Murray State University Athletics
Football Makes Two Additions to Coaching Staff
2/5/2024 3:51:00 PM | Football
Tyler Zielenske and Nick Williams have both been officially added to the Murray State football coaching staff
Tyler Zielenske- Special Teams Coordinator
Zielenske comes to MSU after serving previously as a special teams analyst in 2023 at South Carolina. During his time in Columbia, the Gamecocks special teams unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in several key metrics including fourth nationally in blocked punts (2), third nationally in blocked kicks (3), and 17th nationally in punt return defense, allowing just 3.73 return yards per punt.
"I'm excited to add Tyler to our coaching staff as he will play a pivotal role in the success of our special teams unit," Coach Jody Wright said. "He comes to Murray State with a wealth of knowledge gained from some of the nation's best and he is hungry for success in all areas. We're thrilled to welcome Tyler, his wife Katelyn, and their son Boe to the Racer family."
Prior to working on the South Carolina staff, Zielenske worked as the special teams coordinator at Texas State in 2022. While with the Bobcats, Zielenske led kicker, Seth Keller, to great success as Keller picked up a Burlsworth Trophy (most outstanding player who began his FBS career as a walk-on) nomination, while garnering all-conference honors from outlets such as PFF, Athlon Sports, and Phil Steele Magazine. The kicking unit at TSU ranked 20th nationally in field goal percentage.Â
Before his time at Texas State, Zielenske spent time as a special teams and running backs graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2021 during the Panthers 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship run.Â
The Atlanta, Georgia native also made previous stops as a special teams quality control coach at Memphis where they ranked amongst the nations best in blocked kicks and kickoff return defense, and as a graduate assistant at South Alabama from 2017-19.
Nick Williams- Wide Receivers/Pass Game Coordinator
Williams comes to Murray State after serving as an assistant coach in the NFL for both the Arizona Cardinals for a season and the New York Giants for three seasons. In 2023, Williams worked with the Cardinals as an offensive assistant as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Internship program. From 2020-22 Williams worked with the Giants as both an offensive assistant and a special teams quality control coach.Â
"Adding Nick to the coaching staff was a no-brainer," said Head Coach Jody Wright. "I have known Nick for a long time and his resume speaks for itself, coaching and playing at the highest levels of football. He comes from a coaching family and we cannot wait for Nick and his wife Taylor to join us here at Murray State."
Prior to his time in the NFL, Williams most recently worked in the college football ranks as the wide receivers coach for Southern Illinois from 2017-19. While at SIU, Williams helped develop multiple All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selections including Aavante Cox, Landon Lenoir, and Raphael Leonard.
Before working with the Salukis, Williams worked on Co-Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Ogle's offensive staff at Jacksonville State. With the Gamecocks, he served as the wide receivers coach for one of the most prolific offenses in the nation from 2014-16. Throughout the three year span, Williams, Ogle, and JSU won 33 games while averaging over 2,600 receiving yards per season.Â
Williams played a key role in the development of All-OVC First Team honoree, Josh Barge, who hauled in a JSU record 247 career receptions and a school-record 3611 career receiving yards.
 Williams coached for one season at Valdosta State in 2013 as an offensive graduate assistant. In Spring of 2013, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida native worked as an offensive analyst under coaching icon Nick Saban after playing for the Crimson Tide from 2009-12.
As a player, Williams was a wide out and won three BCS National titles in 2009, 2011, and 2012 to go with two Southeastern Conference titles in 2009 and 2012.Â
From a lineage of coaching, his father, Bobby Williams, served as the head coach at Michigan State from 2000-02 and also coached in different capacities in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins and for nationally renowned programs at LSU, Alabama, and Oregon.Â
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