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Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Defensive Line/Special Teams
- Email:
- cswilt@liberty.edu
Chad Wilt, who was one of four assistant coach additions to the Flames’ coaching staff in 2006, made an immediate impact on Liberty’s staff during his first year as both a defensive and special teams coach.
Defensively, Liberty set eight different team records, including fewest points allowed (172 points), fewest rushing yards allowed (1,433), shutouts (3) and fewest average total offensive yards (306.0). The Flames finished the year ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (15.64).
Wilt’s tutelage also played a huge part in Liberty’s highly successful special teams’ efforts in 2006. The Flames ranked third nationally in kickoff return yardage (25.56) and was the only team in the country to return three kickoffs for touchdowns, setting a school record.
Wynton Jackson was named the Big South top return specialist. He posted the second-highest punt return yardage total in program history (298) and set a school record by averaging 29.4 yards per kickoff return. Jackson also drew attention outside the league. The junior was named to the VaSID first-team all-state squad and the Football Gazette Central All-Region second-team.
In 2007, Wilt coached seven Big South all-conference performers, including a pair on the defensive line, Steven Ackley and Colin Dugan, and five special teams honorees. Jackson continued to shine, ranking No. 10 in punt return yardage (13.4) with two for scores, while Dominic Bolden ranked No. 2 in average kickoff return yardage (32.0).
Noah Greenbaum set a new program standard under Wilt’s leadership, scoring 101 points as a kicker, while ranking No. 14 nationally in scoring. Long snapper Dan Pope drew conference and national attention as a Big South first-team all-conference honoree and garnering All-America honors as a member of the College Sporting News Fabulous FCS All-America Team.
In 2007, Wilt’s special teams unit finished first in the Big South in net punting (34.7), net kickoff returns (42.3), punt return average (14.2) and kickoff return average (23.7).
During the course of the season, Liberty dominated the league’s Special Team’s Player of the Week honors. The Flames took home six out of 12 weekly award winners, including the entire unit being honors following VMI game when Liberty’s special teams scored 25 of the team’s season-best 73 points.
Prior to joining Liberty’s coaching staff in the spring of 2006, Wilt spent the previous two years as a graduate assistant at Virginia. He worked closely with the Cavaliers’ defensive backs along with Liberty’s head coach Danny Rocco, who was also a member of Virginia’s defensive coaching staff.
During the 2004 season, Virginia was ranked as high as fifth in the nation, and Wilt helped coach a defensive unit which finished 18th in the country in total defense and 17th in scoring defense by allowing just 17.7 points per game. The solid play landed the Cavaliers an appearance in the MPC Computers Bowl where Virginia faced off against Fresno State.
In 2005, the Cavaliers recorded an impressive 26-21 upset victory over fourth-ranked Florida State and closed out the year with a 34-31 victory over Minnesota at the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Wilt was instrumental in guiding one of his cornerbacks, Marcus Hamilton, to a stellar season. Hamilton earned second-team All-ACC honors and finished fifth in the nation in interceptions per game.
Prior to his days at Virginia, Wilt spent three seasons as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Central Connecticut State, where he was nominated for the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2003.
Wilt also coached one season as a student assistant at Taylor in Upland, Ind., and spent a spring season as an assistant coach at William & Mary.
Wilt was a three-time all-conference performer at Taylor, where he captained the football team as a senior, and was twice named a second-team NAIA All-American at defensive end. He was also named to the academic all-conference team twice during his playing career.
Wilt, a native of Upland, Ind., earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Taylor in 2000, while he completed his master’s degree in educational leadership, foundations and policy from Virginia in 2005.
The Wilt File
Year at Liberty: Third
Coaching Experience:
2006 – Present (2 years) - Liberty (DL, ST)
2005 (Spring season) – William & Mary (AC)
2004-05 (2 years) – Virginia (GA – DB)
2001-03 (3 years) – Central Connecticut State (DL, ST)
2000 (1 year) – Taylor (SA)
Recruiting Area: Virginia Peninsula area, Charlotte, N.C., area/Western North Carolina, Georgia
Education: Bachelor’s degree in sports management (Taylor, ’00); Master’s degree in educational leadership, foundations and policy (Virginia, ’05)
Hometown: Upland, Ind.
