Darrell Kitchen enters his fourth season at Grambling State University and his second as tight ends coach.
Kitchen nurtured a small group of tight ends in 2017, but Jordan Jones and Marquise Kaigler had a solid season. Jones hauled in 17 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns, earning 2nd team All-SWAC honors. Kaigler only caught four passes for 56 yards, three of those four going for touchdowns.
Coach Kitchen has also been instrumental as a recruiter, being responsible for landing FBS transfers quarterback Aldon Clark and tight end Kalief Jackson.
As a graduate assistant with the defense, Kitchen played a huge role in the implementation of defensive game plans to stop opposing offenses. In 2016, the Tiger defense led the nation in the FCS in four defensive categories (sacks, tackles for loss, red-zone defense, and fumble recoveries) while finishing in the top five nationally in nine total categories.
Grambling’s defense led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 12 of 15 defensive statistical categories while finishing second in the remaining three. The 2015 defense shared the lead in the SWAC in yards per carry allowed at 3.8 yards. The Tigers led the SWAC and the FCS nationally in turnovers gained with 32. Grambling led the SWAC and finishing third nationally in tackles for a loss with 114.
Kitchen played under current Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs when Fobbs was an assistant coach at Northwestern State in the early 2000s. As a defensive back for the Demons, Kitchen was a part of the 2004 Southland Conference Championship team that made an appearance in the FCS Playoffs.
After attending Galveston-Ball High School in Galveston, Texas, Kitchen earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State and a master’s degree from Grambling State.
Kitchen has one son, Chase.
