Kliff Kingsbury has been the subject of a few surprise announcements this week.
The fired former Texas Tech head football coach left the University of Southern California, where he had been hired just weeks ago as new offensive coordinator, to become the new head coach of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
Then, Kingsbury's girlfriend congratulated him on getting the gig in Phoenix. And that was a surprise.
Former Golf Channel and current Fox Sports personality Holly Sonders congratulated Kingsbury on the deal with the enthusiasm of someone in love.
The desert just got a whole lot hotter.🔥🔥 Congratulations @KliffKingsbury, so proud of you. ❤️ https://t.co/PgNxPmEUC9
— Holly Sonders (@holly_sonders) January 8, 2019
In responding to responses to her tweet congratulating Kingsbury, Sonders (whose given name is Holly Niederkohr) explained the two are dating and have been for some time.
Always will! He’s the best. And we are a little past the crush part
— Holly Sonders (@holly_sonders) January 8, 2019
According to Golfweek, the couple met this year when Sonders was doing college football games for Fox Sports. Sonders was working the sidelines of Big 12 games, and Kingsbury was obviously there, too, to coach the Red Raiders. Kingsbury, now 39, must have hit it off with Sonders, who divorced former Golf Channel co-host Erik Kuselias in mid-2016.
Kuselias hosts a sports talk show in Florida (full disclosure: I've appeared on his show several times and have always enjoyed the conversation), and he occasionally appears on CBS Sports HQ as a fantasy sports expert.
It's unclear if their relationship was an issue for Fox Sports, who signed Sonders to a multi-year contract extension in 2018. As part of that deal, Sonders' role at Fox Sports would expand, but it meant should be leaving their golf coverage of USGA events. Sonders also does a golf show, "18 Holes with Jimmy Hanlin," which appears on Fox Sports regional networks and does commercials for the Orange Whip swing trainer.
In limited personal experience, Sonders has always been an effervescent, kind person to be around. Kingsbury is clearly a charismatic guy who has big ambitions. Best of luck to both of them.
