Scott Wachenheim

Last updated
Scott Wachenheim
Scott Wachenheim in 2017.jpg
Wachenheim in 2017 before a game at Air Force
Biographical details
Born (1962-08-13) August 13, 1962 (age 61)
Encino, California, U.S.
Playing career
1980–1983 Air Force
Position(s) Offensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984–1985 Air Force (GA)
1989–1990 Arkansas (GA)
1991 Colorado (GA)
1992–1993 Utah State (OT/TE/RC)
1994–2000 Rice (OL)
2001–2005Rice (OC/OL)
2006 Liberty (OC/OL)
2007–2008Liberty (assistant HC)
2009 Washington Redskins (TE)
2010 Virginia (TE)
2011–2014Virginia (OL)
2015–2022 VMI
Head coaching record
Overall24–62
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 SoCon (2020)
Awards
2× SoCon Coach of the Year (2019, 2020)
AFCA FCS Coach of the Year (2020)
Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year (2020)

Scott Allen Wachenheim (born August 13, 1962) is an American football coach and, most recently, the head coach of the VMI Keydets football team. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Wachenheim has been an assistant coach at various positions for nine different teams, ranging from the NCAA Division I FBS and FCS to a brief stint in the National Football League (NFL). Wachenheim was most recently hired as the head coach of the VMI Keydets on December 14, 2014, replacing former bench boss Sparky Woods after seven seasons. [1] Before that, he served as an offensive line coach at Virginia under Mike London for four seasons.

Contents

Playing career

Wachenheim attended the United States Air Force Academy from 1980 to 1983 where he was a four-year starter on the football team. [2] As an offensive lineman, Wachenheim garnered All-WAC honors in his senior season and was named as an honorable mention to All-America honors. [2] During that season, the Falcons went 10–2 and were ranked second in the country in rushing offense. Wachenheim would earn a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Air Force in 1984, and became the offensive coordinator of the Air Force junior varsity football team as a graduate assistant [3] before completing his obligatory military service.

Coaching career

After serving in the Air Force, Wachenheim returned to coaching, working as an offensive tackles and tight ends coach for the Utah State Aggies in 1992. In his second season, Wachenheim was part of the Aggies' 1993 Big West championship team that won the second edition of the Las Vegas Bowl with a win over Ball State. The following season, Wachenheim joined Rice University for twelve seasons, serving under head coach Ken Hatfield. [2] He was the Owl's offensive line coach for the first seven of those years, and was then promoted to the role of offensive coordinator in 2001.

Wachenheim then went on to serve as an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Liberty University, a former Big South Conference rival of VMI. Prior to the 2007 season, Wachenheim was upgraded by head coach Danny Rocco to the title of assistant head coach, and the Flames subsequently won two consecutive Big South championships in 2007 and 2008. [2] In 2009, Wachenheim briefly moved up to the NFL coaching ranks, serving as the tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins. Though the Redskins went 4–12 that season, Wachenheim did work in the development of tight end Fred Davis, a second-round pick who caught 48 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns. [2] Wachenheim returned to college ball the following season, working with first-year head coach Mike London and his Virginia Cavaliers. Initially, Wachenheim coached tight ends in his first season at Virginia, but was designated to coach the offensive line in 2011, a position he held for four years. Under Wachenheim's guidance, four Cavalier linemen made NFL rosters: Morgan Moses of the Redskins, Luke Bowanko and Austin Pasztor of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oday Aboushi of the New York Jets. [3]

On December 14, 2014, it was announced by VMI athletic director Dave Diles that the school had hired Wachenheim as head football coach. [1] Wachenheim became the Institute's 31st all-time head coach, replacing Sparky Woods, who, in seven seasons, compiled a 17–62 record with the Keydets. Wachenheim led VMI to a 2020 SoCon title (with the season played in the spring of 2021, due to COVID-19) and a first-ever FCS playoff berth. That was followed by a 6-5 season in the fall of 2021.

On November 20th, 2022, with his three-year contract extension [4] expiring in a month, Wachenheim announced his decision to step down as head coach. [5]

Personal life

Wachenheim was born in Encino, California, and raised in nearby Woodland Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. He and his wife, Karla, have two sons, Kyle and Tyson. [2]

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
VMI Keydets (Southern Conference)(2015–2022)
2015 VMI 2–91–68th
2016 VMI 3–81–78th
2017 VMI 0–110–89th
2018 VMI 1–100–89th
2019 VMI 5–74–4T-4th
2020–21 VMI 6–26–11stL NCAA Division I First Round
2021 VMI 6–54–4T–4th
2022 VMI 1–100–89th
VMI:24–6216–46
Total:24–62

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Groh</span> American football coach

Albert Michael Groh II is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Wake Forest University from 1981 to 1986 and at the University of Virginia from 2001 to 2009, compiling a career college football coaching record of 85–92. Groh was also the head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) for one season, in 2000, tallying a mark of 9–7. He last coached as the defensive coordinator for Georgia Tech in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Hamilton (safety)</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Justin Lee Hamilton is an American football coach and former player who is the defensive quality control coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech and also served as their defensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

Phillip Perry "Sparky" Woods is an American football coach. He is a senior adviser for football team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Woods served as the head football coach at Appalachian State University from 1984 to 1988, the University of South Carolina from 1989 to 1993, and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), from 2008 to 2014.

Tom Clark is an American football coach. He is the offensive coordinator at Shepherd University, a position he has held since 2023. Clark served for nine non-consecutive seasons as the head football coach at Catholic University of America, where he compiled a 58–32–1 record and a .643 winning percentage. Clark was the defensive coordinator at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) from 2015 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMI Keydets football</span> Football program representing the Virginia Military Institute

The VMI Keydets football team represents the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. The Keydets compete in the Southern Conference of the NCAA Division I FCS, and are coached by Danny Rocco, named head coach on December 3, 2022. VMI plays their home contests at 10,000-seat Alumni Memorial Field, as they have since 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William & Mary Tribe football</span> College football team

The William & Mary Tribe are a college football team representing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. They are currently coached by Mike London. He succeeds Jimmye Laycock, who was the head coach of the Tribe for 39 years.

The 2010 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 120th football season, which dates back to 1891. In his 3rd year at VMI, the Keydets were led by head coach Sparky Woods, who became the VMI's 30th all-time football coach in 2008. VMI plays its home games at Alumni Memorial Field, as they have since 1962.

The 2009 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 119th all-time football season which started in 1891. They competed in the Big South Conference, and they were led by 2nd year head coach Sparky Woods, who was appointed VMI's 30th head coach in 2008. VMI played its home games at Alumni Memorial Field, as they still do ever since 1962.

The 2014 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 124th football season, as the Keydets were led by seventh year head coach Sparky Woods. They played their home games at 10,000-seat Alumni Memorial Field, as they have since 1962. This was VMI's first season as a member of the Southern Conference, following an eleven-year stint in the Big South.

The 2008 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was the Keydets 118th year of football, which began in 1891, and their 6th season in the Big South Conference. VMI was run by first year head coach Sparky Woods, who was previously a head coach at Appalachian State and South Carolina. Woods was a replacement for his predecessor Jim Reid, who departed from the Institute to be linebackers coach of the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Elliott (American football coach)</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Antonio "Tony" Elliott is an American football coach who is currently the head coach at the University of Virginia. He previously served as an assistant coach at Clemson University from 2011 to 2021, most recently as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach, after serving most of those years as running backs coach and/or co-offensive coordinator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season</span> American college football season

The 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of college football in the United States, was organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. The season began on August 23, 2014, and concluded with the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game played on January 10, 2015, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

The 2015 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2015 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 125th football season and the Keydets were led by first year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium, as they have since 1962. This was VMI's second season as a member of the Southern Conference, following 11 seasons in the Big South Conference, which followed 78 years in the Southern Conference. They finished the season 2–9, 1–6 in SoCon play to finish in last place.

The 2016 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 126th football season and the Keydets were led by second year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium, as they have since 1962. This was VMI's third season as a member of the Southern Conference, after playing for 11 seasons in the Big South Conference. VMI was also a charter member of the Southern Conference, from 1921 through 2003. They finished the season 3–8, 1–7 in SoCon play to finish in a tie for eighth place.

The 2017 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 127th football season. The Keydets were led by third-year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium. This was VMI's fourth season as a member of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 0–11, 0–8 in SoCon play to finish in last place. This was VMI's fourth winless season and the first time they had gone winless since 2004.

The 2018 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 128th football season. The Keydets were led by fourth-year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium. They were a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). They finished the season 1–10, 0–8 in SoCon play to finish in last place.

The 2020 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was VMI's 130th football season. The Keydets were led by sixth-year head coach Scott Wachenheim. They played their home games at 10,000–seat Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium. They are a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 VMI Keydets football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The Keydets were led by seventh-year head coach Scott Wachenheim and played their home games at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 VMI Keydets football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Keydets were led by eighth-year head coach Scott Wachenheim and played their home games at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

References

  1. 1 2 King, Randy. "VMI hires UVa assistant Wachenheim as new football coach". Roanoke Times . Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Scott Wachenheim Named VMI Head Football Coach". VMIKeydets.com. December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Wood, Norm (December 14, 2014). "U.Va. assistant Scott Wachenheim accepts head coaching job at VMI". Daily Press. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ Walls, Dave (2019-12-17). "VMI's Wachenheim signs extension to stay in Lexington". WSET. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  5. ↑ Walls, Dave (2022-11-20). "VMI football coach Scott Wachenheim steps down after 8 seasons". WSET. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.