TicketsChad Wilt joined the University of Cincinnati football staff in February 2019 as the defensive line coach.
A nearly 20-year veteran of the coaching ranks, Wilt joins the Bearcats after a three-year stint at Army West Point
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, who finished ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, 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.
He guided team captain John Voit in 2017 to 31 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss, which was third on the team. Voit finished with 5.5 sacks on the season to finish second on the Black Knights. First-year starter Wunmi Oyetuga recorded 28 tackles from his defensive line position and had three tackles for loss.
In his first season at Army, Wilt tutored Voit to six tackles for loss along with three sacks and 26 total tackles. As a unit, the defensive line allowed only 3.9 yards per rush and ranked 18th in the nation in rushing defense at 121 yards per game allowed.
Wilt arrived at West Point after two seasons at the University of Maryland as the defensive line coach with the Terrapins.
In 2015, the defensive line under Wilt totaled 31.5 of the teams 35 sacks, which ranked 14th in the country. Two players from the line were selected in the 2016 National Football League Draft. Yannick Ngakoue was a third-round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Quinton Jefferson was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round.
Ngakoue set the school record for sacks in a season with 13.5 and was second in the nation. He was named first team All-Big Ten. Jefferson was named honorable mention All-Big Ten under Wilt and was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
In his first season at Maryland, Wilt tutored one of the best pass rushers in school history in Andre Monroe. The senior totaled 10.5 sacks to finish second in the Big Ten and earned second team all-conference honors from the media and honorable mention all-conference honors from the league’s coaches. Monroe set the school’s all-time sack record with 25.0.
Wilt also helped nose tackle Darius Kilgo achieve career highs in tackles (43) and tackles for loss (8.0). The senior finished the season tied for first in the Big Ten with four fumble recoveries and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from the media.
Kilgo was selected in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. It marked the second straight year a player coached by Wilt was chosen in the NFL Draft. Jonathan Newsome, who Wilt coached at Ball State, was picked in the 2014 NFL Draft and was second in the NFL among rookies with 6.5 sacks in 2014.
Prior to Maryland, he spent three seasons as defensive line coach at Ball State, adding recruiting coordinator responsibilities in 2013. He worked with a defensive unit that improved each of his three seasons in Muncie, Ind.
In his final season at Ball State, the Cardinals improved from 13th in total defense in the MAC in 2011 to seventh in 2013. In addition, the Cardinals’ rushing defense and sack totals improved each year. The Cardinals ranked 13th in the MAC in Wilt’s first season before improving to seventh in total defense, while the sacks totals increased from 16 (2011) to 27 (2013).
Newsome was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team after he finished with 10 sacks, the second highest total in the MAC, and 11.5 tackles for loss.
Defensive tackle Nathan Ollie joined Newsome on the All-MAC squad. Ollie earned second- team honors after posting 10.0 TFL as the Cardinals earned a berth to the GoDaddy Bowl.
In 2012, Wilt helped Newsome garner second team all-conference accolades after ranking fourth in the MAC with 8.5 sacks and racking up 12.5 TFL, while Ollie picked up third-team honors after being named to the second team in 2011. The Cardinals concluded the season with a trip to the Beef ‘O’ Brady Bowl.
Prior to his stint with Ball State, Wilt spent one season with the University of Richmond as a defensive line coach and helped Martin Parker earn All-American honors after totaling 14 TFL and 5.5 sacks.
Following the 2010 season, Parker was named the most valuable player on defense in the East-West Shrine Bowl and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Giants. Parker would help the franchise win Super Bowl XLVI before his career was cut short due to injury.
Wilt coached the defensive line during the 2009 season at Virginia. He oversaw the development of All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection Nate Collins, who signed with the Chicago Bears prior to the start of the 2010 NFL season.
From 2006 through 2008, Wilt served as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Liberty. During his tenure the Flames won two Big South Conference titles, and he coached five student-athletes who received All-America recognition.
Before arriving at Liberty, Wilt spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Virginia (2004-05) and three seasons as a defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Central Connecticut State (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.
Wilt earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Taylor University in 2000 and a master’s degree from Virginia in 2006.
His father Steve is a lifelong football coach and was the head coach at Wingate College (N.C.) and Taylor University (Ind.).
Wilt and his wife, Megan, have two sons, Cooper and Maddox.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: May 6, 1978
Hometown: Carlisle, Pa.
Wife: Megan
Children: Cooper, Maddox
Education: Taylor (2000, B.A.), Virginia (2006, M.Ed.)
Year in Coaching: 18th
PLAYING CAREER
1996-99: Taylor (Defensive End)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
2001-03: Central Connecticut State - Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator
2004-05: Virginia - Graduate Assistant
2006-08: Liberty - Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator
2009: Virginia - Defensive Line
2010: Richmond - Defensive Line
2011-13: Ball State - Defensive Line
2013: Ball State - Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
2014-15: Maryland - Defensive Line
2016-18: Army West Point - Defensive Line
2019-: Cincinnati - Defensive Line
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL – BOWL
2004: Virginia – MPC Computers
2005: Virginia – Music City
2012: Ball State – Beef O’Brady’s
2013: Ball State – GoDaddy
2014: Maryland – Foster Farms
2016: Army – Heart of Dallas
2017: Army – Armed Forces
2018: Army – Armed Forces
A nearly 20-year veteran of the coaching ranks, Wilt joins the Bearcats after a three-year stint at Army West Point
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, who finished ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, 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.
He guided team captain John Voit in 2017 to 31 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss, which was third on the team. Voit finished with 5.5 sacks on the season to finish second on the Black Knights. First-year starter Wunmi Oyetuga recorded 28 tackles from his defensive line position and had three tackles for loss.
In his first season at Army, Wilt tutored Voit to six tackles for loss along with three sacks and 26 total tackles. As a unit, the defensive line allowed only 3.9 yards per rush and ranked 18th in the nation in rushing defense at 121 yards per game allowed.
Wilt arrived at West Point after two seasons at the University of Maryland as the defensive line coach with the Terrapins.
In 2015, the defensive line under Wilt totaled 31.5 of the teams 35 sacks, which ranked 14th in the country. Two players from the line were selected in the 2016 National Football League Draft. Yannick Ngakoue was a third-round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Quinton Jefferson was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round.
Ngakoue set the school record for sacks in a season with 13.5 and was second in the nation. He was named first team All-Big Ten. Jefferson was named honorable mention All-Big Ten under Wilt and was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
In his first season at Maryland, Wilt tutored one of the best pass rushers in school history in Andre Monroe. The senior totaled 10.5 sacks to finish second in the Big Ten and earned second team all-conference honors from the media and honorable mention all-conference honors from the league’s coaches. Monroe set the school’s all-time sack record with 25.0.
Wilt also helped nose tackle Darius Kilgo achieve career highs in tackles (43) and tackles for loss (8.0). The senior finished the season tied for first in the Big Ten with four fumble recoveries and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from the media.
Kilgo was selected in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. It marked the second straight year a player coached by Wilt was chosen in the NFL Draft. Jonathan Newsome, who Wilt coached at Ball State, was picked in the 2014 NFL Draft and was second in the NFL among rookies with 6.5 sacks in 2014.
Prior to Maryland, he spent three seasons as defensive line coach at Ball State, adding recruiting coordinator responsibilities in 2013. He worked with a defensive unit that improved each of his three seasons in Muncie, Ind.
In his final season at Ball State, the Cardinals improved from 13th in total defense in the MAC in 2011 to seventh in 2013. In addition, the Cardinals’ rushing defense and sack totals improved each year. The Cardinals ranked 13th in the MAC in Wilt’s first season before improving to seventh in total defense, while the sacks totals increased from 16 (2011) to 27 (2013).
Newsome was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team after he finished with 10 sacks, the second highest total in the MAC, and 11.5 tackles for loss.
Defensive tackle Nathan Ollie joined Newsome on the All-MAC squad. Ollie earned second- team honors after posting 10.0 TFL as the Cardinals earned a berth to the GoDaddy Bowl.
In 2012, Wilt helped Newsome garner second team all-conference accolades after ranking fourth in the MAC with 8.5 sacks and racking up 12.5 TFL, while Ollie picked up third-team honors after being named to the second team in 2011. The Cardinals concluded the season with a trip to the Beef ‘O’ Brady Bowl.
Prior to his stint with Ball State, Wilt spent one season with the University of Richmond as a defensive line coach and helped Martin Parker earn All-American honors after totaling 14 TFL and 5.5 sacks.
Following the 2010 season, Parker was named the most valuable player on defense in the East-West Shrine Bowl and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Giants. Parker would help the franchise win Super Bowl XLVI before his career was cut short due to injury.
Wilt coached the defensive line during the 2009 season at Virginia. He oversaw the development of All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection Nate Collins, who signed with the Chicago Bears prior to the start of the 2010 NFL season.
From 2006 through 2008, Wilt served as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Liberty. During his tenure the Flames won two Big South Conference titles, and he coached five student-athletes who received All-America recognition.
Before arriving at Liberty, Wilt spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Virginia (2004-05) and three seasons as a defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Central Connecticut State (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.
Wilt earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Taylor University in 2000 and a master’s degree from Virginia in 2006.
His father Steve is a lifelong football coach and was the head coach at Wingate College (N.C.) and Taylor University (Ind.).
Wilt and his wife, Megan, have two sons, Cooper and Maddox.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: May 6, 1978
Hometown: Carlisle, Pa.
Wife: Megan
Children: Cooper, Maddox
Education: Taylor (2000, B.A.), Virginia (2006, M.Ed.)
Year in Coaching: 18th
PLAYING CAREER
1996-99: Taylor (Defensive End)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
2001-03: Central Connecticut State - Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator
2004-05: Virginia - Graduate Assistant
2006-08: Liberty - Defensive Line/Special Teams Coordinator
2009: Virginia - Defensive Line
2010: Richmond - Defensive Line
2011-13: Ball State - Defensive Line
2013: Ball State - Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
2014-15: Maryland - Defensive Line
2016-18: Army West Point - Defensive Line
2019-: Cincinnati - Defensive Line
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL – BOWL
2004: Virginia – MPC Computers
2005: Virginia – Music City
2012: Ball State – Beef O’Brady’s
2013: Ball State – GoDaddy
2014: Maryland – Foster Farms
2016: Army – Heart of Dallas
2017: Army – Armed Forces
2018: Army – Armed Forces