JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State University athletics program has announced the firing of three football coaches: Offensive Coordinator Buster Faulkner, Offensive line coach Allen Rudolph, Outside receivers coach Christopher Buckner.

Head football coach Blake Anderson revealed the news in a Wednesday afternoon press conference in Jonesboro.

Faulkner is a 13-year coaching veteran who was with ASU for the past 3 seasons.

The University has hired Keith Heckendorf as the new offensive coordinator, Sean Couglin as the new offensive line coach, and Malcolm Kelly as the new outside wide receivers coach.

Heckendorf comes to A-State after spending the last eight seasons in multiple roles with the North Carolina football program, including the last five as quarterbacks coach. He also served as the Tar Heels’ passing coordinator the last three years and as the recruiting coordinator in 2014 and 2015.

With 18 years of collegiate coaching experience to his credit, Coughlin comes to Arkansas State after spending the last 13 seasons at Missouri State. He was elevated to associate head coach for the 2018 campaign and served as the Bears’ co-offensive coordinator since 2016.

A two-time All-Big 12 wide receiver and Freshman All-American at Oklahoma who was a second-round NFL Draft pick by the Washington Redskins, Kelly comes to Arkansas State after spending the last two seasons at Houston as an offensive graduate assistant coach and offensive analyst.

This comes after what some fans called a disappointing 8-5 season where the Red Wolves were picked by their conference peers to win the Sun Belt, but failed to do so.

In two of A State’s five losses, the team gained more yards than their opponent. In a loss at Georgia Southern ASU had 493 yards compared to Southern’s 409 yards. And in ASU’s loss to Nevada in the NOVA Arizona bowl, Nevada gained 285 yards of total offense while the Red Wolves racked up 499 yards.