Head coach Lance Leipold and the Kansas football program moved quickly to fill their offensive coordinator spot after Jeff Grimes’ reported departure for Wisconsin.
Leipold on Saturday announced that Jim Zebrowski, the Jayhawks’ co-offensive coordinator and longtime quarterbacks coach, has been promoted to offensive coordinator.
“Jim and I have worked together for more than 10 years and he has a great knowledge of the game and our offense,” Leipold said in a press release. “Jim has been instrumental in our success and will continue to push our program forward. He is a quality mentor to our student-athletes and takes pride in being a Jayhawk.”
Zebrowski previously served as the offensive coordinator at several Division III schools, including Millkin University from 2000 to 2002, under Leipold at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2007 to 2009 and at Hamline University in 2016. He has also worked for Leipold at Buffalo and KU — he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator following the 2023 season — along with stints at Northern Illinois, Minnesota and more. His highest title was head coach for four seasons at Lakeland College.
“I’m thankful to Coach Leipold and the University of Kansas for the opportunity to serve as offensive coordinator,” Zebrowski said in the release. “I’m so excited for this opportunity to continue to work with our staff in developing our student-athletes and moving the Kansas football program forward. Let’s go, Rock Chalk!”
After Andy Kotelnicki’s departure for Penn State in December 2023, Zebrowski called plays in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, which KU won 49-36 over UNLV while tallying 591 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jason Bean, whom Zebrowski tutored throughout the season with Jalon Daniels largely unavailable due to injury, threw for six touchdowns in that game.
Zebrowski, a longtime reassuring presence on the sideline for Daniels during his KU career, briefly coached from the box at the start of the 2024 season before switching places with Grimes four games in.
He will have the chance to coach Daniels for one final season in his expanded role, as the quarterback announced Friday night that he plans to use his sixth year of eligibility at KU. Zebrowski will also continue to oversee the development of the Jayhawks’ young prospects like Cole Ballard, Isaiah Marshall and incoming freshman David McComb.
Of note, Grimes coached the tight ends during his tenure, meaning KU will need to hire a new position coach. It would be the first tight ends coach of Leipold’s tenure, because Kotelnicki also oversaw that position group.
Nick Krug
