St. Olaf College Athletics

Recruiting Territories: Minnesota (612), (952) South area codes, Northfield, Oklahoma, and Transfers

James Kilian is in his ninth season as the head football coach at St. Olaf in 2025-26 after being named to the position on Dec. 22, 2016.

Through seven seasons of competition (2020 season canceled), Kilian has led the Oles to an overall record of 35-35 (.500) and a mark of 25-31 (.446) in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play. After taking over a program that had not won more than two games and one conference game in four seasons, Kilian has led St. Olaf to at least four wins and three MIAC victories in each of his seven seasons, including a 7-3 win season in 2024 that was the program's first seven-win season since 2012.

During his time on the Hill, Kilian has coached two D3football.com All-Americans, six D3football.com All-Region honorees, 25 All-MIAC performers, 23 Honorable Mention All-MIAC selections, and 47 Academic All-MIAC honorees. St. Olaf has also produced 15 College Spotrs Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honorees over the last three seasons. 

Prior to coming to St. Olaf, Kilian spent the previous three seasons at the University of St. Thomas. In 2015 and 2016, he was the Tommies' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after serving as the wide receivers coach in 2014.

During his tenure at St. Thomas, Kilian led record-setting offenses that helped the Tommies make deep postseason runs. In 2016, his offense averaged 47.1 ppg (second-best in the nation) and 474.2 ypg for the 12-1, MIAC champion Tommies, who appeared in the national quarterfinals. Kilian coached MIAC MVP quarterback Alex Fenske and offensive lineman Will Hilbert was named the MIAC Mike Stam Award winner (top MIAC lineman) and an All-American.

In 2015, Kilian's offense averaged 51.3 ppg (second-best in the nation) and 516 ypg for the 14-1, MIAC champion Tommies, who appeared in the Division III national championship game (Stagg Bowl). Running back Jordan Roberts was named D3football.com National Offensive Player of the Year, offensive lineman David Simmet was a Gagliardi Trophy finalist (top national player) and Roberts, Simmet and tight end Charlie Dowdle were named first-team All-Americans.

During Kilian’s first season at St. Thomas in 2014, the Tommie offense averaged 44.4 ppg and 493.7 ypg for an 8-3 team that appeared in the first round of the Division III playoffs.

Kilian arrived at St. Thomas after two seasons at Carleton College. He spent the 2013 season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and was wide receivers coach in 2012. The 2013 Knights led the MIAC in red zone scoring efficiency and red zone touchdown efficiency. Carleton’s 5-5 record was just the second time since 1996 that they finished a season at or above .500. The Knights' quarterback, Conor Lynch, posted the fourth-highest single-season passing yardage total in program history in 2013. Kilian also coached two All-MIAC wide receivers during his tenure.

Before moving to Carleton, Kilian served as an offensive analyst at Louisiana State University in 2011. The Tigers finished the 2011 season with a 13-1 record, won the SEC championship and played Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.

Prior to LSU, Kilian served as quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, the University of Tulsa, in the spring of 2011 and as graduate assistant for the 2010 season. The 2010 Golden Hurricane won the Hawaii Bowl and finished 10-3 and ranked 24th in the country. The offense finished fifth in FBS total offense.

Kilian’s coaching career began in 2009 when he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Del City High School in Oklahoma. The 2009 Del City offense led Class 6A in passing yards per game and the team’s 7-3 record was the program's best in nearly a decade.

As a collegiate player, Kilian was a two-year starting quarterback and captain for Tulsa. As a junior first-year starter in 2003, he helped the Golden Hurricane post college football's biggest turnaround (1-11 in 2002 to 8-5 in 2003) and guided them to their first bowl appearance (Humanitarian Bowl) in 12 years. He was one of 11 players selected to the elite 2004 AFCA Good Works Team for leadership and community involvement, and was a four-time academic all-conference honoree.

Kilian was a seventh-round NFL draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005. His five-year pro career included service with the Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, Hamburg in NFL Europe, Nashville in the Arena League, and Winnipeg in the Canadian Football League.

Kilian received a Bachelor’s degree in education and history and earned a Master’s degree in education, both from the University of Tulsa. He graduated from Medford High School (Okla.), where he had a highly successful prep career.

Kilian resides in Minneapolis, Minn., with his wife, Jenelle, and their three children, James, John and Joie.

Quick Facts
Hometown: Medford, Oklahoma
High School: Medford H.S
College/Degree: University of Tulsa/B.A. Education & History
College/Degree: University of Tulsa/M.A. Education
Wife: Jenelle
Children: James, John, Joie

Coaching Experience
2017-pres. - St. Olaf College - Head Coach
2016 - University of St. Thomas - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2015 - University of St. Thomas - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2014 - University of St. Thomas - Wide Receivers
2013 - Carleton College - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2012 - Carleton College - Wide Receivers
2011 - Louisiana State University - Offensive Analyst
2010 - Tulsa University - Graduate Assistant
2009 - Del City High School - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Postseason Experience
2016 - University of St. Thomas - Division III National Quarterfinals
2015 - University of St. Thomas - Division III National Championship Game (Stagg Bowl)
2014 - University of St. Thomas - Division III Playoffs - First Round
2011 - Louisiana State University - BCS National Championship Game
2010 - Tulsa University - Hawaii Bowl

THE OLES UNDER JAMES KILIAN
SEASON	OVERALL	PCT.	MIAC	PCT.	MIAC FINISH
2017	4-6	.400	3-5	.375	6th
2018	5-5	.500	3-5	.375	6th
2019	5-5	.500	3-5	.375	6th
2020*	-	-	-	-	-
2021	5-5	.500	4-4	.500	3rd in Northwoods Division
2022	4-6	.400	3-5	.375	4th in Northwoods Division
2023	5-5	.500	4-4	.500	4th in Northwoods Division
2024	7-3	.700	5-3	.625	t-2nd in Northwoods Division
TOTAL	35-35	.500	25-31	.446

*2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic