By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. Kelly Bills has been hired by Willamette University as the offensive coordinator for the Bearcat football team, Head Coach Glen Fowles announced today. In addition to coordinating the teams overall offensive efforts, Bills will be Willamettes quarterbacks coach.

Bills spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at Brigham Young University under Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall. His experience has primarily included working with quarterbacks and running backs. He also worked with the offensive line for two seasons.

Prior to coaching, Bills was a running back for two seasons at BYU (2006-07). During his seven years as a player and a coach with the Cougars, the team achieved seven winning seasons, seven bowl game appearances and two Mountain West Conference championships.

In high school, Bills was a four-year starter at quarterback for Arapahoe High School in Littleton, Colo. Bills began his college career as a quarterback at Southern Utah University (2003-04), where he played for current University of Wisconsin Head Coach Gary Anderson.

I come from a university that has a long tradition of explosive and innovative offenses. This has also been the case here at Willamette, and I am excited to build off the offensive success already established by coaches Hawkins, Speckman and Fowles, Bills said.

This past season, Willamette averaged 498.1 yards per game, including 355.0 passing yards per contest. The Bearcats averaged 39.6 points per game, while scoring 55 touchdowns, including 37 touchdown passes.

We are fortunate to have Kelly Bills join our football staff. He is an outstanding coach, a fantastic person, and really understands the big picture of coaching, Willamette Head Coach Glen Fowles said.

While interviewing on the Willamette campus, Bills made a positive impression on the Bearcat coaching staff as well as the players.

Throughout the interview process, Kelly developed a very strong connection with our players and our staff, Fowles commented. I was impressed with his football knowledge and his conviction to how influential coaches can be on and off the field. Kelly is a great fit with our coaches and our players. He will be a welcome addition to the Willamette community.

Bills also felt positive about his interaction with the Bearcats during his visit to the Willamette campus.

I was impressed by the quality of young men that I was able to interact with, Bills said. They understand the importance of balance in all aspects of life and are fully capable of doing great things on and off the football field. The coaches are also quality men who are not only great football coaches, but great educators as well.

David Rigsby, Willamettes director of athletics, agreed with Fowles that Bills is a tremendous addition for the Bearcats.

I am excited to welcome Kelly and his wife to the Willamette family, Rigsby said. He is a man of great character who values his role as an educator, mentor and coach. I look forward to his work with our student-athletes.

Kelly and is wife, Emily, will arrive in Salem later this month.