TCU’s Mitch Kirsch Gets His Shot to Call Plays in the Alamo Bowl - and He’s Ready
Sometimes the road to the big stage isn’t a straight line - it’s a winding backroad filled with detours, fishing rods, and a whole lot of faith. That’s the story of Mitch Kirsch, TCU’s tight ends coach, who will call plays for the Horned Frogs in the Valero Alamo Bowl against USC on Dec. 30.
It’s a full-circle moment for a former FCS All-American from James Madison who once thought his football journey might be over after a short stint with the Chicago Bears in 2017. But eight years later, Kirsch isn’t just on a college sideline - he’s running the offense for a Power Five program in a nationally televised bowl game.
From NFL Cut to College Climb
“I got cut from the Bears, was coaching at my high school, and trying to get back into the NFL,” Kirsch recalled. That’s when his former offensive line coach landed a job at SMU and gave him a call that would change everything.
“He asked if I’d thought about coaching. I said, ‘No, not really.’
But after a few days, I called him back and said, ‘I’m in.’”
Kirsch packed two duffle bags - mostly filled with fishing rods - and drove to Dallas. He walked into then-SMU head coach Sonny Dykes’ office and said, “Hey, I’m ready to work.”
That was the first time Kirsch met Dykes. It turned out to be the beginning of a coaching relationship that’s still going strong eight years later.
Learning from the Best, Building His Own Playbook
Kirsch started as a graduate assistant at SMU before following Dykes to TCU, where he took on a senior analyst role. When Doug Meacham left for Oklahoma State last December, Kirsch was promoted to tight ends coach. Now, with former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles moving on to South Carolina, Kirsch is stepping into the spotlight.
“It’s been really cool,” Kirsch said. “Coach Dykes gave me this opportunity, and I’ve been with him for eight years.
Most importantly, we’ve got a great staff that’s put together a really good game plan. We want to execute at a high level - play fast, play efficiently, and let our guys go.”
While Briles’ departure created the opening, Kirsch has been quietly preparing for this moment for years. He’s absorbed lessons from a strong lineage of offensive minds - Rhett Lashlee, Garrett Riley, and Briles - all while developing his own vision.
“People think you have to bounce around to learn new stuff,” Kirsch said. “But I’ve been lucky to be around Sonny and learn from four really good coordinators.
Rhett was a power-run guy at first, then we shifted to more vertical passing concepts. Garrett Riley brought in true Air Raid, and Kendal had his own flavor.
I’ve been able to pick and pluck from each of them.”
And yes, Kirsch has had his own playbook off to the side - quietly refining it, waiting for his shot.
“There are concepts in there from five years ago and some from five games ago,” he said. “It’s a blend.”
Building Around Ken Seals
One of Kirsch’s first major tasks as interim playcaller was tailoring the offense to quarterback Ken Seals, who will start in place of Josh Hoover. Hoover entered the transfer portal on Dec. 18, but the staff has long believed in Seals, a Weatherford High School product who started over 20 games in the SEC at Vanderbilt.
“Ken and Josh have a lot of similarities in arm talent,” Kirsch said. “Ken’s a little more of a runner at times, but everything Josh could do, Ken can do.
We’ve felt for a while that we had the best backup quarterback in the country. Now Ken gets a chance to ride off into the sunset for TCU - a team he grew up watching.”
Players Rallying Behind Kirsch
Kirsch’s rise hasn’t gone unnoticed in the locker room. Tight end Chase Curtis, who’s worked closely with Kirsch, sees more than just a coach on the sideline - he sees a mentor and a motivator.
“Man, Mitch has been a great role model to me,” Curtis said. “He’s like an older brother - I’m closer to him in age than most of the other tight ends.
He’s made football fun again. I’ve grown so much with him, and it means the world to see him get this opportunity.
I know he’s going to do a great job.”
All-American wide receiver Eric McAlister echoed the sentiment, adding a dose of locker room respect for the new playcaller.
“Mitch is a cool guy, always fun to be around,” McAlister said. “He’s one of those guys you want to go into a fire with - whether it’s a smart or dumb decision. If Mitch says ‘Let’s go,’ we’re following him.”
The Moment Arrives
For Kirsch, the Alamo Bowl isn’t just a game - it’s a culmination of years of quiet preparation, loyalty, and belief. He’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. He’s trying to get his guys to play fast, play smart, and play together.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN. And when the Horned Frogs offense takes the field, it’ll be Mitch Kirsch calling the shots - a coach who took the long road, packed with grit, growth, and just maybe a few fishing rods still in the trunk.