UCLA Football Names Andy Kwon Offensive Line Coach

LOS ANGELES – Andy Kwon has been named offensive line coach for the UCLA football team, head coach DeShaun Foster announced Thursday.

"Coach Kwon is an up-and-coming young coach who has already shown an ability to effectively teach while relating to his players," said Foster. "As a former center, he knows the ins and outs of the line and I know he can't wait to put in work with our guys."

Kwon arrives at UCLA after leading the offensive line unit for three seasons at Arkansas State, where he guided a pair of Red Wolves to All-Sun Belt Conference honors in each of his past two years with the program. Center Jacob Bayer was named to the first team in 2023 and the second team, in 2024 in addition to being graded as a top-10 center in FBS both seasons according to rankings by Pro Football Focus. Linemen Mekhi Butler and Makilan Thomas each earned second-team acclaim in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Jalen Cunningham (2024) and Jordan Rhodes (2023) were signed by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints, respectively, as undrafted free agents.

The Red Wolves have averaged more than 150 rushing yards per game across each of the past two seasons with Kwon on staff. In Kwon's second year working with the offensive line in 2023, Arkansas State's rushing attack more than doubled its output from the previous season, jumping from 88.2 yards per game to 162.1. After finding the end zone just four times via the ground game in 2021, the Red Wolves have scored 16, 19 and 16 rushing touchdowns in each of the past three seasons since Kwon took over responsibilities.

Kwon's first year in Jonesboro, Ark. in 2021 was spent working with the tight ends group. He helped guide Manny Stevenson Jr. to All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention acclaim, ending his true-freshman season with 22 receptions for 193 yards and a pair of scores. Four tight ends contributed in the passing game for Arkansas State that season by recording a combined 37 receptions for 325 yards and three scores.

Prior to Arkansas State, Kwon spent three seasons as an offensive line graduate assistant at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide post an 11-0 record and No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings in 2020. His first two seasons with the program in 2018 and 2019 saw Alabama compile a combined 25-3 record. The 2018 team played in the CFP national championship game, while the 2019 squad capped off the year with a 35-16 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl to finish ranked No. 8 in the final AP Top 25 poll.

Kwon earned his first coaching experience as an offensive graduate assistant at Akron in 2017. That year, the program soared to first place in the MAC East with huge victories over Ohio and Kent State to claim the division title and a spot in the MAC Championship game for the second time in program history and first time since 2005. Akron also advanced to an FBS bowl for the second time in three years, another program first.

A two-year team captain and two-time All-Sun Belt selection as an offensive lineman at Georgia Southern, Kwon participated in an undrafted free agent tryout for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals following his collegiate playing career. He was also a member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List during his time with Georgia Southern.

Kwon earned his bachelor's degree in sports management in 2017 from Georgia Southern before going on to receive his master's of science in human environmental sciences from Alabama in 2020.

Kwon and his wife, Tessa, were married in December 2022. They have one son, Sonnie.

KWON'S COACHING EXPERIENCE

2017 – Graduate Assistant (Offense), Akron

2018-20 – Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line), Alabama

2021 – Tight Ends Coach, Arkansas State

2022-24 – Offensive Line Coach, Arkansas State