Former Trojan Wilt Coaching at DI Virginia
More than nine years removed from his All-American football career at Taylor, Chad Wilt has never strayed far from the gridiron.
The former Trojan defensive end has rapidly climbed the college coaching ladder, and last month was named the defensive line coach at NCAA Division I University of Virginia under head coach Al Groh. During the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Wilt worked with Groh as a graduate assistant coach.
Wilt arrived at Virginia after spending the past three seasons at Liberty University coaching the defensive line and special teams under Danny Rocco, a former Virginia assistant coach.
"Chad has a solid background in our philosophy and schemes having spent two seasons with us and three with Dan Rocco," Groh said. "He knows us very well, and we know Chad and look forward to the energy and style that he will bring to our program. Our players will appreciate his commitment and expertise."
A 2000 Taylor graduate, Wilt looks forward to the challenge ahead. "It is an honor for me to join the Virginia program and coach Groh's staff," Wilt said. "Having been part of the program in the past, I respect and believe in it. I couldn't be more excited to get started."
Wilt left Taylor as one of the more decorated players in school history, earning three first team all-conference selections, two academic all-conference awards, in addition to being named NAIA Second Team All-American following his junior and senior seasons. As team captain during his final two seasons, Wilt played a significant role in leading the Trojans to two consecutive NAIA playoff appearances, including the school's first playoff victory in 1999.
Wilt talked about his best memories during his time at Taylor. "Anything that involved the guys on the team, hanging out in the dorms. The memories came in the journey. Still to this day, a group of us get together every summer to catch up."
The journey for Wilt and his teammates was not always a smooth one. During his freshman season, Taylor finished 1-9 and ended the season with eight straight losses. Following that disappointing season in 1996, Taylor bounced back with a 25-8 record over Wilt's final three seasons to establish a new school record for a three-year period.
"We made up our minds collectively as a team that we needed to change our culture," Wilt explained. "Together we learned many lessons in perseverance, commitment, teamwork, accountability, and hard work. Those are all lessons I carry with me today in coaching."
For Wilt, the move to a BCS program at Virginia comes just eight and a half years after his first coaching position as a student assistant at Taylor under his dad and longtime Taylor coach, Steve Wilt.
Wilt attributes his path to a football coaching career to his dad. "He's the reason I got into coaching," said Wilt. "As I sat in meetings with my dad, I realized the impact he had on his players and the way he was able to help them as a male role model and father figure."
After he left Taylor in 2001, Wilt made coaching stops at William and Mary College and Central Connecticut State University before the moves to Virginia and Liberty.
While at Liberty, Wilt was instrumental in helping the Flames to the biggest single-season turnaround in Division I FCS football during his first season with the team in 2006. Two Big South Conference Championships followed in 2007 and 2008.
Ron Korfmacher, Taylor's current head football coach and an assistant coach during Wilt's four years, offered his congratulations to the former Trojan. "Chad was one of our leaders on two consecutive playoff teams. He will be a great asset to University of Virginia football and the young men he will coach. This is a well-deserved opportunity."
Wilt is an Eastbrook High School graduate and native of Upland, Indiana. He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Taylor with a minor in Christian Education. He completed his master's degree in educational leadership, foundations and policy from Virginia in 2006.