Football Southern Conference

Desmond Kitchings Returns to Furman Football Program

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman head football coach Bobby Lamb announced today the hiring of Desmond Kitchings as an assistant coach.

Kitchings, a four-year lettermen, All-Southern Conference wide receiver, and All-America return specialist for the Paladins from 1996-99, will coach the squad's tight ends. A 2000 Furman graduate, he replaces Ben Hall, who is leaving coaching to pursue an opportunity in private business.

"We are thrilled Des is beginning his coaching career at his alma mater and believe he is a great addition to our staff," said Lamb on Thursday. "As a player, he was highly respected for his talent and work ethic. That, along with his professional playing experience, should prove to be big assets to our program."

A native of Wagener, S.C., Kitchings came to Furman in 1996 and in four seasons posted some of the top receiving and return totals in school history. His 112 receptions rank third all-time, and 1,808 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches stand fourth on Furman's career ledger. As a specialist he averaged a conference record 29.3 yards on 33 kickoff returns, four of which went for touchdowns - also a school record. His outstanding speed also netted him seven rushing touchdowns in his career, two of which came in a 52-6 rout of William & Mary in 1999 when rushed five times for 117 yards to become the first wide receiver in program history to rush for 100 yards in a game.

A consensus all-conference selection as both a receiver and return specialist on Furman's 1999 conference championship team, he was honored as an All-America return specialist that season after leading NCAA I-AA with a 36.8 yards per return average. In all he tallied 12 touchdowns as a senior, including five as a receiver, four via the rush, and three on kickoff returns. One of his top receiving performances came in the Paladins' 28-3 win over North Carolina in 1999 when he caught seven passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2000 he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Near the end of the 2000 campaign he was signed off the Chiefs' practice roster by the New York Jets and later spent time with both the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams.