Wittenberg Football Announces 2026 Coaching Staff

First-year Wittenberg Football Head Coach BJ Coad ’08 has assembled an outstanding coaching staff, including several new faces, since taking the reins in December 2025.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Coad returned to his alma mater after compiling an impressive coaching resume that included stops at Wittenberg, Syracuse University, Marian University (Indiana), Butler University, and Ohio Dominican. He spent the last two years as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Ohio Dominican University.

Anxious to get the ball moving on his first season as the Tigers’ head coach, Coad has been busy recruiting, leading the team through practices in the spring nontraditional season, and assembling his coaching staff.

The Tigers’ 2026 coaching staff includes Kennedy Cook, assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator/offensive line; Cody Cruzen, defensive coordinator; Jake Kennedy, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks; D'Gary Wallace, recruiting coordinator and co-special teams coordinator/linebackers; Zane Gove, football operations and co-special teams coordinator/safeties; Rick Meeks, tight ends; Chris Johnson, cornerbacks; and Chris Cory, offensive line. Also assisting the team again this year are graduate assistant coaches Earl Pope, wide receivers, and Zach Addie, running backs.

Kennedy Cook ‘17
Cook, a 2017 Wittenberg graduate, serves as the team's co-offensive coordinator, and he is charged with oversight of the offensive line. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Cook spent two seasons as the offensive line coach at Ohio Dominican and two seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Glenville State University.

Jake Kennedy ‘19
Kennedy, a 2019 Wittenberg graduate, serves as the team's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He returned to his alma mater after spending the 2025 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Otterbein University. Kennedy previously served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for his high school alma mater, Bellefontaine High School, from 2020-24.

Cody Cruzen
Cruzen joined Wittenberg's football coaching staff after one year at Assumption University as the program's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. Cruzen takes over as the Tigers' defensive coordinator heading into the 2026 season under first-year Head Coach BJ Coad. Cruzen brings 15 years of experience across every level of college football to Wittenberg.

Zane Grove ‘17
Grove, a 2017 Wittenberg graduate, returned to his alma mater after three seasons on the football coaching staff at The College of Wooster and three years at Case Western Reserve University. At Wittenberg, Grove is serving in the football operations role and is the team’s co-special teams coordinator. In addition, he will coach the team’s safeties.

D’Gary Wallace
Wallace arrived at Wittenberg after more than 10 years of college coaching experience, including stops at Defiance College, Capital University, Cincinnati Christian University, Urbana University, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Alcorn State. In his career, Wallace has guided players to a total of 28 all-conference and two All-America awards.

Rick Meeks ‘92
Meeks, a 1992 Wittenberg graduate who joined the staff prior to the 2025 season, is a teacher at nearby Shawnee High School, where he previously served as the head football coach for 22 seasons. He is serving as an offensive assistant and the coach of the tight ends position group for the Tiger coaching staff.

Chris Cory
Cory joins the Wittenberg football coaching staff after a long career coaching at Tecumseh High School in nearby New Carlisle, Ohio. He will be assisting with the Tigers’ offensive line.

Chris Johnson
Johnson joined the staff prior to the 2024 season. He served as an assistant defensive backs coach for his two seasons, and in 2026 his duties are focused on cornerbacks. After his first season on staff, Johnson added to his duties, becoming the first head coach of Wittenberg Women's Flag Football.

Earl Pope ‘25
Pope joined the coaching staff prior to the 2025 season as a graduate assistant coach following a successful playing career for the Tigers. A native of Miami, Florida, Pope was a wide receiver for the Tiger, and he is now pursuing a master’s degree in sport administration. His first coaching assignment was with the Tiger running backs, and he is coaching the wide receivers in 2026.

Zach Addie ‘25
Addie joined the staff prior to the 2025 season as a graduate assistant coach. After assisting with the offensive line in his first season, Addie moved to running backs for his second season. A native of Pickerington, Ohio, Addie earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Wittenberg in May 2025 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sport administration.

Coad returns to his alma mater following a 2025 season that ended with a 4-6 overall record, the Tigers’ first losing season since 1989 and just the second since 1956. The Tigers open the 2026-27 season on the road at Washington and Lee on Sept. 5. Wittenberg’s first home game will be against Washington University (Mo.) on Sept. 19, and the Tigers’ first NCAC battle will be at John Carroll on Sept. 26.