Kris Sweet is in his first year as offensive line coach at Norfolk State University. Sweet brings 20 years of collegiate and professional experience to his current position.
Sweet spent 10 seasons as on offensive line coach in the Canadian Football League. Most recently, he served as offensive line coach for three seasons (2014-16) with the Montreal Alouettes. In 2014, Montreal lineman Jeff Perrett was the winner of the Leo Dandurand Trophy, given to the top offensive lineman in the CFL’s East Division. In 2015, Montreal tied for the fewest sacks allowed in the CFL and finished second in the league in rushing.
Sweet, who also coached one year each with the Edmonton Eskimos (2013) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2012), spent his first five seasons in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders (2007-11). His years in Calgary included a Grey Cup in 2008, a two-time CFL leading rusher (Joffrey Reynolds 2007-08) and a CFL Most Outstanding Lineman award winner (Ben Archibald, 2010).
Before entering the ranks of the CFL, Sweet coached 10 years at the collegiate level. He got his start as an offensive graduate assistant at Tennessee Tech in 1997 before moving on to Holy Cross as assistant offensive line coach in 1998 and Elon University as defensive ends coach in 1999.
Sweet then then spent five seasons (2000-04) at Presbyterian College. He began his stint as tight ends/fullbacks coach before assuming the role of offensive line coach in 2001. Sweet added the role of offensive coordinator to his duties in 2003 and ’04 in addition to serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator and academic coordinator.
Sweet also had stints as offensive line coach at Kentucky State University (2005) and Columbia University (2006) before moving to the professional ranks.
A native of Salem, Va., Sweet was a three-year letterwinner in football at Salem High. He then started for three years at center for Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1996 and his master’s degree in education in 1998, both from Carson-Newman.
Sweet and his wife, Kate, have two daughters, Alexandra and Megan.
