Andrew Kukesh begins his eight overall year with Columbia and third year as defensive backs coach after serving one year as the defensive line coach and three years as the Lions’ defensive assistant.
He was part of the Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year in 2024, which helped Columbia secure its first conference title since 1961.
All four of Columbia’s starting defensive backs earned All-Ivy League honors last season, and the unit boasted the Ivy League’s top passing defense, allowing just 213.1 yards per game and passing efficiency defense (120.2). Under Kukesh’s tutelage, safety Hayden McDonald became the program’s first All-American since 2019 and first-ever defensive finalist for the Bushnell Cup. McDonald paced the Ancient Eight with five interceptions and was second on the squad with 68 tackles.
Kukesh’s position group posted six interceptions and helped create nine turnovers in 2023. Six defensive backs were credited with takeaways, and four registered 30+ tackles.
In his first year leading the defensive backs, Kukesh led a unit that registered 230 tackles during the 2022 season. The defensive backs also totaled 9.5 tackles for loss, along with six interceptions.
While overseeing the defensive line in 2021, the Lions put plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks and found themselves in the backfield for a total of 30 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. The unit also recorded 145 total tackles, and the 12.5 sacks accounted for roughly half of Columbia’s total sack total of 26.0.
Earning second-team All-Ivy League honors, Paul Akere led the Columbia front with 42.0 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss. His 42 tackles placed him fifth on the team, but his 9.0 tackles for loss tied him for second and his 5.0 sacks placed him second alone on the Lion defensive unit.
In his previous role as Defensive Assistant, Kukesh was responsible for all defensive film, which included a breakdown of opposing offenses, creating the “self-scout” of Columbia’s defensive tendencies, and daily data entry. He also assisted with the weekly game plan.
Kukesh joined the Columbia Football Staff in 2018 after spending the 2017 season at both the University of Maine as Assistant Defensive Backs/Safeties Coach and Yale as Assistant Defensive Line Coach. At Maine, he assisted the coaching staff with the defensive backs unit and worked directly with the safeties, assisted the defensive coordinator in creating strategies and game plans, and assisted in the booth on game days. At Yale, he worked directly with the defensive line.
Previously, he spent a combined two years at Trinity College as Cornerbacks Coach in 2016 and Outside Linebackers Coach in 2015. Among his many duties included coaching the cornerbacks, assisting the defensive coordinator in creating strategies, providing weekly scouting reports, and acting as video coordinator for all practices and game film.
A 2014 graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Kukesh was a three-time All-NESCAC selection and two-time All-East Region honoree as a defensive back. He was elected to The College Key of Bates College, an honor given to student-athletes who distinguish themselves through their academic performance, athletic pursuits, service to the community, and strength of character. Kukesh earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy and Law from Trinity College in May 2017.
A native of Exeter, N.H., Kukesh was a two-time First Team All-State football selection and team captain at Exeter High School. He was also selected to play on the 2009 New Hampshire Maple Sugar Bowl Shrine team and received the Joe Yukica Football Award.
