Artur Sitkowski

Artur Sitkowski
Current position
TitleAssistant quarterbacks coach
TeamIllinois Fighting Illini
Biographical details
Born (2000-05-16) May 16, 2000 (age 24)
Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Playing career
2018–2020Rutgers
2021–2022Illinois
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2023–presentIllinois (assistant)

Artur Sitkowski (born May 16, 2000) is an American college football coach. He is the assistant quarterbacks coach for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a position he has held since 2024. He played college football for the Illinois and Rutgers.

Early life and high school

Raised in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, Sitkowski attended Old Bridge High School, before transferring to IMG Academy. In his junior season, Sitkowski completed 104 of his 209 passes for 1,216 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed 77 times for 215 yards and eight touchdowns.[1] Sitkowski originally decided to commit to play college football for the Miami Hurricanes.[2][3] However, Sitkowski decided to flip his commitment to play for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.[4][5]

College career

Rutgers

Sitkowski opened his true freshman season in 2018 as Rutgers starting quarterback ahead of their season opener.[6][7] In Sitkowski's first start he completed 20 of his passes for 205 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, as he helped Rutgers to a win over Texas State.[8] In week seven of the 2018 season, Sitkowski had an abysmal performance completing just two of his sixteen pass attempts for eight yards and four interceptions, in a loss to Maryland.[9] Sitkowski finished the 2018 season completing 134 of his 273 pass attempts for 1,158 yards and four touchdowns to eighteen interceptions.[10] Heading into the 2019 season, Sitkowski was projected to be the team's starting quarterback but lost the job to McLane Carter.[11][12] Sitkowski made his first start of the 2019 season in week four after starter McLane Carter went down with a concussion. In his start, Sitkowski completed 23 of his 33 passing attempts for 304 yards and a touchdown with an interception, in a 30–16 loss to Boston College.[13] However after just making one more start against Michigan, Sitkowski decided to redshirt for the rest of the 2019 season.[14][15] After the conclusion of the 2019 season, Sitkowski decide to enter the NCAA transfer portal.[16][17] However, he decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal and return to play for the Scarlet Knights in 2020.[18][19] Sitkowski made his first start of the 2020 season in week seven versus Purdue.[20] In his start he completed 18 of his 27 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, as he led Rutgers to an upset win over Purdue.[21] He finished the 2020 season going 52 of 82 on his passes for 44 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding two rushing yards.[22] After the conclusion of the 2020 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.[23][24]

Illinois

Sitkowski decided to transfer to play for Illinois.[25][26] Sitkowski made his Illinois debut in week one after starter Brandon Peters went down with an injury. Sitkowski completed 12 of his 15 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, as he helped lead the Fighting Illini to a 30–22 win over Nebraska.[27] Sitkowski was named the team's starter for their week two matchup versus UTSA.[28] In his start he threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, but Illinois lost to UTSA.[29] In week nine of the 2021 season, after Sitkowski helped the Fighting Illini upset #7 Penn State in the longest game in NCAA history it was revealed, Sitkowski broke his arm and would miss the rest of the 2021 season.[30][31] Sitkowski finished the 2021 season completing 74 of his 148 pass attempts for 704 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions, while also adding 31 yards on the ground.[32] In week six of the 2022 season, Sitkowski entered the game after starter Tommy DeVito went down with an injury. Sitkowski completed 13 of his 19 passes for 74 yards and an interception, as he helped Illinois to a 9–6 win over Iowa.[33] In Sitkowski's final season he completed 18 of his 25 pass attempts for 103 yards and an interception, while adding 18 yards on the ground.[34]

College statistics

Season Games Passing Rushing
GP Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2018 11 1–10 134 273 49.1 1,158 4.2 4 18 76.4 22 −66 −3.0 0
2019 3 0–2 44 68 64.7 429 6.3 1 2 116.7 8 −7 −0.88 0
2020 4 1–1 52 81 64.2 444 6.2 3 0 122.5 14 2 0.14 0
Illinois Fighting Illini
2021 5 1–2 74 148 50.0 704 4.8 6 0 100.6 26 31 1.19 0
2022 3 – 18 25 72.0 103 4.1 0 1 98.6 5 18 3.6 0
Career 26 3–15 322 595 54.1 2,838 4.8 14 23 94.2 75 -22 -0.29 0

Coaching career

After the 2022 season, Sitkowski joined the Illinois football coaching staff as a graduate assistant.[35]

References

  1. ^ Dunleavy, Ryan (February 26, 2017). "Artur Sitkowski, former NJ star, commits to Miami over Rutgers after transfer to IMG Academy". NJ.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Conway, Tyler. "Miami Lands 4-Star QB Prospect Artur Sitkowski". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Miller Degnan, Susan. "UM football future rising in the rankings with new quarterback commit". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Hunt, Todderick (December 20, 2017). "4-star QB Artur Sitkowski still pumped to sign to Rutgers despite OC Jerry Kill's departure". NJ.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Rutgers gets 18 in early signing class led by QB Sitkowski". USA Today. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Newman, Josh. "Rutgers football: Artur Sitkowski named starting quarterback". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (August 24, 2018). "True freshman Artur Sitkowski to start at QB for Rutgers". ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Feliciano, Luke (September 2018). "Rutgers Football: Artur Sitkowski shows promise in debut". Saturday Blitz. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Newman, Josh. "Rutgers football: As Art Sitkowski's poor play continues, so will criticisms". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Collins, Jesse (May 2019). "Rutgers Football Asked Too Much Of Artur Sitkowski, But Will It Pay Off?". Off Tackle Empire. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Kratch, James (August 29, 2019). "McLane Carter will be Rutgers' starting QB for season opener vs. UMass". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Kratch, James (August 31, 2019). "Will Rutgers' Artur Sitkowski redshirt after being 'edged out' in QB competition?". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Kratch, James (September 21, 2019). "Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski deserves starting job back after career-best day in Boston College loss". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Newman, Josh. "Rutgers football: Will Art Sitkowski take another meaningful snap at RU? Why should he?". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Kratch, James (October 8, 2019). "Rutgers redshirt tracker: Raheem Blackshear, Kyle Penniston, Artur Sitkowski all now in the mix". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Kratch, James; Sargent, Keith (November 25, 2019). "Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski, TE Daevon Robinson enter transfer portal". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  17. ^ Schutte, Dustin (November 28, 2019). "Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski in NCAA transfer portal". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Tufaro, Greg. "Greg Schiano's first win: Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski isn't transferring". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  19. ^ VanHaaren, Tom (December 2, 2019). "Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski exits transfer portal". ESPN. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Kratch, James (November 28, 2020). "Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski starts vs. Purdue in stunning switch". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Patuto, Greg (November 28, 2020). "Multiple quarterback system leads Rutgers to upset victory at Purdue". On The Banks. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Artur Sitkowski 2020 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Kratch, James (April 16, 2021). "Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski enters transfer portal". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  24. ^ Schutte, Dustin (April 17, 2021). "Former Rutgers starting QB announces transfer from program". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  25. ^ Kratch, James (July 22, 2021). "Ex-Rutgers QB Artur Sitkowski quickly earning respect at Illinois". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  26. ^ Beherns, Bret (April 29, 2021). "Rutgers transfer QB Artur Sitkowski commits to Illinois". WCIA.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  27. ^ Fonseca, Brian (August 30, 2021). "Ex-Rutgers QB Art Sitkowski shines in Illinois debut, leads Illini to season-opening win". NJ.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  28. ^ Boyd, James (September 3, 2021). "Watch now: Illinois' Calvin Hart Jr. out for season; Artur Sitkowski named starter". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  29. ^ Kissack, Tristan; Pasquale, Anthony (September 4, 2021). "UTSA holds off Illinois for first-ever Big Ten win". The Champaign Room. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  30. ^ "Illinois QB Artur Sitkowski will miss the rest of the season with a broken arm, returning Brandon Peters to the starting lineup". Chicago Tribune. October 25, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  31. ^ "Illinois loses QB Artur Sitkowski for the season with broken arm". Chicago Sun-Times. October 26, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  32. ^ "Artur Sitkowski 2021 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  33. ^ Hanson, Austin. "Illinois football snaps eight-game losing streak against Iowa". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  34. ^ "Artur Sitkowski 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Lazenby, Bryce (December 10, 2022). "Bret Bielema confirms future plans for QB Artur Sitkowski". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved January 6, 2024.