Staff Directory
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- Email:
Robert Wimberly is no stranger to Liberty, as he returns to Liberty Mountain after serving as assistant coach for five seasons (2004-08) for the Flames before joining Turner Gill's staff at Buffalo in 2009 to coach the Bulls' linebackers.
Wimberly’s return to Liberty provides him with his first career coordinator job, as Gill has tabbed Wimberly as the Flames’ new defensive coordinator. Along with directing Liberty’s defensive scheme, Wimberly will have direct oversight of Liberty’s safeties.
Wimberly’s first charge at Liberty will be to implement a new defensive scheme, switching the Flames’ defenders from a “3-4” to a “4-3” defensive scheme for the 2012 season.
Although the Flames’ offense has grabbed most of the accolades during the last five-plus seasons, Liberty’s defenders have certainly made their mark on the conference and national level resulting in Liberty winning seven or more games each of the last six seasons.
During the half dozen season span, Liberty’s defense has ranked in the Top 30 in scoring defense five out of six years and in the Top 40 in total defense five out of six seasons.
Liberty returns six of the top seven tacklers from the 2011 season, including leading tackler and free safety Chris Mayo (64 tackles, 31 solo, 33 assisted).
Prior to his return to Liberty, Wimberly worked two seasons as Kansas’ safeties coach (20010-11) and one season as Buffalo’s linebackers coach (2009). In 2009, the Bulls ranked No. 42 in the country in total defense, allowing 342.67 yards per game.
During his first stint on Liberty’s coaching staff, Wimberly’s on-field coaching responsibilities were to instruct Liberty’s linebackers. He also served the staff as Liberty’s director of high school relations.
During his first two seasons with the program, Liberty's linebackers excelled in production and led the team with more than 100 tackles both seasons. Nick Vaughn led the program with 105 tackles in 2004, and Manny Rojas finished with a team-best 102 stops in 2005.
Rojas finished as the Big South Conference's second all-time leading tackler (at the time of graduation) and was a three-time, all-conference honoree.
In 2007, Wimberly's linebackers continued to shine, helping Liberty finish the year ranked No. 24 in rushing defense (128.5 yards per game), No. 32 in scoring defense (22.3 points per game) and No. 40 in total defense (349.3 yards per game).
Wimberly also coach Vince Redd during his final collegiate season before the linebacker signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots. Redd would go on to play two seasons with the Patriots, working with the squad in 2008 and 2009.
Before coming to Liberty, Wimberly served as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Wisconsin during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Wimberly was a four-year letterwinner at Alabama A&M, where he received his bachelor's degree in science and hospitality management in 2002. His senior year was abruptly ended after two games, due to a season-ending neck injury.
Wimberly completed his master's degree in educational policy and administration at the University of Wisconsin in 2005.
The native of Miami, Fla., is married to the former Tracie Pruitt of Birmingham, Ala., and the couple has two children – Bianca and Josiah.
Wimberly at a Glance
Year at Liberty: Sixth
Coaching Experience:
2010-11 (2 years) – Kansas (S)
2009 (1 year) – Buffalo (LB)
2004-08 (5 years) - Liberty (LB)
2002-03 (2 years) – Wisconsin (SA, GA)
Recruiting Area: TBA
Education: Bachelor's degree in science and hospitality management (Alabama A&M, '02), Master's degree in educational policy and administration (Wisconsin, '05)
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Wife: Tracie
Children: Bianca and Josiah
