Former WVU Assistant Jeff Koonz Finds Opportunity in NFL

It took awhile, but former WVU assistant coach Jeff Koonz has found a new job. Koonz will actually jump to the NFL and join the Green Bay Packers as a defensive assistant. Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports was first to report the news.

After mostly coaching inside linebackers and serving as the special teams coordinator under Neal Brown at WVU, Koonz took over as the defensive coordinator after Jordan Lesley was fired during the 2024 season. In its first game under Koonz, the WVU defense picked up three turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns during a 31-24 win at Cincinnati.

Good for @CoachKoonz and his family. https://t.co/rw29APGPDP

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) March 8, 2025

A native of Wallkill, N.Y., Koonz started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 2004, the same school he attended for his undergraduate degree. Koonz accomplished a master’s at Texas in 2006 and worked as a graduate assistant and linebackers coach with the Longhorns. He then moved on for a brief stint at Iowa State for his first position coaching special teams (and also the secondary), and then returned to Texas in 2009 as a defensive quality control coach.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

Koonz would experience a season at Louisiana Tech before working his way up the Cincinnati staff, going from coaching the safeties to co-defensive coordinator in three seasons.

Find more coverage of Jeff Koonz at WV Sports Now.