App State Football Hires Tyler Zielenske as Special Teams Coordinator

Image Courtesy Of App State Facebook

App State football has hired Tyler Zielenske as the Mountaineers’ special teams coordinator, head coach Dowell Loggains announced Saturday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tyler and his family to App State,” Loggains said. “He is a skilled special teams coach and will be a great mentor to our players.”

Recent Coaching Success

Zielenske served as Samford’s special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator during the 2025 season after coordinating a strong special teams unit at Murray State in 2024. He previously worked alongside Loggains in 2023 as a special teams analyst at South Carolina, assisting Pete Lembo and helping the Gamecocks rank in the top 25 nationally in several categories, including blocked punts (No. 3 with two), total blocks (No. 3 with four), and punt return defense (No. 17 with 3.73 yards per return).

At Murray State in 2024, Zielenske’s units led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in blocked kicks (four) while ranking ninth nationally in blocked punts (two) and 15th in net punting (40.03 average). Kicker James London earned third-team All-American and first-team All-MVFC honors, while punter Tom O’Hara was named a Freshman All-American.

Coaching Background

Zielenske served as special teams coordinator at Texas State in 2022 after working as a special teams and running backs graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2021, helping the Panthers win the ACC championship. He also has experience as a special teams quality control coach at Memphis (2020) and as a graduate assistant at South Alabama (2017-19).

“I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to join Coach Loggains and the App State football program,” Zielenske said. “There is great tradition in Boone, and I look forward to building upon the historic success they have seen. I can’t wait to get to work with our players and staff and take our Special Teams to the next level.”

Playing Career

A native of Oxford, Georgia, Zielenske kicked field goals, executed kickoffs, and punted while appearing in 43 games for Mercer from 2012-16. His collegiate career included going 10-for-12 on field goals as a redshirt freshman, dropping 17 punts inside the 20 as a redshirt senior, and delivering 30 touchbacks on kickoffs.

He graduated from Mercer in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from South Alabama.

Endorsement from Pete Lembo

Buffalo head coach Pete Lembo, Zielenske’s former boss at South Carolina, praised the hire: “Tyler has a great work ethic and strong attention to detail. He connects well with players, and his experience as a former specialist himself is particularly helpful as he does an excellent job developing that unique position group.”

Personal

Zielenske and his wife, Katelyn, have one son, Boe, and one daughter, Tatum.

Zielenske’s Coaching Experience

• 2017-19: South Alabama (Graduate assistant)
• 2020: Memphis (Special teams quality control)
• 2021: Pittsburgh (Special teams and running backs graduate assistant)
• 2022: Texas State (Special teams coordinator)
• 2023: South Carolina (Special teams analyst)
• 2024: Murray State (Special teams coordinator)
• 2025: Samford (Special teams and recruiting coordinator)