WVU Football

Vic Koenning Named Defensive Coordinator

Published

5 years ago

January 10, 2019

Photo via cleatgeeks.com

Newly West Virginia head coach Neal Brown announced Vic Koenning will be his defensive coordinator during his introductory press conference.

“We’ll be aggressive, playing fundamentally sound football with one goal, getting the ball back. We want our players reacting, not thinking.” Said Brown before officially announcing Koenning as the new DC.

It was clear Brown was confident in his Defense the last four seasons he spent in Troy. “Vic has a history of putting together some of the top attacking defenses in the country. He was a huge part of our success at Troy.”

Vic Koenning Coaching Career

1986–1990 |Memphis State (GA)

1991–1996 | Memphis State/Memphis (DB)

1997–1999 | Wyoming (DC)

2000–2002 | Wyoming

2003–2004 |Troy (DC)

2005–2008 | Clemson (DC/DB)

2009|Kansas State (AHC/co-DC/DB)

2010–2011 |Illinois (DC)

2011| Illinois (interim HC)

2012–2014| North Carolina (AHC/S)

2015–2018 | Troy (DC/S)

2019–present|WVU (DC)

Koenning put together a top 10 defense at Troy in 2004. They finished the 2004 season ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency (100.6), eighth in rushing (100.9), 10th in scoring (16.7) and 16th in total defense (311.0).

Vic left Troy to become the DC at Clemson for four seasons, assembling a consistent top 25 defense for four years al Clemson.

He had big defensive turnaround in his one year at Kansas State. He improved the Wildcats defense from 112th in the NCAA in rushing defense in 2008 to 16th in 2009, total defense from 117th to 40th and scoring defense from 110th to 48th.

After a year in Manhattan, Koenning improved the Illini defense from 91st in the country to seventh in his two seasons. Illinois ranked fourth in the nation in pass defense, fifth in tackles for loss and ninth in sacks before lead Illinois to a 2011 win over UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl as the team’s interim head coach.

Vic has had success on the defensive side of the ball everywhere he has been and his defense has been a big part of Troy’s 10 win seasons the last three years.