Assistant Football Coach Andy Waddle

Bio

Former standout defensive back Andy Waddle returned to his alma mater in 2005 to coach the team's defensive backs. A year later, Waddle accepted the additional responsibilities of defensive coordinator, while he continues to guide the program's defensive backfield.

In his first season on the Wittenberg sidelines, Waddle was part of a defensive staff in 2005 that oversaw an improvement of more than nine points per game from the previous season. The Tigers recorded three shutouts on the season and allowed just 15 points in five wins in 2005. As defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007, Waddle put together units that exceeded expectations both years as he replaced large numbers of graduated players. The Tigers ranked No. 1 in the NCAC in team defense in 2007 and in scoring defense in 2008, but those accomplishments were just a prelude for national leads in both categories in 2009. Waddle coordinated Division III's best defense that year, finishing the season ranked first in total defense (189.92 yards/game) and scoring defense (8.85 points/game).

Waddle played for two North Coast Athletic Conference championship teams in his three years at Wittenberg after transferring from the University of Findlay in 1999. At Findlay, Waddle was red-shirted during an NAIA national championship season in 1997 and was a starter for the Oilers the following year. In 2000, he tied an NCAA record for blocked punts in a game in his first appearance in the Red & White, turning away three Urbana attempts in the season opener.

Waddle earned first-team All-NCAC honors in football and track and field during his collegiate career, and fittingly he also serves as an assistant coach with the Tiger track and field program.

After graduating from Wittenberg in 2003 with a degree in sociology, Waddle spent one season at Mansfield University (Pa.), as the defensive backs coach for former Tiger defensive coordinator Chris Woods. He acted as a staff liaison to the university's athletic trainers and also learned the recruiting ropes while helping the Mountaineers to an 8-3 record, the program's first winning mark in nearly 30 years.

In 2004, Waddle was the defensive backs coach at Maryville College (Tenn.), and once again the program and its defensive unit made a dramatic improvement. Maryville won as many games in 2004 as it had won the previous three seasons combined, and the defense made a 17-point, 140-yard per game improvement. Waddle also served as Maryville's video coordinator.

A native of nearby Enon, Waddle also serves as the Tigers' recruiting coordinator. He resides in Springfield with his wife Kerry Jean.