Pat Kuntz - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Pat Kuntz

Title:
Defensive Line
Email:
kuntzpt@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517

Pat Kuntz was hired on Feb. 10, 2022, as an assistant coach with James Madison University football, working as the defensive line coach.

In his first season with the Dukes and their first as a member of the Sun Belt Conference and the FBS, his defensive line wreaked havoc on opposing offenses.

The defensive line unit, led by Isaac Ukwu, James Carpenter and Jamare Edwards, combined for 136 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and six breakups. Ukwu was an Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All-Sun Belt honoree, while both Carpenter and Edwards were Second Team All-Sun Belt selections. All three were additionally named to the All-State Team.

His group helped JMU’s defense rank as one of the best not just in the Sun Belt but the entire Football Bowl Subdivision. JMU was second nationally in rushing defense (79.5), tackles for loss per game (8.6) and first-down defense (13.82), fourth in sacks (3.45), fifth in total defense (289.5) sixth in third-down defense (.284) and 23rd in scoring defense (20.9).

Kuntz came to JMU following a three-year stint at VMI (2019-21), where he coached the defensive line and served as defensive run game coordinator.

While in Lexington, he coached four players in his position group to All-Southern Conference accolades. He also assisted VMI’s defensive coordinator with third-down planning. In his three seasons, VMI went 17-14, which included a spring 2021 season where the Keydets went 6-2, won the SoCon title and reached the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history.

After the 2021 season, Kuntz was hired at Southern Illinois, where he spent a little over a month as defensive line coach. He also assisted the staff on the recruiting trail, helping sign two student-athletes for the 2022 class prior to his hiring at JMU.

Prior to VMI, Kuntz was a graduate assistant at Indiana (2016-18), working with the defensive line. He began his career in 2010 at his high school alma mater, Roncalli High School in Indianapolis (2010-16).

Kuntz is a four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame (2005-08), starting three seasons at nose guard for the Fighting Irish. He was named Lineman of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and led the country in pass breakups by a defensive lineman in 2007.

After graduating from Notre Dame in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Kuntz signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.