The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Football - Co-Offensive Coordinator / QB
A former analyst at Alabama and offensive coordinator at Akron, AJ Milwee was named quarterbacks coach at Texas on January 22, 2021 and named Co-Offensive Coordinator ahead of the 2023 season. He enters his fifth season on Sarkisian's staff at Texas.
In 2024, Milwee worked with a balanced Texas offense that averaged 278.8 passing yards (14th FBS), 158.8 rushing yards and 33 points (29th FBS) per game. QB Quinn Ewers, a second-team All-SEC performer and finalist for the Manning Award, completed 293-of-445 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns while averaging 248.0 yards per contest in 14 starts. Ewers finished sixth in the FBS in passing touchdowns (31), 14th in passing yards (3,472), 14th in points responsible for (202), 25th in passing efficiency (149), 26th in passing yards per game (248.0), 26th in completion percentage (65.8 percent), and 27th in completions per game (20.93). Ewers, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, closed his time as a Longhorn on a 27-game passing touchdown streak – the longest active streak by an FBS quarterback and the second-longest streak in program history behind Colt McCoy’s program-record 29 games. The Southlake, Texas, product finished third in the program’s record book in both passing touchdowns (68) and passing yards (9,128), and second in most 300-yard passing games in a career (11).
The 2023 season was highlighted by the continued growth of sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers, a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 25 honoree, who established career bests with 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 272-of-394 passes for a completion percentage of 69.0 percent, the 10th-highest mark in the NCAA. His 3,479 passing yards were the fifth-most in a season in program history, while he had six 300-yard passing games, tied for the most in a season in program history. Alongside Ewers was redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy and true freshman Arch Manning, who combined helped Texas rank 16th in the nation in completion percentage (66.7), 17th in passing offense (289.1) and 20th in team passing efficiency (151.88).
Milwee helped guide Ewers to one of the finest freshman seasons in program history in 2022. Ewers earned honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Honors passing for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns on 172-of-296 passing. In 10 starts, he won six games, tied for third-most by a UT freshman. His 2,177 passing yards were the third most for a Longhorn freshman, while his 15 touchdown passes were the fifth most. Against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, he connected for four passing scores, tied for 10th-most in program history and third among freshmen. In the Alamo Bowl versus Washington, he threw for 369 yards, the third-most for a Texas QB in a bowl game and the third-highest total for a freshman in any game in program history. Ewers concluded the season having thrown 116 consecutive passes without an interception, the eighth-longest streak for a Texas quarterback.
In 2021, Milwee helped mold Texas quarterbacks into one of the top units in the nation. Casey Thompson led the Big 12 Conference and placed 30th in the nation in passing touchdowns (24), while ranking fourth in the conference and 26th nationally in passing efficiency (154.7). Thompson passed for 410 yards against Kansas and 388 versus Oklahoma, the seventh- and 15th-best marks in program history, while also passing for six TDs against Kansas and five each against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, tied for the first- and third-best marks in UT history. The combination of Thompson and Hudson Card completed 62.7 percent of their passes, the ninth-best mark in program history, and total 29 passing touchdowns, tied for the fifth-most in a season for the Longhorns.
Milwee arrived in Texas after spending two seasons on the same coaching staff with Steve Sarkisian at Alabama, where he has served as an analyst for the Crimson Tide in 2019 and 2020. Milwee was part of a staff that guided Alabama to a 13-0 record and the 2020 National Championship. The 2019 squad capped off the year with a 35-16 win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl to finish ranked No. 8 in the final AP Top 25 poll.
Prior to Alabama, Milwee spent seven seasons at Akron, including his last six as the Zips’ offensive coordinator. He joined the Akron staff as a quarterbacks coach in 2012, and at the time he was elevated to oversee the program’s offense in 2013 was the second-youngest coordinator in FBS at age 27.
The 2017 Akron squad (7-7 overall, 6-2 MAC) soared to first place in the MAC East with huge victories over Ohio and Kent State to claim the division title and a spot in the MAC Championship game for the second time in program history and first time since 2005. Akron also advanced to an FBS bowl for the second time in three years, another program first. The Zips won their third consecutive Wagon Wheel (and fourth in last five years) over rival Kent State.
The same year, Akron posted 24 passing touchdowns that ranked as the third most in school history. Redshirt senior wide receiver Tra’Von Chapman earned third-team All-MAC honors. Senior running back Warren Ball, senior offensive lineman Xavier Quigley, and senior wide receiver Anthony Young earned Academic All-MAC honors, while Ball was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 5 football team.
Milwee mentored four quarterbacks throughout the season. Senior and three-year starter Thomas Woodson started the first nine games. He finished his collegiate career at No. 2 with 6,864 passing yards and No. 2 in career passing TDs (53). Redshirt freshman Kato Nelson took over the starting role, leading the Zips to wins over Ohio and Kent State as well as appearances in the MAC Championship game and the Boca Raton Bowl. Also seeing action were junior Robbie Kelley and sophomore Nick Johns, who also appeared on special teams.
In 2016, UA recorded a 5-7 overall record, finishing just one play away from back-to-back bowl appearances. The Zips won their second consecutive Wagon Wheel over rival Kent State.
Redshirt senior wide receiver JoJo Natson Jr. garnered second-team All-MAC honors, while junior wide receiver Jerome Lane earned third-team recognition. Nine Zips found a place on the Academic All-MAC team, including junior offensive lineman Xavier Quigley.
Despite injuries that forced a rotation of three quarterbacks, the Zips’ offense set the school record for touchdowns (all passes) in a game with six in a win over VMI. Akron scored 25 passing touchdowns on the season, which were second most in the school record book. Natson ranked No. 21 nationally in receiving touchdowns (10), eclipsing the 100-yard receiving mark in two games.
Wide receivers Jerome Lane (New York Giants) and Natson (Indianapolis) signed rookie free agent contracts with NFL teams.
In 2015, Milwee mentored a corps of young quarterbacks, including sophomore Thomas Woodson who went 162-of-307 for 2,202 yards and 16 touchdowns in eight starts. Milwee also guided sophomore wideout Jerome Lane as he added receiver duties to his defensive skills. Lane was No. 12 nationally in yards per reception (20.05).
Senior offensive lineman Isaiah Williams was third-team All-MAC selection. Ten Zips earned Academic All-MAC honors, including three-time honoree quarterback Kyle Pohl, as well as offensive linemen Dylan Brumbaugh and Kyle Ritz. Brumbaugh and Pohl were selected as MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes.
Milwee was named to the inaugural American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 30 Under 30 Coaches’ Leadership Institute in 2016. The prestigious program, sponsored by the American Football Coaches Foundation and NCAA Leadership Development, is aimed at training premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession.
The 2014 season saw senior Jawon Chisholm become just the fourth player in school history to eclipse the 3,000-yard career rushing yards. He finished with 3,403 career yards, second-most in program history.
Junior quarterback Kyle Pohl completed 208-of-383 passes for 2,189 yards, moving into fourth place in the Akron record book for career passing yards (4,993), all under Milwee’s guidance. Pohl earned Academic All-MAC honors and was a 2014 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee.
In 2013, he guided first-year starter Pohl to a solid sophomore campaign. Pohl completed 225-of-402 passes for 2,438 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Several of Pohl’s numbers earned him a spot in the all-time single-season program rankings, including lowest percentage of passes intercepted (2nd, .025), completions (6th, 225), completions per game (7th, 18.8), total offense (7th, 2,534) and passing offense (8th, 2,438). Pohl also earned Academic All-MAC honors.
A record-setting signal caller at Division-II North Alabama, Milwee oversaw fifth-year senior transfer quarterback Dalton Williams’ prolific season in 2012. Williams achieved the program’s single-season record for touchdown passes (25) and pass completions (326-for-522), while his 3,387 passing yards ranked as the third most in a season in school history.
Additionally in 2012, the Zips set a program record and led the Mid-American Conference in passing yards (3,753) and touchdown passes (30). The team’s school-record 312.8 passing yards per game ranked 17th nationally, while its 427.2 yards of total offense per game ranked 45th. UA’s 5,126 yards of total offense was second most in program history, behind the 2003 squad’s 5,643.
Milwee came to Akron after one year on staff at East Mississippi Community College, helping the program to an NJCAA national championship. In his lone season at EMCC, Lions freshman QB Bo Wallace shattered NJCAA single-season records for touchdown passes (53), passing yards (4,604) and total offense (4,810) on his way to All-American honors. He spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons on Terry Bowden’s staff at UNA as a graduate assistant. While on the Lions’ staff, the program went a combined 20-6, made back-to-back playoff appearances and were 2009 Gulf South Conference champions.
Having compiled a 33-5 mark as UNA’s QB during the 2006-08 seasons, Milwee set all-time school records for career passing yards (8,436), pass completions (677), passing attempts (1,030), touchdown passes (73) and total offense yards (9,401). He earned honorable mention All-America honors as a senior and is a member of the program’s all-decade team (1999-2008). At UNA, he was a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s top player at the NCAA Division-II level.
He spent his freshman year of eligibility as a member of the Alabama football team. He holds an undergraduate degree in finance from North Alabama.
A native of Boaz, Ala., Milwee is married to the former Ashley Elliott, who holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Alabama. They have two sons together, JJ and Jett.
