physiology in 1992.
The Fallon, Nevada, native and his wife, Louise, have six children, Myles, Matthew, Nikos, Lucy, Mark and Elizabeth.
