Gill Adds Vantz Singletary to Jayhawk Coaching Staff

June 3, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas head football coach Turner Gill announced the hiring of Vantz Singletary as linebackers coach here Friday afternoon. Singletary completes the KU staff following the recent retirement of defensive coordinator Carl Torbush.

“I am thrilled to announce the hiring of Vantz Singletary as the linebackers coach for KU,” said Gill, who is preparing for his second season at the helm of the Kansas program. “Vantz is a not only a great teacher and recruiter, but also a tremendous person.”

Singletary arrives in Lawrence after spending the past two seasons as the inside linebackers coach for the NFL’s San Francisco 49’ers, where he worked with two Pro Bowlers in Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes. Singletary, who is the nephew of former NFL legend and 49’ers head coach Mike Singletary, has also worked under current NFL head coach Leslie Frazer of the Minnesota Vikings. The duo worked together while both were at Trinity College.

Singletary, who owns nearly 20 years in the coaching profession, worked on Gill’s Buffalo staff during the 2008 season, where the duo helped lead the school to its first ever bowl appearance and the 2008 Mid-American Conference title.

“Vantz will bring great ideas on pass rushing skills to our linebackers,” said Gill. “He is very detailed in his instruction to the student-athletes and will provide phenomenal chemistry to our entire program.”

Prior to joining Gill’s staff at Buffalo, Singletary made coaching stops at Tennessee-Chattanooga (2006-07), Hawaii (1999-2005), Southern (1997-98) and Trinity College (1992-96). He has coached more than a half dozen college players who have gone on to have careers in the NFL.

Singletary earned his degree from Kansas State where he played linebacker and defensive tackle during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. He arrived in Manhattan after spending two seasons as an All-American at Blinn College.