Helms Promoted to Associate Head Football Coach

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Carnegie Mellon University Assistant Football Coach Andy Helms has been promoted to Associate Head Coach for the start of the 2019 Tartan season. Helms, who will begin his sixth year with the program this fall, will retain his role of offensive coordinator and responsibilities coaching the quarterbacks.

"Over the past five seasons our offense, under Andy's leadership, has proven to be exceptional. The numbers that we have put up offensively speak for themselves, but Andy's value goes well beyond that," said head coach Rich Lackner. "As a Carnegie Mellon graduate, Andy understands the academic demands placed on our student-athletes. Because of this, he is able to guide and mentor them as they juggle the demands of a high academic institution with the demands of a highly successful football program. His ability to evaluate, recruit and land qualified prospects has been exceptional. Our program is fortunate to have Andy Helms as our Associate Head Coach!"

Helms returned to Carnegie Mellon as the offensive coordinator in 2014 after playing four years for the Tartans as a safety from 1989-92. In Helms' five years, the Tartans have appeared in three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) postseason contest including a victory in the 2015 Legacy Bowl. During the stretch, the Cardinal and Gray have a combined 32-21 record with a mark of 25-16 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play.

Six team offensive school records have been set under Helm's direction with a number of individual single-season and career records. The former two-time defensive All-American has produced the program's all-time leading passer, rusher and receiver. Twenty-nine of Helms' offensive players earned All-PAC accolades with Sam Benger, the Tartans all-time leading rusher, garnering back-to-back PAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016. Benger also compiled five All-America honors during that same stretch.