Rob Wenger - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Rob Wenger

Title:
Special Teams Coordinator
Phone:
540-568-6517

Rob Wenger is in his first season with the James Madison football program in 2026, as he serves as the special teams coordinator.

Wenger joins the Dukes after spending the 2025 season in the same role at Sacramento State and brings in 13 years of experience leading special teams units, including 12 at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

In his lone season with the Hornets, they ranked second in the FCS in punt return defense (1.63) and third nationally in net punt average (41.16) after allowing just 12 total punt returns on the year. More than half of Sac State’s kickoffs ended as touchbacks with 41 on 74 attempts. Two players earned All-Big Sky status in Second Team member Rodney Hammond Jr. and Honorable Mention selection Adam Johnston. Hammond averaged 28.4 per kickoff return, the second-highest number in school history, while Johnston was long snapper for Sac’s kicking game.

Prior to Sacramento State, Wenger spent eight seasons at Minnesota, where he was special teams coordinator and coached the rush ends over the final five seasons.

During his tenure with the Gophers, they 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 coached elite special teams member while at Minnesota, including Emmit Carpenter, who left the Gophers as the most accurate kicker in school history (79.1%) and the school’s second leading scorer (276). Punters Ryan Santoso and Jacob Herbers excelled under the tutelage of Wenger. Santoso, who made his NFL debut in 2019 with the Tennessee Titans as a kickoff 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. In spite of utilizing multiple punters and kickers during the season, Minnesota still found success, making 4-of-6 field goals and not putting any of its 27 punts in the end zone for a touchback. In addition, 12 of those 27 per pinned inside the 20.

Minnesota has returned one kickoff and two punts for a touchdown under 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.

Wenger also coached the Golden Gophers rush ends. Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewa were selected in the second and fifth rounds, respectively, in the 2021 NFL Draft. That year marked the first time since 1958 that two Minnesota defensive linemen were selected in the same draft.

Wenger came to Minnesota from Western Michigan (2013-16). After beginning as a graduate assistant, he was elevated to special teams coordinator and also coached defensive backs in 2014.
In his final season, he coached Darius Phillips to Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year after returning a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown, a feat he accomplished in three straight seasons. His punting duo averaged 40.7 yards per punt on 44 attempt and Butch Hampton converted 19-of-24 field goals on his way to being a Freshman All-American with 128 points, a MAC single-season points record.

The 2015 season saw two of Wenger’s players recognized by the MAC, as Phillips was a Second Team All-MAC kick returner and Andrew Haldeman was a Third Team kicker. Haldeman broke the WMU career records in scoring (337) and field goals (57). In 2014, the Broncos saw significant improvements on special teams as J. Schroeder was a Third Team All-MAC punter while Phillips was a Freshman All-American after leading the league with a 26.1 kick return average.

Wenger also had coaching stops at Allegheny (2010-11, 2012), St. Thomas Aquinas High School (2009-10, 2011-12) and Rutgers (2008-09).

Wenger was a linebacker and fullback at Colgate from 2004-06. He graduated from Colgate in 2008 with degrees in sociology and anthropology and later earned a master’s in education with a specialization in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern in 2010.

Wenger and his wife Jacqui were married in July 2016 and have one daughter, Skyler.

Wenger Coaching File
2026: James Madison (Special Teams Coordinator)
2025: Sacramento State (Special Teams Coordinator)
2020-24: Minnesota (Special Teams Coordinator/Rush Ends)
2017-19: Minnesota (Special Teams Coordinator)
2013-16: Western Michigan (Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs in 2014)
2013: Western Michigan (Graduate Assistant)
2012: Allegheny (Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator)
2011-12: St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Defensive Coordinator)
2010-11: Allegheny (Assistant Coach)
2009-10: St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Assistant Coach)
2008-09: Rutgers (Player Development)
2008: Rutgers (Operations Assistant)