Kenny Guiton brings 'passion, excitement' as Wisconsin football quarterbacks coach

Wisconsin Badgers quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton couldn't be more excited to be back coaching the position he spent his entire career playing.

Photo courtesy of UW Athletics

Kenny Guiton’s journey to becoming the University of Wisconsin football team's quarterbacks coach has been years in the making.

After playing the position at Ohio State and cutting his teeth coaching wide receivers full-time since 2017, Guiton now finds himself in a role he’s long envisioned himself working in. And the early reviews from offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes suggest the Badgers made the right call.

“I’ve really been impressed with not only his knowledge of the game but his passion for it and his excitement about coaching the position,” Grimes said.

“We talked to a lot of people about that job, interviewed several in person, and talked to a lot of guys on the phone. At the end of all that, our offensive staff and coach Fickell felt he was the best guy for the job.”

Guiton’s experience as a player, combined with his coaching versatility, made him stand out during the interview process. While he’s spent much of his career coaching wide receivers, Guiton's knowledge and passion for teaching the quarterback position shined through.

“You hear him start talking about the quarterback position and immediately go, oh wow, this guy really knows," Grimes added. “It’s not just something he did a long time ago. You can tell he’s continued to pay attention and learn.

“On top of that, he’s got a real passion for coaching the position. Our quarterbacks are feeling that already, and I’m loving it, too.”

For Guiton, the move fulfills a long-term goal he set out to accomplish.

During the final two weeks of Wisconsin's regular season, Guiton got a little taste of what it could be like stepping into the quarterback coach role on an interim basis following Phil Longo’s dismissal, gaining valuable experience that helped prepare him for the full-time position.

“I grew up playing the position, played the position my entire life, and it’s obviously been a goal of mine since the beginning of coaching,” Guiton said. “I’ve always wanted to get in that room and be able to affect quarterbacks.”

This season, Guiton will focus on getting the most out of Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr., who threw for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions in 2024 on 6.9 yards per attempt. The Virginia native also ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Edwards brings mobility and a live arm to Wisconsin’s offense, and Guiton’s mentorship will be key to unlocking his full potential. The hope is that surrounding Edwards with a few dynamic pass-catching options like Vinny Anthony, Trech Kekahuna, Mark Hamper, and Tanner Koziol, along with an improved offensive line compared to his time at Maryland, will set him up for success in his final collegiate season.

Guiton will also be tasked with developing Danny O'Neil, a transfer from San Diego State with three years of eligibility remaining. After starting 11 games for the Aztecs last season, the staff views O'Neil as an experienced backup to Edwards and a potential long-term successor.

Behind O'Neil is true freshman Carter Smith, a four-star dual-threat quarterback from Florida and one of the highest-rated recruits at the position in program history. Luke Fickell and the coaching staff are optimistic about his upside and see parallels between Smith and former Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder, should he reach his ceiling.

"I do think these guys bring a certain level of athleticism to the quarterback room," said Guiton. "They all have a chance to do different things with their legs. They all have the athleticism to work a pocket and give our guys chances to create that second level of backyard ball.

"You have to have a guy back there that can be an eraser. And I do see that in all three. Right now, I see three guys who are eager. I think they're going to give much better leadership."

With the removal of NCAA staffing limits, Wisconsin football can now allocate full-time resources to the game’s most critical position, allowing the offensive coordinator to focus solely on broader responsibilities.

This approach aims to address the team’s apparent struggles in the passing game, as Wisconsin has finished 101st and 104th in EPA per dropback each of the past two seasons, respectively. While injuries have undoubtedly contributed to those shortcomings, even incremental improvement toward being solid would represent significant progress.

While Guiton has his work cut out for him, the Texas native has enjoyed the collaborative environment he’s experienced working alongside Grimes.

“Coach Grimes’ openness stands out,” Guiton shared. “No matter who you are, you have a voice.

“If you speak up, he's able to take into account what you're saying, whether we build on that or not. It's just awesome to be able to open yourself up because at least I'll be heard. He's awesome about that.”

As Guiton transitions into his new role at Wisconsin, the Badgers are betting that his combination of past experience, passion, and connection with players will help drive their offense forward in 2025.

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