Akron football promotes Brett Ekkens to offensive line coach
Akron offensive graduate assistant Brett Ekkens has been promoted to offensive line coach by Zips coach Terry Bowden, according to a source.
Ekkens had been a graduate assistant at Akron the past two seasons. He replaces former Zips offensive line coach and run game coordinator Darrell Funk, who left early last month to become Purdue’s offensive line coach.
Prior to joining Akron, the 26-year-old Ekkens was an assistant in 2013 at his alma mater, Mount Union. He was also a student assistant for the NCAA Division III powerhouse in 2012 when the program won the national championship.
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An East Kenwood, Mich. product, Ekkens was an offensive lineman for Mount Union from 2008–11, winning an NCAA Division III national championship his first season. As a senior, he was an All-American, Academic All-American and named the NCAA Division III Rimington Award winner, which is given to the most outstanding center.
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Akron had an amazing 8–5 record this past season under Bowden that was capped by a 23–21 victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The campaign marked the Zips’ highest win total since joining the FBS in 1987 and their first bowl win in school history.
