Ben Arbuckle Explained

Ben Arbuckle
Current Title:Offensive coordinator
Current Team:Washington State
Current Conference:Pac-12
Birth Date:15 September 1995
Birth Place:Wichita Falls, Texas
Player Years1:2016–2017
Player Team1:West Texas A&M
Player Positions:Quarterback
Coach Years1:2018–2019
Coach Team1:Houston Baptist (QC)
Coach Years2:2020
Coach Team2:Seminole HS (TX) (OC/QB)
Coach Years3:2021
Coach Team3:Western Kentucky (OQC)
Coach Years4:2022
Coach Team4:Western Kentucky (co-OC/QB)
Coach Years5:2023–present
Coach Team5:Washington State (OC/QB)

Ben Arbuckle (born September 15, 1995) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the offensive coordinator for Washington State University, a position he has held since 2023.

Playing career

Arbuckle grew up in Canadian, Texas and attended Canadian High School.[1] He became Canadian's starting quarterback going into his junior season.[2] Arbuckle passed for over 7,500 yards and with 95 touchdown passes during his high school career.

Arbuckle originally intended to play college football at UTSA, but decided to step away from the game.[3] He later enrolled at West Texas A&M University and joined the West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team after a two year hiatus from the sport.[4] Arbuckle started seven games as a junior and passed for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns.[5] He competed for the Buffaloes' starting quarterback job going into his senior season, but was not named the starter.[6]

Coaching career

Arbuckle began his coaching career as an offensive quality control assistant at Houston Baptist University. He spent two years at that position. Arbuckle worked with Zach Kittley to coach Bailey Zappe and the rest of the Houston Baptist offense. Arbuckle was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Seminole High School in Seminole, Texas, in the summer of 2020.[7]

Western Kentucky

In 2021, Arbuckle was hired as a quality control coach at Western Kentucky University (WKU) by former Houston Baptist offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Arbuckle was promoted to quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator after Kittley left at the end of the 2021 to become the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech.[8] Arbuckle was promoted to quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator after Kittley left at the end of the 2021 to become the offensive coordinator at Texas Tech.[8] Western Kentucky's offense finished sixth nationally in yards per game, first in total passing yards, and 15th in points per game with Arbuckle as the primary play caller in 2022.[9]

Washington State

Arbuckle was hired as the offensive coordinator at Washington State in January 2023.[10] At 27, he was the youngest Power 5 primary coordinator in the country at the time of the hire.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The kid can coach. The Canadian Record. January 6, 2022. November 28, 2022.
  2. Web site: Canadian QB shines in spotlight. Amarillo Globe-News. December 5, 2013. November 28, 2022.
  3. Web site: Area stars get chance to display talents. Amarillo Globe-News. July 22, 2014. November 28, 2022.
  4. Web site: Russell: Will brotherly love take a backseat in rivalry?. Times Record News. October 18, 2016. November 28, 2022.
  5. Web site: Buffs open spring football under first-year coach Hunter Hughes. Amarillo Globe-News. March 25, 2017. November 28, 2022.
  6. Web site: WTAMU names starting quarterback prior to final scrimmage. Amanda. Atwell. ABC7Amarillo.com. August 25, 2017. November 29, 2022.
  7. Web site: Arbuckle 'looking forward to giving Tops' fans a lot of what they saw this year'. Bowling Green Daily News. December 20, 2021. November 28, 2022.
  8. Web site: Helton announces staff changes for 2022 season. Bowling Green Daily News. December 9, 2021. November 28, 2022.
  9. Web site: 2022 College Football Team Total Offense Stats. ESPN.
  10. Web site: WSU Cougars announce hiring of offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. The Seattle Times. January 6, 2023. January 10, 2023.
  11. News: Adam . Rittenberg . Washington State set to hire Ben Arbuckle as OC, source says . December 27, 2022 . January 5, 2023.