TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati Football Head Coach Luke Fickell named Chad Wilt as the Bearcats defensive line coach Monday.
Wilt, who joins the Bearcats after a three-year stint at Army West Point, has close to 20 years of experience in college football.
"Thrilled we could attract a coach of Chad Wilt's caliber to our football staff," Fickell said. "He's shown to be an impressive teacher, motivator and coach. We are an offensive and defensive line driven program so this is a critical role for us. We are excited to keep developing what we have built here and continuing to progress this spring and into the 2019 season."
Wilt's time at Army was impactful as the Black Knights went 29-10 from 2016-18 with three wins over arch-rival Navy, three postseason bowl wins and a pair of Commander in Chief's Trophy as the nation's top service academy in football.
Army set a program record with 11 wins in 2018 and won the Eastern College Athletic Conference's prestigious Lambert Trophy. The Black Knights were ranked first nationally in third down conversion percentage and fourth down conversion percentage while ranking No. 8 in total defense and No. 10 in scoring defense. They finished the year on a high note by tying an NCAA FBS record with 70 points in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Wilt was a part of a 2017 defensive unit that helped Army earn ECAC Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Team of the Year accolades. They finished third in the nation in red zone defense and 14th in passing defense in the country. The defensive squad held opponents to 22 points per game and recorded a 21-0 victory at Air Force, stopping the Falcons' 306-game scoring streak. It was also the first shutout against a service-academy school for the Black Knights since 1969.
Wilt arrived at West Point after two seasons at the University of Maryland (2014-15) as defensive line coach with the Terrapins. Prior to Maryland, he spent three seasons as defensive line coach at Ball State (2011-13), single seasons at Richmond (2010) and Virginia (2009), a three-year stint at Liberty (2006-08) and two seasons at Virginia as a graduate assistant from 2004-05.
Wilt started his coaching career at Central Connecticut State where he coached the defensive line and served as special teams coordinator from 2001-03.
The native of Carlisle, Pa., was a three-time all-conference selection at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., and was a two-time NAIA All-American at defensive end and two-time academic all-conference selection.
He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Taylor University in 2000 and a master's degree from Virginia in 2006.
Wilt and his wife, Megan, have two sons, Cooper and Maddox.
// LOOKING AHEAD
UC opens the 2019 campaign against UCLA on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats finished 2018 with 11 or more wins for the third time in program history (2008, 2009) and knocked off Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. Looking ahead at 2019, UC is set to return more than 85% of its roster, over 5,000 yards of total offense, 10 of its Top-15 tacklers and 14 starters from the 2018 squad.
// SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
New season ticket deposits for the 2019 season can be reserved for $50 per seat. The home schedule consists of matchups against UCLA, Miami (OH), UCF, Temple, Tulsa and UConn. Fans can reserve their seats prior to the public on-sale date of May 13, 2019.
Click HERE to make your deposit to join us in Nippert Stadium in 2019!
// TICKET RENEWALS
The football season ticket renewal period will take place from Feb. 11-March 31, 2019. If you purchased 2018 football season tickets, you will receive renewal information via email in early February. 2018 season ticket holders DO NOT need to place a 2019 deposit.
// STUDENT SEASON TICKETS
Student season tickets for football are on sale now at GoBEARCATS.com/tickets for a reduced rate of $60 ($10 per game) until May 3, 2019. Students who renew before the deadline will be entered into drawings for a pair of tickets for UC's game at Ohio State, two tickets to the Bearcats road game at Marshall, Under Armour gear and more! Students should visit the ticket website (GoBEARCATS.com/tickets) and log into their account and renew or purchase their seats today.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
Wilt, who joins the Bearcats after a three-year stint at Army West Point, has close to 20 years of experience in college football.
"Thrilled we could attract a coach of Chad Wilt's caliber to our football staff," Fickell said. "He's shown to be an impressive teacher, motivator and coach. We are an offensive and defensive line driven program so this is a critical role for us. We are excited to keep developing what we have built here and continuing to progress this spring and into the 2019 season."
Wilt's time at Army was impactful as the Black Knights went 29-10 from 2016-18 with three wins over arch-rival Navy, three postseason bowl wins and a pair of Commander in Chief's Trophy as the nation's top service academy in football.
Army set a program record with 11 wins in 2018 and won the Eastern College Athletic Conference's prestigious Lambert Trophy. The Black Knights were ranked first nationally in third down conversion percentage and fourth down conversion percentage while ranking No. 8 in total defense and No. 10 in scoring defense. They finished the year on a high note by tying an NCAA FBS record with 70 points in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Wilt was a part of a 2017 defensive unit that helped Army earn ECAC Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Team of the Year accolades. They finished third in the nation in red zone defense and 14th in passing defense in the country. The defensive squad held opponents to 22 points per game and recorded a 21-0 victory at Air Force, stopping the Falcons' 306-game scoring streak. It was also the first shutout against a service-academy school for the Black Knights since 1969.
Wilt arrived at West Point after two seasons at the University of Maryland (2014-15) as defensive line coach with the Terrapins. Prior to Maryland, he spent three seasons as defensive line coach at Ball State (2011-13), single seasons at Richmond (2010) and Virginia (2009), a three-year stint at Liberty (2006-08) and two seasons at Virginia as a graduate assistant from 2004-05.
Wilt started his coaching career at Central Connecticut State where he coached the defensive line and served as special teams coordinator from 2001-03.
The native of Carlisle, Pa., was a three-time all-conference selection at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., and was a two-time NAIA All-American at defensive end and two-time academic all-conference selection.
He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Taylor University in 2000 and a master's degree from Virginia in 2006.
Wilt and his wife, Megan, have two sons, Cooper and Maddox.
// LOOKING AHEAD
UC opens the 2019 campaign against UCLA on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats finished 2018 with 11 or more wins for the third time in program history (2008, 2009) and knocked off Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. Looking ahead at 2019, UC is set to return more than 85% of its roster, over 5,000 yards of total offense, 10 of its Top-15 tacklers and 14 starters from the 2018 squad.
// SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
New season ticket deposits for the 2019 season can be reserved for $50 per seat. The home schedule consists of matchups against UCLA, Miami (OH), UCF, Temple, Tulsa and UConn. Fans can reserve their seats prior to the public on-sale date of May 13, 2019.
Click HERE to make your deposit to join us in Nippert Stadium in 2019!
// TICKET RENEWALS
The football season ticket renewal period will take place from Feb. 11-March 31, 2019. If you purchased 2018 football season tickets, you will receive renewal information via email in early February. 2018 season ticket holders DO NOT need to place a 2019 deposit.
// STUDENT SEASON TICKETS
Student season tickets for football are on sale now at GoBEARCATS.com/tickets for a reduced rate of $60 ($10 per game) until May 3, 2019. Students who renew before the deadline will be entered into drawings for a pair of tickets for UC's game at Ohio State, two tickets to the Bearcats road game at Marshall, Under Armour gear and more! Students should visit the ticket website (GoBEARCATS.com/tickets) and log into their account and renew or purchase their seats today.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati football, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati football (@GoBearcatsFB) and Coach Fickell (@CoachFick) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.