Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Donnell Kirkwood Jr
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Donnell Kirkwood Jr. joined the Eastern Michigan football staff in 2026 after coaching stops across the FBS, FCS, and Division II levels. A former Big Ten running back at the University of Minnesota, Kirkwood brings experience developing productive rushing attacks and contributing on special teams units.
Kirkwood spent the 2025 season at Washington State as the Cougars’ running backs coach. Under his guidance, the running backs accounted for 265 carries for 1,145 yards and added 51 receptions for 353 yards. Washington State’s offense ranked tied for fourth nationally in time of possession and tied for 12th in red zone offense. Kirkwood also coached the kickoff and punt return units, where the primary punt returner totaled 386 yards on 23 returns and averaged 16.78 yards per return, sixth best in the nation.
Earlier in 2025, Kirkwood served as the running backs coach at the University of Wyoming, where he worked with the Cowboys during winter workouts and coached the kick and punt return units before departing for Washington State.
Before his time in the Mountain West and Pac-12, Kirkwood spent two seasons at the University of North Dakota as running backs coach from 2023 through 2024. During his tenure, the Fighting Hawks’ rushing attack produced strong numbers. In 2024, North Dakota rushed for 1,951 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In 2023, the unit totaled 1,816 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns with a 6.2 yards per carry average. Kirkwood helped develop multiple productive backs, including Isaiah Smith and Gaven Ziebarth, who combined for more than 1,300 rushing yards in 2024. Ziebarth recorded a 700-yard season with nine touchdowns, while Smith produced multiple 100-yard rushing performances and added receiving production out of the backfield.
Kirkwood previously worked at Western Illinois University during the 2022 season as the program’s player experience coordinator and assistant special teams coach. In that role, he organized community service efforts and led weekly academic and wellness meetings with the program’s freshmen. On special teams, he coordinated the scout units for a group that finished second nationally in NCAA FCS punt defense at -0.5 yards per return and first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in net kickoff average at 42.6 yards. He also coached running back Erin Collins, who became the first Leatherneck running back since 2016 to rush for more than 150 yards in a game.
Kirkwood began his collegiate coaching career at Northern State University in 2020 as the running backs coach. He also served as the program’s player experience and academic coordinator while coaching the kickoff and punt return units. During his tenure, return specialist Vance Barnes set the school’s single-season record with 848 kickoff return yards, averaged 24.2 yards per return, and ranked 19th nationally in all-purpose yards per game at 139.45. Barnes earned All NSIC North Division First Team honors as a returner.
Before entering the college ranks, Kirkwood coached running backs and coordinated special teams at Minneapolis Southwest High School from 2015-19. One of his players rushed for 1,622 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and finished as a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Football award. During that time, Kirkwood also worked as a special education teacher at River Bend Education Center in Minneapolis.
Kirkwood played running back at Minnesota from 2010-14. He rushed for 1,474 career yards on 390 carries and earned the team’s Offensive Back of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2013 after a 946-yard season. As a senior in 2014, he received the Paul Giel Award, presented to the program’s top offensive player. Kirkwood also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and graduated from Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in youth studies.
Kirkwood spent the 2025 season at Washington State as the Cougars’ running backs coach. Under his guidance, the running backs accounted for 265 carries for 1,145 yards and added 51 receptions for 353 yards. Washington State’s offense ranked tied for fourth nationally in time of possession and tied for 12th in red zone offense. Kirkwood also coached the kickoff and punt return units, where the primary punt returner totaled 386 yards on 23 returns and averaged 16.78 yards per return, sixth best in the nation.
Earlier in 2025, Kirkwood served as the running backs coach at the University of Wyoming, where he worked with the Cowboys during winter workouts and coached the kick and punt return units before departing for Washington State.
Before his time in the Mountain West and Pac-12, Kirkwood spent two seasons at the University of North Dakota as running backs coach from 2023 through 2024. During his tenure, the Fighting Hawks’ rushing attack produced strong numbers. In 2024, North Dakota rushed for 1,951 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In 2023, the unit totaled 1,816 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns with a 6.2 yards per carry average. Kirkwood helped develop multiple productive backs, including Isaiah Smith and Gaven Ziebarth, who combined for more than 1,300 rushing yards in 2024. Ziebarth recorded a 700-yard season with nine touchdowns, while Smith produced multiple 100-yard rushing performances and added receiving production out of the backfield.
Kirkwood previously worked at Western Illinois University during the 2022 season as the program’s player experience coordinator and assistant special teams coach. In that role, he organized community service efforts and led weekly academic and wellness meetings with the program’s freshmen. On special teams, he coordinated the scout units for a group that finished second nationally in NCAA FCS punt defense at -0.5 yards per return and first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in net kickoff average at 42.6 yards. He also coached running back Erin Collins, who became the first Leatherneck running back since 2016 to rush for more than 150 yards in a game.
Kirkwood began his collegiate coaching career at Northern State University in 2020 as the running backs coach. He also served as the program’s player experience and academic coordinator while coaching the kickoff and punt return units. During his tenure, return specialist Vance Barnes set the school’s single-season record with 848 kickoff return yards, averaged 24.2 yards per return, and ranked 19th nationally in all-purpose yards per game at 139.45. Barnes earned All NSIC North Division First Team honors as a returner.
Before entering the college ranks, Kirkwood coached running backs and coordinated special teams at Minneapolis Southwest High School from 2015-19. One of his players rushed for 1,622 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and finished as a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Football award. During that time, Kirkwood also worked as a special education teacher at River Bend Education Center in Minneapolis.
Kirkwood played running back at Minnesota from 2010-14. He rushed for 1,474 career yards on 390 carries and earned the team’s Offensive Back of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2013 after a 946-yard season. As a senior in 2014, he received the Paul Giel Award, presented to the program’s top offensive player. Kirkwood also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and graduated from Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in youth studies.
| The Donnell Kirkwood Jr. File | ||
| Name: | Donnell Kirkwood Jr. | |
| High School: | Atlantic H.S – Delray Beach, Fla. | |
| College: | University of Minnesota - Bachelor’s degree in youth studies – 2013 | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2026-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| Feb.-Mar. 2026 | Indiana State University | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| 2025-26 | Washington State University | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| Jan.-Mar 2025 | University of Wyoming | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| 2023-24 | University of North Dakota | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| 2022-23 | Western Illinois University | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| 2020-22 | Northern State University | Assistant Coach/Running Backs |
| 2015-20 | River Bend Education Center | Special Education Teacher |
| 2015-19 | Minneapolis Southwest H.S. | Assistant Coach/Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2010-14 | University of Minnesota | Four-year letterwinner |
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