Baylor Announces New Defensive Line Coach

[MrMustang1965]

Don Wnek, a specialist in pass rush and defensive line techniques with more than 25 seasons of college and professional coaching experience on his resume, has been selected as Baylor's defensive line coach for the 2005 season, replacing Tom Adams who has taken a personal leave of absence from the program, third-year Baylor head coach Guy Morriss announced Sunday evening following a team meeting.

An original member of Morriss' Baylor coaching staff, Adams spent six seasons (1997-2002) at Kentucky before returning to the Lone Star state and Baylor. He also served as an assistant coach at SMU (1993-96), Sam Houston State (1985-92), Wharton Country (Texas) Junior College (1982-84) and Rice (1981).

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Adams and his family as he continues to regain his health," said Morriss, whose squad will open fall camp on Aug. 8 with a 4 p.m. workout on the grass practice fields at Floyd Casey Stadium. "We believe Tom will be able to return to his position on our staff down the road.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Don's caliber joining our staff," he added. "He has tremendous coaching experience at all levels of the game and will be a valuable asset to our program."

Wnek spent the 2004 football season as the director of football of operations at the University of Indiana and worked as a federal law officer for the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

Prior to his stint with the U.S. government, Wnek was the defensive line coach for the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2002, his second tour of duty with the organization. He served as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach with the XFL's Birmingham Thunderbolts in 2001.

His collegiate coaching experience includes stops at Northern Illinois and the University of Nevada. Wnek coached at NIU, his alma mater, from 1978-81, and at Nevada from 1982-89. During his tenure at NIU, he coached the outside linebackers and defensive line while with the Wolfpack he coached the defensive line and served as defensive coordinator from 1986-87. Nevada won the Big Sky title in 1986 with Wnek leading the defense and was a member of two other Big Sky championship teams during his Reno tenure.

Wnek was out of football in 1990, but returned to the coaching ranks in 1991, when he coached the San Antonio Riders of the World League (now NFL Europe) during the fall and the CFL's Tiger-Cats during the spring. In San Antonio, he worked alongside Baylor's defensive coordinator Bill Bradley. Wnek served on both teams coaching staffs in 1991 and 1992 before working strictly with Hamilton in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, he coached the defensive line and linebackers for the CFL's Memphis Mad Dogs, and watched as one of his pupils led the CFL in sacks.

He worked on the Montreal Alouettes' staff in 1996 and 1997, coaching the defensive line in 1996, when one of his players again paced the CFL in sacks, and the offensive line in 1997 before a one-year stint as defensive coordinator for the British Columbia Lions in 1998. The B.C. defense ranked first in the CFL in turnovers, interceptions and fewest rushing touchdowns allowed and featured five All-Western Division All-Stars under his guidance.

Wnek returned to the Alouettes in 1999 to coach the defensive line and stayed through 2001 before returning to the Tiger-Cats in 2002. Montreal won the Eastern Division title in 2000 and played in the Grey Cup. His 2000 line spearheaded a defense that led the CFL in nine categories including most sacks and fewest points allowed. From 1995 through 2000, the defenses in which he worked with topped the CFL in sacks every season.

A three-year letterwinner at defensive end at Northern Illinois (1970-72), Wnek led the Huskies with 11 tackles for loss totaling 70 yards during his senior season. He received his bachelor's degree in education from NIU in 1974.

Wnek's son, Eli, was a fullback and linebacker at Arizona from 1997-2001 and enjoyed a brief playing career with the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers. He is married to the former Penny Smith.

[PonyFan]

Whatever is ailing Coach Adams, I hope he gets past it soon.

And I hope we run right though his replacement's line!

GO
MUSTANGS
GO
MUSTANGS
GO
MUSTANGS

[2112]

VERY INTERESTING!

[oakley]

adams has been fighting cancer. the replacement coach was a last minute addition and understands that adams gets his job back when he is well. this guy is said to be buddies with BU's D Coordinator Bradley.

tough spot for any coach - to take a temporary (1 season?) job. If adams does not return, look for a suitable permanent DLine coach to be hired. This guy is not permanent.