OL Coach Kurt Anderson Impressed With O-Line Progress
While there will always be room for improvement, UMass' offensive line has looked strong so far, according to its leader.
AMHERST, Mass. - Offensive line coach Kurt Anderson is pleased with the offensive line's progress throughout the spring. Rather than just mastering the X’s and O’s, Anderson emphasized establishing an attitude and culture his players can buy into.
“We are light years ahead,” said Anderson. “I would say that in the last four practices, we have gotten better every day. You either get better, or you get worse. There's no staying the same. They have gotten better.”
Before UMass, Anderson most recently served as the offensive line coach at Northwestern from 2018 to 2024, where he coached two NFL first-round picks in Los Angeles Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater and Tennessee Titans guard Peter Skoronski.
At Arkansas, he also coached Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow, who was a first-round pick in the 2018 draft.
Anderson had other coaching stints at Indiana State (OT/TE), Eastern Michigan (OL/TE) and the Buffalo Bills (OL/asst. OL). With 20 years under his belt at the collegiate and professional level, he brings a wealth of experience to the Minutemen.
Anderson also played center, both at the collegiate and professional levels. He played at Michigan from 1997 to 2001, where he won a national championship his freshman year. Afterward, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2002.
Having coaching and playing experience makes it easier to relate to the players.
Throughout the spring, Anderson has been pleased with the dedication and commitment from his skill group while acknowledging there is always room for improvement.
“I'm happy with where we're at, not where we want to be, but I'm happy with where we're at right now,” said Anderson.
The Minutemen had their first padded practice on Saturday, April 29. Anderson was glad to get back to what he calls “real” football.
“As a line coach, when we go out there in jerseys and shorts, it feels like a glorified 7-on-7, and we're just kind of there and in the way,” said Anderson. “It doesn't become real football until you put the pads on and you start banging.”
Anderson emphasized the importance of having an identity as an offensive line.
“Who you are off the field is who you're going to be on the field,” said Anderson. “The way that we attack every day, we got to be ready, we got to be prepared. It's an accountability thing, and we're holding each other to a certain standard so guys are able to call each other out.”
When it comes to leadership, Anderson expects his players to be vocal and communicate with each other while holding each other accountable. He expects mistakes as they allow players to grow.
“I don't believe there's such a thing as a ‘lead by example’ guy, ” said Anderson. “If you think about what lead by example means, it's being there on time and doing what you're supposed to do. Well, that's called the bare minimum. That's what everybody should be doing. A real leader is a guy that articulates his thoughts, uses his voice and holds himself accountable, but also holds others accountable.”
Anderson said the team hasn’t decided on naming starters at the moment. He left the window of opportunity open.
“Until we kick off that ball against Bryant, we're not naming starters,” said Anderson. “So you're going to come in, and if you're shying away from competition, you're not going to thrive in this environment.”
Your one-stop-shop for all your sports marketing needs… Owned and Operated by UMASS Grads.
We specialize in providing top-quality marketing & printing services for coaches, athletic directors, and sports marketing professionals.
Get Fan Ready!