Alex Kastens begins his second season as the Offensive Line Coach at CWU in 2025.
Kastens has a decade of coaching under his belt prior to joining the CWU staff and has found success in every stop he's made.
In his first year with the Wildcats the CWU offensive line was one of the top O-lines in NCAA Division II playing a key role in helping the Wildcat offense to a top-six ranking in rushing offense, time of possession, and third down conversion percentage. The O-line was also a key contributor to helping CWU have the first and third leading rushers in the Lone Star Conference for the 2024 season. In his first season at CWU the O-line ranked in the top-15 in NCAA Division II in sacks allowed and helped greatly improve the offense with increase yards per game, points per game, third down percentage, and fourth down percentage. Under Coach Kastens' guidance, center Slade Edwards was tabbed Don Hansen Honorable Mention All-American, First Team All-Super Region, LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and First Team All-LSC. Kingston Grey also joined Edwards on the First Team All-LSC while Darrell Duckett and Axel Isackson were both tabbed to the Second Team All-LSC.
Prior to joining the Wildcats Kastens spent two seasons with NCAA Division II William Jewell in Liberty, Mo. His first season with the Cardinals was the 2022 season where he was the Offensive Line & Tight Ends Coach as well as the Recruiting Coordinator. In the 2023 season he was promoted to the Offensive Coordinator and the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach. In his first season with WJC, Kastens helped the Cardinals double their win total from the 2021 season, lowered the teams sacks allowed total by 14, and the team saw an increase in rushing yards per game by over 100 yards compared to the '21 season. Then in his second season the Cardinals saw an increase in yards per game, points per game, and third down percentage. Under Kastens tutelage running back Keaundre McCullough was tabbed Second Team All-GLVC while offensive lineman Cole Hon and wide receiver Deldrionn Amos were both Honorable Mention All-GLVC.
Before moving to William Jewell, Kastens was in Bismarck, N.D. with the University of Mary Marauders for two seasons. In 2020, Kastens joined the Marauder staff as the Defensive Line Coach, but the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, before adding the Recruiting Coordinator title in 2021. The Marauders doulbed their win total from the 2019 season during Kastens tenure and his O-line helped the UMary defense lower their opponents rushing yards per game by over 50 yards. Defensive Lineman Su'e Taugavau earned Second Team All-NSIC for his efforts in the 2021 season under Kastens guidance.
Kastens began his coaching career with his alma mater the Carroll College Fighting Saints. He was with CC from the 2015 season through the 2019 season starting as an Assistant Offensive Line and Tight Ends coach, then becoming the Defensive Line Coach, and lastly adding the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach and Offensive Line Coach titles. With Kastens on the staff the Fighting Saints saw their first winning season and their first nationally ranked finish in five seasons. In the 2019 season when Coach Kastens was leading the O-line unit, the CC offense saw a lowered sack total from the '18 season by 23 sacks as well as an increase in rushing yards per game by over 70 yards per contest. Offensive lineman Josh James was a First Team AFCA All-American in 2015 and was named First Team All-Frontier Conference and was joined by O-lineman Ryan Armstrong ion the First Team All-FC in '15. Defensive linemen Kyle Smith and Beaugh Meyer were both tabbed Second Team All-FC with Meyer earning First Team honors in 2018 in 2016 while D-lineman Alec Basterrechea was a First Team All-FC in 2017. O-linemen JD Lyle and Alex Hoffman were also tabbed First Team All-FC in 2019.
Coach Kastens has been pivotal to helping his teams ascend to national statistical rankings,
Carroll College:
2017 - #8 in Rushing Defense Per Game
2018 - #9 in Rushing Defense Per Game
2019 - #6 in Sacks Allowed Per Game
2019 - #10 in Third Down Conversion Percentage
2019 - #13 in Rushing Offense
Central Washington University:
2024 - #6 in Rushing Offense
2024 - #14 in Sacks Allowed Per Game
2024 - #2 in Third Down Conversion Percentage
2024 - #1 in Time of Possession Per Game
The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho native played from 2010-14 for Carroll College where he had a standout career. During his time with the Fighting Saints he was a three-year starter as an offensive lineman, two year Team Captain, earned All-FC honors twice, and helped guide the Fighting Saints to three-straight Frontier Conference Championships and the 2011 NAIA National Championship Game and was also a redshirt member of the 2010 National Championship Team.
Kastens and his wife Sara Tucker reside in Ellensburg. Tucker is the CWU Compliance Director. Kastens graduated from Carroll in 2015.
