KU WRs coach Eric Kiesau promoted to co-offensive coordinator

Kansas wide receiver coach Eric Kiesau participates in drills during a KU football practice Saturday, April 5, 2014, at Memorial Stadium.

? Wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau has been promoted to co-offensive coordinator for the Kansas University football team, KU officials announced shortly before today’s 3 p.m. kickoff between Kansas and Baylor.

John Reagan, who was brought in by former KU coach Charlie Weis during the offseason, also will serve as the Jayhawks’ co-offensive coordinator and be allowed to focus more of his attention on coaching the Jayhawks’ offensive line.

Reagan will remain in the booth for today’s game and Kiesau will call offensive plays from the field.

Prior to joining the KU staff last spring, Kiesau served as the offensive coordinator at both Colorado and Washington. He was an integral part of Washington’s success in 2012 and 2013 as the Huskies went 9-4 in 2013, marking their highest win total since they went 11-1 in 2000. During the 2013 season, his first as the UW receivers coach, Kiesau developed a pair of true freshmen who ended up as key players in Demore’ea Stringfellow and John Ross. Ross was named the Huskies’ Freshman of the Year, while Stringfellow started the final three games of the season.

Prior to his time at UW, Kiesau served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at California for the 2011 campaign. He’d returned to Cal, where he’d previously worked from 2002-05, after having spent the 2006-10 seasons at Colorado.

During the 2011 season at Cal, Kiesau coached Bears wideout Keenan Allen, the No. 2 receiver in the Pac-12 in terms of receptions per game. Additionally, both Allen and teammate Marvin Jones finished in the top 10 in the conference in receiving yards.

Under Kiesau so far this season, KU’s wide receivers have turned in their best performances in a few years.