SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State University has today announced a seven-year contract extension for head football coach GJ Kinne to continue to lead the Bobcat football program through the 2031 season.

In his second season at Texas State, Kinne has led the Bobcats to back-to-back bowl seasons, including its first bowl victory in 2023. The 2024 season saw seven regular season wins, marking the third time TXST has reached that mark since entering the FBS ranks in 2012, and gives the Bobcats consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2008-09.

"I want to thank President Kelly Damphousse and Director of Athletics Don Coryell for their trust in my leadership of the Bobcat football program," Head Coach GJ Kinne said. "The administration and fan base have shown great support for this program, and I know the culture continues to head in the right direction. I'm very excited about the future and appreciate everyone who has been involved with this program since I arrived on campus. I look forward to contributing to Texas State's success in the years to come."

Texas State finished the 2024 regular season 7-5 with a 5-3 record in Sun Belt Conference action, matching the most conference wins at the FBS level. The Bobcats also won three games in November this season for the first time since 2014, and it was the first season since 2014 with three road wins.

"From 1985 through 2022, TXST football had only seven winning seasons. We had only one winning season since joining FBS in 2012 and had averaged only 3.6 wins per year in FBS. Since his arrival, Coach Kinne has brought an incredible vision for what TXST football could be. Two months ago, Athletics Director Don Coryell and I decided that we needed to keep Coach Kinne in San Marcos as long as possible. His leadership has not only led us to a win in our first-ever bowl game but has also inspired a new level of pride and excitement throughout the Bobcat community. This new contract signals to recruits and TXST fans our commitment to compete at the highest levels and to maintain leadership stability. Coach Kinne's talent for recruiting and developing student-athletes will lead us to even greater heights," said TXST President Kelly Damphousse.

The 2023 season saw the Bobcats defeat Rice, 45-21, in the SERVEPRO First Responder Bowl for their eighth win, making Kinne the first, first-year head coach at Texas State to win eight or more games since 1983. The win total also made him only one of three coaches at TXST to accomplish the feat overall and gave TXST an FBS-program record for wins. It was also one of only four FBS teams in Texas to win eight games in 2023.

The Bobcats finished the 2023 season ranked 11th in the country in scoring offense (36.7) and 15th in total offense (457.6). Entering 2023 as an FBS team, Texas State had never ranked higher than 24th in the nation in total offense. The Texas State offense also averaged 132.4 more yards per game in 2023 compared to 2022. 

Texas State scored 40+ points in six games over the course of the season, including three times in conference play. It scored 77 points in the home opener against Jackson State, which fell one shy of the program's record for most in a single game and ended the year with 45+ points in each of final two games.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bobcats finished second nationally in tackles for loss and ninth in sacks in 2023, a trend they would continue in 2024 currently sitting at 10th for TFLs. Special teams was fifth in the country in kick returns with an average of 26.08 yards, and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, matching TXST's record for most in season.

Overall, Texas State set 22 FBS program records for a single season in Kinne's first campaign. The offense set 12 different FBS records while the defense added four and special teams turned in three. The Bobcats also set 29 individual FBS season program records in 2023.

Heading into the 2024 postseason, Texas State ranks sixth nationally in total offense (474.3) after setting a program record with 703 yards against Southern Miss. It also ranks No. 11 in scoring offense, No. 16 in rushing offense and No. 29 in passing offense.

Kinne was named the head coach at Texas State on December 2, 2022, after a season at the helm of UIW. Prior to that time, Texas State had not had a winning season in nine years. His first victory at TXST was a 42-31 triumph at Baylor, the program's first win over a "Power 5" team. He was named to the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List and was also an FCS finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award in 2022 while at UIW, which is presented to the nation's top coach.

"We are thrilled about the future of Texas State football under the leadership of GJ Kinne," Director of Athletics Don Coryell said. "Since his arrival in 2022, Coach Kinne has demonstrated unwavering commitment to our program, and both the university and athletics department are proud to invest in his vision for the years ahead.

"In a time of significant change in college football, having a strong leader like Coach Kinne is more important than ever. His ability to recruit and identify top talent, adapt to the evolving landscape of college athletics, and ability to leverage those changes as opportunities to succeed set him apart. We are confident that he will continue to elevate our program, build on his early achievements, and strengthen the Texas State brand on a national level."