A.J. Milwee named Arkansas State offensive coordinator

JONESBORO, Ark. – Butch Jones continues to assemble his Arkansas State coaching staff.

Football Scoop was first to report that he’s hired A.J. Milwee to be offensive coordinator. A-State made the move official Monday afternoon. Milwee has been an offensive analyst for Alabama the last two seasons.

Before his tenure in Tuscaloosa, A.J. was Akron offensive coordinator from 2013-2018. The Zips averaged 331.2 yards per game in that span. Akron won the MAC East in 2017, their 2nd division title in program history. Milwee was on staff for 2 of the 3 bowl appearances in Zips history. They played in the 2017 Boca Raton Bowl & won the 2015 Idaho Potato Bowl. As Zips QBs coach in 2012, they led the MAC in passing yards & touchdowns.

Milwee was named to the inaugural American Football Coach’s Association (AFCA) 30 Under 30 Coaches’ Leadership Institute in 2016.

“We are very excited to welcome the Milwee family of A.J., Ashley, J.J. and Jett into the Arkansas State football family,” Butch Jones said in a statement. “I’ve had an opportunity to work with A.J. on a daily basis over the last two years at the University of Alabama, and I’ve been very impressed with his work ethic, ability to foster and create relationships and his overall knowledge of offensive football. A.J. has coordinating experience and has proved that he can manage, motivate and direct an entire offensive unit, which includes not only players, but staff members as well. He is also regarded as a coach who can develop quarterbacks to play at the highest level.”

Milwee came to Akron after one year on staff at East Mississippi Community College, helping the program to an NJCAA national championship. He spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons on Terry Bowden’s staff at UNA as a graduate assistant. While on the Lions’ staff, the program went a combined 20-6, made back-to-back playoff appearances and were 2009 Gulf South Conference champions.Having compiled a 33-5 mark as UNA’s QB during the 2006-08 seasons, Milwee set all-time school records for career passing yards (8,436), pass completions (677), passing attempts (1,030), touchdown passes (73) and total offense yards (9,401). He earned honorable mention All-America honors as a senior and is a member of the program’s all-decade team (1999-2008). At UNA, he was a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s top player at the NCAA Division-II level.