East Texas Baptist University Athletics

POSITION: Offensive Line

Donald Kinchen is in his first season at ETBU as the offensive line coach for head coach Calvin Ruzicka. The former offensive lineman has coached at Nelson University (formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God) and St. Andrews University. 

"We are fortunate to add Donald to our staff. He played in this system under our offensive coordinator, Ryan Smith, when he was at Nelson University, and that experience will help develop our offensive line. Even though he is young, he has a proven track record in developing the offensive line and getting the most out of his players. He takes great pride in growing his players in mind, body, and soul, and I can't wait to see him build those relationships with our players and their progress," says Ruzicka.
 
Coaching the offensive line for the past three years in the NAIA, Kinchen makes his way back to Texas after two years at St. Andrews University in North Carolina. He started his coaching career at Nelson University as a graduate assistant.
 
He recruited Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama at St. Andrews and developed the offensive linemen. He was also in charge of the weight room programming. While a graduate assistant at Nelson, he helped with game planning for the run game and pass game protections.
 
Pearl River Community College is where his collegiate playing career started for two years (2017-18). Mississippi College was the next stop on the offensive line in 2019 and 2020. He helped the Choctaws to a 5-5 record at NCAA Division II as the offense averaged 27 points and almost 300 yards of offense per game. His 2020 season was cut short due to the pandemic as he finished his career at Nelson in 2021. Nelson went 9-3 that year, breaking 17 team offensive records, winning the NCCAA Victory Bowl, 31-14, over Sterling College.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Stuides from Nelson University in 2021.