Jim Kiernan
-
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator
-
- Phone:
- 847-735-5287
-
- Email:
- jkiernan@lakeforest.edu
The 2020-21 season with be Jim Kiernan's second on the Forester coaching staff and 30th on a college sideline, including 26 as a team's offensive coordinator.
The 2019 Foresters scored 297 points, the fourth-highest single-season total in team history. Bill Degnan set program records for quarterback efficiency rating in a game, season, and career and was joined as a First Team All-MWC North selection by wide receiver and MWC North Newcomer of the Year A.J. Jackson, as well as offensive lineman John Colasacco. Lake Forest was successful on the ground as well with two more offensive linemen and a running back earned Second Team All-MWC North honors.
Kiernan came to Lake Forest after six seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois. Under his direction, the 2018 Cougars averaged 32 points per game and had the national leader in rushing yards per contest. Two years earlier the team's quarterback posted the highest pass efficiency rating in program history and a wide receiver set school records for receptions and touchdown catches.
In addition to his time at Concordia Chicago, Kiernan has also served as an assistant at Kentucky Wesleyan College for four years, Alabama A&M University for one, Mercyhurst University for three, Lakeland College for one, and Saginaw Valley State University for eight. During his time at Saginaw Valley he coached and worked with current Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur. They were both on staff in 2003 when the Cardinals finished the regular season 10-0 and atop the NCAA Division II rankings.
In addition to 23 years as a college assistant, Kiernan was also the head coach at NCAA Division II Gannon University from 2007-11. He helped lead the Golden Knights to their first back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 15 years and to the program's first wins over top-20 ranked opponents. Players earned 25 all-conference, 10 all-region, and six All-American honors under his direction and were named all-academic in their conference 72 times.
Kiernan has helped two different programs set team records for victories in a season, coached three All-Americans and four conference players of the year, and mentored 10 offensive players who went on to play in the NFL, CFL, or AFL.
He and his wife Colleen reside in Chicago.
