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The Boca Raton Bowl has always been a stage for unforgettable moments, and Zach Kittley knows that better than most. In December 2021, then–Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Kittley helped quarterback Bailey Zappe etch his name into the record books right here in Boca Raton, breaking Joe Burrow’s single-season NCAA passing records under the lights of our game.

“That day will forever be special,” Kittley recalled on the Inside the Boca Raton Bowl podcast. “When Bailey broke the record, I just remember screaming, ‘Get the ball! Get the ball!’ so he’d have it forever. It was one of those moments you’ll never forget.”

Now, a few years later, Kittley has returned to Boca… not as a visitor, but as the Hagerty Family Head Football Coach of Florida Atlantic University. At just 34, he’s the youngest head coach in FBS football, bringing record-breaking offensive firepower and a family-first philosophy to the hometown team.

Kittley’s coaching résumé is already packed with star power. At Texas Tech, he coached Patrick Mahomes, now a two-time Super Bowl MVP and one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks.

“Pat was the greatest leader I’ve ever been around. Even at 18 years old, he had that aura. You just believed you could win any game with him behind you,” Kittley said.

At Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky, he developed Bailey Zappe into college football’s most prolific passer… a historic journey punctuated here at the Boca Raton Bowl.

Now, that journey has come full circle. “To be able to lead young men and impact so many lives—that’s the calling for me in coaching. To do it in a community like Boca Raton makes it even more special,” Kittley said.

Known for his fast-paced, aggressive offense, Kittley believes in tempo and boldness but also in adapting to his players’ strengths. “The sign of a great coach is finding what your players are good at and doing that,” he explained.

But more than play-calling, Kittley stresses culture. His program is built on four pillars: Be a family. Have fun. Work hard. Be tough.

“I truly love each and every one of my players. If you love the guy to your right and your left, you’ll play harder for him when the game’s on the line. That family atmosphere is what we bring every day,” he said.

That commitment extends to his own family as well. Kittley, his wife Emily, and their three young boys are embracing their new home in Boca. “We weren’t just gonna jump at whatever opportunity,” he shared. “FAU was always one of those jobs we knew would be a good one if it ever arose. When this one came open, it was a no-brainer.”

As the college football landscape shifts with NIL, the transfer portal, and new rules, Kittley’s mindset is simple: adapt and embrace. “Whatever the rule is, let’s roll. You’ve got to run with it or you’ll get left behind,” he said.

But right now, his focus is on building bonds, shaping his team, and delivering winning football in Boca Raton.

“I tell my guys all the time, you get to play college football… have fun with it,” Kittley said with a smile. “We’re gonna work hard, love each other, and be tough. That’s how we’ll build something special here.”