HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i head football coach Todd Graham announced the hiring of former NFL quarterback and Philadelphia Eagles staff member G.J. Kinne as offensive coordinator. Kinne was a standout quarterback for Graham at the University of Tulsa.
 
Kinne (pronounced kinny) spent last season on Doug Pederson's staff with the Eagles, where he held the title of offensive special projects, assisting the offensive staff with game planning.
 
"GJ Kinne was a bowl championship collegiate quarterback and one of the best I've ever coached," Graham said. "He also has experience playing and coaching at the highest level in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. We are elated to have him lead our offense."
 
Over his playing and coaching career, Kinne has worked and played for top offensive play callers including Pederson, Mike Norvell, Chad Morris, Chip Kelly, Ryan Day, and Press Taylor.
 
Prior to his time with the Eagles, Kinne was a graduate assistant at SMU in 2017 under Morris. After Morris left for the University of Arkansas at the conclusion of the regular season, Kinne served as the Mustangs' play caller for the team's match-up with Louisiana Tech in the Frisco Bowl. He eventually followed Morris and assumed the role of offensive analyst during the 2018 season.
 
Kinne threw for 9,472 yards and 81 touchdowns during his career at Tulsa. He led the Golden Hurricane to a victory over Hawai'i in the 2010 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl and a No. 24 national ranking. That season he was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. He capped his collegiate career by being named Most Valuable Player of the inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
 
Following his collegiate career, Kinne spent several seasons in professional football. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012 out of Tulsa and spent training camp with the Eagles in 2013 and 2014. He was also on the practice squad of the New York Giants in 2015 and played one Canadian Football League season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2016 before beginning his coaching career.
 
A native of Mesquite, Texas, Kinne was a standout quarterback at Canton High School and Gilmer High School. He threw for 11,695 yards and 130 touchdowns during his prep career and rushed for 3,327 yards and 48 touchdowns before signing with the University of Texas. Kinne transferred to Tulsa in 2008.
 
Kinne's father was a longtime high school football coach in Texas, who also spent time on the staff at his alma mater, Baylor University.
 
The Kinne File
Hometown: Mesquite, Texas
Alma Mater: Tulsa (2011)
Family: Wife Summer; Son Lincoln
 
Coaching Experience
2017: SMU, Graduate Assistant
2018: Arkansas, Offensive Analyst
2019: Philadelphia Eagles, Offensive Special Projects