The addition of Nick Whitworth to the Portland State coaching staff paid big dividends in 2015.
Whitworth took former wide receiver David Jones and turned him into a 1,000-yard rusher as a running back. The Viking running game was as good as ever with over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Meanwhile on special teams, kicker Jonathan Gonzales turned in another All-Conference season, new punter Marcus Kinsella proved to be one of the most reliable players on the team, kick returner Kahlil Dawson averaged over 25 yards per return, and long snapper Kameron Canaday earned 3rd team All-American honors.
In 2016, Whitworth’s backfield, led by Nate Tago and Paris Penn, again had a big season with 243 yards per game and 35 total touchdowns. Those two earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference honors after combining for over 1,400 yards and 20 TDs.
Meanwhile, Gonzales (3rd team All-Big Sky) and Kinsella (HM All-Big Sky) also had fine seasons. Mitchell Thompson earned second team All-Big Sky as a special teams player. And Whitworth’s new long snapper, true freshman Riley Shackelford, had a flawless season.
Whitworth has continued to develop valuable players on special teams, including long snapper Riley Shackelford, who will begin his fourth season in that role in 2019, and kicker Cody Williams, who earned third team All-Big Sky Conference as a true freshman in 2018.
BACKGROUND
Upon his hire at Portland State, Whitworth had coached for more than a decade specializing in both special teams and running backs.
The previous four seasons Whitworth held a similar role at Central Washington. In 2013, his Wildcat special teams ranked fifth nationally in punt return defense, 11th in kick return average and 13th in kick coverage. The 2014 team led the nation in kick return average (25.7) and 18th in punt return average (14.4).
Before joining the Wildcats’ staff, he was offensive coordinator at the University of Montana Western in 2010.
From 2003-2010, he was the Idaho State special teams, recruiting and summer camp coordinator. Whitworth’s 2010 special teams unit was No. 1 in the Big Sky overall, coming in tops in net punting, kick return defense, punt returns and second in kick returns. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Bengals, working with the running backs and special teams, from 2001-2002.
Whitworth was the first recruit ever signed by Bruce Barnum at Idaho State in 1998 after joining the staff as an offensive line coach. He went on to earn honorable mention all conference at both the running back and kick returner positions. Whitworth earned bachelor’s degree in business administration and business finance there in 2001.
A native of Mackey, ID, Whitworth was named all-conference, all-area and all-state at running back and linebacker at Mackay High School, where he graduated in 1997.
THE NICK WHITWORTH FILE
5th year at Portland State
Hometown: Mackay, ID
Alma Mater: Idaho State, 2001, Business Administration
Playing Career: Idaho State, 1997-2000, running back
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2015-19 Portland State, Special Teams Coordinator
2011-14 Central Washington, Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
2010 Montana Western, Offensive Coordinator
2003-09 Idaho State, Special Teams Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
2001-02 Idaho State, Running Backs/Special Teams
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE VIKINGS UNDER NICK WHITWORTH
2015 - SPECIAL TEAMS/RUNNING BACKS
2nd team: David Jones, RB
3rd team: Jonathan Gonzales, K
HM: Kahlil Dawson, RS
2016 - SPECIAL TEAMS/RUNNING BACKS
2nd team: Mitchell Thompson, ST
3rd team: Jonathan Gonzales, K
HM: Nate Tago, RB; Paris Penn, RB; Marcus Kinsella, P
2017 - SPECIAL TEAMS/RUNNING BACKS
HM: Mitchell Thompson, ST
2019 - SPECIAL TEAMS/RUNNING BACKS
3rd team: Cody Williams, K
