Jeff Knowles Named Defensive Coordinator; Dan Wenger Elevated on Football Staff
January 04, 2024 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University head football coach Mike Neu has named Jeff Knowles as the Cardinals' new defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, replacing Tyler Stockton who took a position at Boise State in late December. Elsewhere on the staff, Dan Wenger has been appointed to lead the strength and conditioning staff.
An Illinois native who spent three seasons coaching at Northern Illinois, Knowles makes a return to the Mid-American Conference while joining the Ball State coaching staff. He spent the past two seasons guiding defensive efforts at Butler where he shaped the Bulldogs into one of the best defenses in college football's Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Butler was among FCS leaders in Red Zone defense, and finished in the top 10 in scoring defense and the top 25 in total defense.
Knowles has a pedigree of success that includes stints at Temple, NIU and NC State. He was tabbed the defensive coordinator at Butler in January of 2022 and was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2023 campaign.
"Jeff's defenses have been respected at every stop of his career," said Neu, "and we encountered first-hand the great job that he did at NIU. He has a great reputation, especially here in the Midwest, and I am excited to see our defense continue to evolve under his leadership."
Prior to joining Mike Uremovich's coaching staff at Butler, he served three years at Temple, working as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2019-21. Before joining the Owls, Knowles spent two seasons on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois University where he was hired as the linebacker coach in 2017 and added the defensive coordinator title in 2018.
In 2018, the NIU defense ranked second in the country with a school-record 50 sacks. They were also ranked third in the country with 2.7 rushing yards per carry and had the MAC's best scoring defense with 20.6 points per game allowed. In his first year on the NIU staff in 2017, the Huskies enjoyed one of the top defensive seasons in recent history as NIU led the Mid-American Conference in total defense and scoring defense and broke the school record for most punts forced by its opponents.
Previously, Knowles was in charge of defensive quality control at NC State for three seasons. He also spent six years coaching at his alma mater, the University of Saint Francis. Knowles played collegiately at Saint Francis from 1996-00, serving as team captain his final two seasons.
Wenger, meanwhile, has been promoted to director of football strength and conditioning, where he takes over for his former boss, Ben Armer, who accepted a similar role at Duke.
"Dan's been great with our players and our program," said Neu. "His work ethic is tremendous and he's made it a priority to build relationships with our student-athletes. I am excited to see our strength and conditioning program under his leadership."
Wenger started at Ball State prior to the 2021 season begins his fourth season on the Cardinals' strength and conditioning staff, after previous stints at Stephen F. Austin, Western Michigan and Florida. He played his college ball as an offensive lineman at Notre Dame and Florida.
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An Illinois native who spent three seasons coaching at Northern Illinois, Knowles makes a return to the Mid-American Conference while joining the Ball State coaching staff. He spent the past two seasons guiding defensive efforts at Butler where he shaped the Bulldogs into one of the best defenses in college football's Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Butler was among FCS leaders in Red Zone defense, and finished in the top 10 in scoring defense and the top 25 in total defense.
Knowles has a pedigree of success that includes stints at Temple, NIU and NC State. He was tabbed the defensive coordinator at Butler in January of 2022 and was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2023 campaign.
"Jeff's defenses have been respected at every stop of his career," said Neu, "and we encountered first-hand the great job that he did at NIU. He has a great reputation, especially here in the Midwest, and I am excited to see our defense continue to evolve under his leadership."
Prior to joining Mike Uremovich's coaching staff at Butler, he served three years at Temple, working as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2019-21. Before joining the Owls, Knowles spent two seasons on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois University where he was hired as the linebacker coach in 2017 and added the defensive coordinator title in 2018.
In 2018, the NIU defense ranked second in the country with a school-record 50 sacks. They were also ranked third in the country with 2.7 rushing yards per carry and had the MAC's best scoring defense with 20.6 points per game allowed. In his first year on the NIU staff in 2017, the Huskies enjoyed one of the top defensive seasons in recent history as NIU led the Mid-American Conference in total defense and scoring defense and broke the school record for most punts forced by its opponents.
Previously, Knowles was in charge of defensive quality control at NC State for three seasons. He also spent six years coaching at his alma mater, the University of Saint Francis. Knowles played collegiately at Saint Francis from 1996-00, serving as team captain his final two seasons.
Wenger, meanwhile, has been promoted to director of football strength and conditioning, where he takes over for his former boss, Ben Armer, who accepted a similar role at Duke.
"Dan's been great with our players and our program," said Neu. "His work ethic is tremendous and he's made it a priority to build relationships with our student-athletes. I am excited to see our strength and conditioning program under his leadership."
Wenger started at Ball State prior to the 2021 season begins his fourth season on the Cardinals' strength and conditioning staff, after previous stints at Stephen F. Austin, Western Michigan and Florida. He played his college ball as an offensive lineman at Notre Dame and Florida.
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