University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
Wenger, Rob
Rob Wenger
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator / Rush Ends
NOTABLE:Â
Rob Wenger joined the Minnesota football staff in January 2017 and has served as the program's Special Teams Coordinator. He was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends in February 2020.
Minnesota's special teams have seen success under Wenger. The Gophers ranked second in the nation in punt return defense in 2018 (1.11) and 2019 (0.17) and led the nation in 2018 in punt returns with an average of 22.25.
Wenger has coached some elite special team members at Minnesota. Kicker Emmit Carpenter played under Wenger for two seasons and left Minnesota as the most accurate kicker (79.1%) in school history and is the school's second all-time leading scorer (276 points). Punters Ryan Santoso and Jacob Herbers also excelled under the tutelage of Wenger. Santoso, who made his NFL debut in 2019 with the Tennessee Titans as a kick-off specialist, averaged 43.0 yards per punt in 2017 at Minnesota. Herbers punted 93 times in 2018-19 and put only two balls in the end zone for a touchback. He placed 37 punts (39.7%) inside the 20 and 46 punts (49.4%) were fair caught.
In 2020, Wenger coached an inexperienced group of specialist as Minnesota navigated the Covid-19 pandemic. The Gophers were forced to use multiple punters and kickers during the season, but still found success. Minnesota made 4-of-6 field goals on the season. In the punting game, Minnesota did not record any touchbacks and 12 of the team's 27 punts were inside the 20. In addition, 11 of the 27 punts were fair caught. Dragan Kesich emerged as the team's kickoff specialist and 10 of his 24 kickoffs were touchbacks.Â
In 2019, freshmen Michael Lantz and Brock Walker handled field goals and PATs for Minnesota, while freshman Brady Weeks served as the team's longsnapper. Lantz, who made 8-of-11 field goals, was second on the team in scoring with 71 points and his 47 PATs were the second most in school history in a single season. Walker connected on 3-of-4 field goals and made six PATs.Â
Minnesota has returned one kickoff and two punts for a touchdown under the guise of Wenger. Rodney Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Nebraska in 2017 and Antoine Winfield Jr., and Demetrius Douglas both returned punts for touchdowns in 2018. Minnesota has returned only 12 punts for a touchdown ever and the last time it happened prior to 2018 was in 2013.
Wenger came to Minnesota from Western Michigan where he worked since 2013. Wenger joined the Western Michigan staff as a graduate assistant in 2013, but was quickly promoted to special teams coordinator and he also worked with the defensive backs.
In 2016, he coached Darius Phillips who was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Phillips returned a kickoff and punt for a touchdown in 2016, a feat he accomplished in three straight seasons. Wenger used two punters in 2016 in James Coleman and Derrick Mitchell, but the duo combined to average 40.68 yards on only 44 punts. His kicker Butch Hampton made 19-of-24 field goals, which included a season-long 47 yarder. Hampton, who was a Freshman All-American, totaled 128 points (19 FGs and 71 PATs) to set the all-time, single-season points record in the MAC.Â
In 2015, Wenger saw two of his players recognized by the MAC for their breakout seasons, as Phillips earned second-team honors as a kick returner and Andrew Haldeman was named third-team as a place kicker. Phillips made national headlines the first week of the season when he returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown against No. 5 Michigan State. Haldeman broke the Western Michigan career scoring record with 337 points and for field goals made with 57. In the MAC, Haldeman placed sixth all-time in points scored and tenth in field goals made.Â
In 2014, the Broncos saw significant improvements in their special teams. Punter J. Schroeder was named All-MAC Third Team, while Phillips was named a Sporting News Freshman All-American and led the conference in kick return yards and average at 26.1.
Wenger played linebacker and fullback at Colgate from 2004-06. He graduated from Colgate in 2008 and then spent two seasons at Rutgers. He was as an operations assistant in 2008 and worked in player development during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. From 2010-12, Wenger coached at his high school alma mater St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as well as Allegheny College, working primarily with defensive players.
In 2009-10, Wenger was an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas. In 2010-11, he served in the same capacity at Allegheny in Meadville, Pa. In 2011-12, he was elevated to defensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas and then was elevated to the same position, as well as recruiting coordinator, in 2012 at Allegheny.
Wenger earned his master’s in education with a specialization in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University in August of 2010.
Wenger and his wife Jacqui were married in July 2016 and have one daughter, Skyler.
WENGER AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2020-present: Minnesota - Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends
2017-19: Minnesota - Special Teams Coordinator
2013-16: Western Michigan - Special Teams Coordinator (also coached defensive ends in 2014)Â
2013: Western Michigan - Graduate Assistant
2012: Allegheny - Defensive Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator
2011-12: St. Thomas Aquinas H.S., - Defensive Coordinator
2010-11: Allegheny College - Assistant Coach
2009-10: St. Thomas Aquinas H.S., - Assistant Coach
2008-09: Rutgers - Player Development
2008: Rutgers - Operations Assistant
Bowls Coached
2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Minnesota)
2020 Outback Bowl (Minnesota)
2018 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2017 Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan)
2015 Bahamas Bowl (Western Michigan)
2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Western Michigan)
2009 St. Petersburg Bowl (Rutgers)
2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl (Rutgers)
Playing Experience:Â Colgate University (linebacker and fullback), 2004-06
Birthday:Â Feb. 21, 1986
Hometown:Â Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
High School:Â St. Thomas Aquinas, 2004Â
Alma Mater:Â Colgate University, 2008 (sociology and anthropology); Nova Southeastern University, 2010 (education)Â
Wife:Â Jacqui
Daughter:Â Skyler
- Sixth year overall at Minnesota, third as special teams coordinator/rush ends coach (22nd year overall in coaching)
- Saw Baye Mafe (second round) and Esezi Otomewo (fifth round) both get taken in the 2021 NFL Draft; first time two Gopher DL taken in the same draft since 1958
- Mafe and Otomewo both earned All-Big Ten honors in 2021
- Kicker Emmit Carpenter played under Wenger for two seasons and left Minnesota as the most accurate kicker in school history and is the school's second all-time leading scorer
Rob Wenger joined the Minnesota football staff in January 2017 and has served as the program's Special Teams Coordinator. He was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends in February 2020.
Minnesota's special teams have seen success under Wenger. The Gophers ranked second in the nation in punt return defense in 2018 (1.11) and 2019 (0.17) and led the nation in 2018 in punt returns with an average of 22.25.
Wenger has coached some elite special team members at Minnesota. Kicker Emmit Carpenter played under Wenger for two seasons and left Minnesota as the most accurate kicker (79.1%) in school history and is the school's second all-time leading scorer (276 points). Punters Ryan Santoso and Jacob Herbers also excelled under the tutelage of Wenger. Santoso, who made his NFL debut in 2019 with the Tennessee Titans as a kick-off specialist, averaged 43.0 yards per punt in 2017 at Minnesota. Herbers punted 93 times in 2018-19 and put only two balls in the end zone for a touchback. He placed 37 punts (39.7%) inside the 20 and 46 punts (49.4%) were fair caught.
In 2020, Wenger coached an inexperienced group of specialist as Minnesota navigated the Covid-19 pandemic. The Gophers were forced to use multiple punters and kickers during the season, but still found success. Minnesota made 4-of-6 field goals on the season. In the punting game, Minnesota did not record any touchbacks and 12 of the team's 27 punts were inside the 20. In addition, 11 of the 27 punts were fair caught. Dragan Kesich emerged as the team's kickoff specialist and 10 of his 24 kickoffs were touchbacks.Â
In 2019, freshmen Michael Lantz and Brock Walker handled field goals and PATs for Minnesota, while freshman Brady Weeks served as the team's longsnapper. Lantz, who made 8-of-11 field goals, was second on the team in scoring with 71 points and his 47 PATs were the second most in school history in a single season. Walker connected on 3-of-4 field goals and made six PATs.Â
Minnesota has returned one kickoff and two punts for a touchdown under the guise of Wenger. Rodney Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Nebraska in 2017 and Antoine Winfield Jr., and Demetrius Douglas both returned punts for touchdowns in 2018. Minnesota has returned only 12 punts for a touchdown ever and the last time it happened prior to 2018 was in 2013.
Wenger came to Minnesota from Western Michigan where he worked since 2013. Wenger joined the Western Michigan staff as a graduate assistant in 2013, but was quickly promoted to special teams coordinator and he also worked with the defensive backs.
In 2016, he coached Darius Phillips who was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Phillips returned a kickoff and punt for a touchdown in 2016, a feat he accomplished in three straight seasons. Wenger used two punters in 2016 in James Coleman and Derrick Mitchell, but the duo combined to average 40.68 yards on only 44 punts. His kicker Butch Hampton made 19-of-24 field goals, which included a season-long 47 yarder. Hampton, who was a Freshman All-American, totaled 128 points (19 FGs and 71 PATs) to set the all-time, single-season points record in the MAC.Â
In 2015, Wenger saw two of his players recognized by the MAC for their breakout seasons, as Phillips earned second-team honors as a kick returner and Andrew Haldeman was named third-team as a place kicker. Phillips made national headlines the first week of the season when he returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown against No. 5 Michigan State. Haldeman broke the Western Michigan career scoring record with 337 points and for field goals made with 57. In the MAC, Haldeman placed sixth all-time in points scored and tenth in field goals made.Â
In 2014, the Broncos saw significant improvements in their special teams. Punter J. Schroeder was named All-MAC Third Team, while Phillips was named a Sporting News Freshman All-American and led the conference in kick return yards and average at 26.1.
Wenger played linebacker and fullback at Colgate from 2004-06. He graduated from Colgate in 2008 and then spent two seasons at Rutgers. He was as an operations assistant in 2008 and worked in player development during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. From 2010-12, Wenger coached at his high school alma mater St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as well as Allegheny College, working primarily with defensive players.
In 2009-10, Wenger was an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas. In 2010-11, he served in the same capacity at Allegheny in Meadville, Pa. In 2011-12, he was elevated to defensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas and then was elevated to the same position, as well as recruiting coordinator, in 2012 at Allegheny.
Wenger earned his master’s in education with a specialization in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University in August of 2010.
Wenger and his wife Jacqui were married in July 2016 and have one daughter, Skyler.
WENGER AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2020-present: Minnesota - Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends
2017-19: Minnesota - Special Teams Coordinator
2013-16: Western Michigan - Special Teams Coordinator (also coached defensive ends in 2014)Â
2013: Western Michigan - Graduate Assistant
2012: Allegheny - Defensive Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator
2011-12: St. Thomas Aquinas H.S., - Defensive Coordinator
2010-11: Allegheny College - Assistant Coach
2009-10: St. Thomas Aquinas H.S., - Assistant Coach
2008-09: Rutgers - Player Development
2008: Rutgers - Operations Assistant
Bowls Coached
2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Minnesota)
2020 Outback Bowl (Minnesota)
2018 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2017 Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan)
2015 Bahamas Bowl (Western Michigan)
2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Western Michigan)
2009 St. Petersburg Bowl (Rutgers)
2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl (Rutgers)
Playing Experience:Â Colgate University (linebacker and fullback), 2004-06
Birthday:Â Feb. 21, 1986
Hometown:Â Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
High School:Â St. Thomas Aquinas, 2004Â
Alma Mater:Â Colgate University, 2008 (sociology and anthropology); Nova Southeastern University, 2010 (education)Â
Wife:Â Jacqui
Daughter:Â Skyler
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win 66-0
Monday, September 08
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Demons
Saturday, September 06
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05
