Kurt Roper

Kurt Roper (born July 25, 1972) is an American football coach and former player. He currently is a Senior Offensive Assistant on the coaching staff of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).

He was previously an offensive coordinator in the college football ranks, serving in that capacity for the Florida Gators in 2014, and the Duke Blue Devils for six seasons prior to that. A native of Ames, Iowa, Roper earned three varsity letters as a quarterback and defensive back at Rice before graduating in 1995. He went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in 1998.^[1] His coaching career has been much associated with that of David Cutcliffe.^[2]

Career

Roper's coaching career started as a graduate assistant at the Tennessee in 1996, working on defense, especially the defensive backs, and special teams.^[3][4] While the Volunteers prepared for a national championship, Roper decided to follow Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe to Mississippi, where Roper would spend six years as offensive coordinator under Cutcliffe at head coach. Amongst those coached by Roper during this time was the first pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, quarterback Eli Manning. During these years Ole Miss went 44-29, including a 10-3 2003 campaign which was its best record since 1971.

In 2005 Roper coached quarterbacks for Kentucky under head coach Rich Brooks and offensive coordinator Joker Phillips.

Roper joined up again with Cutcliffe in 2006 when Philip Fulmer named him an assistant coach for running backs. Amongst those coached by Roper was Arian Foster. Roper left in 2008, when David Cutcliffe was named head coach at Duke, he followed as the Blue Devils' offensive coordinator.

At Duke, Roper coached Thad Lewis from 2008 to 2009. Lewis set many records at Duke and finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in pass attempts (1,510), pass completions (877), passing yards (10,065) and passing touchdowns (67).^[1]

From 2010 to 2012 Roper coached Sean Renfree. Duke averaged 381.3 yards per game in 2010, the most for the Blue Devils since their 1989 ACC championship team led by Steve Spurrier. In 2011, wide receiver Donovan Varner set Duke's all time receptions record,^[1] and in 2012 wide receiver Conner Vernon broke that record as well as the ACC record.^[5][6]

References