Football
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach for Defense/Safeties
- Email:
- koenning@uncaa.unc.edu
- Phone:
- 919-966-2575
In 2013, Carolina improved dramatically over the second half of the season, securing wins in six of its last seven contests. In five of those games, Carolina held its opponents to less than 20 points, including the 39-17 win over Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl.
Safety Tre Boston was a second-team All-ACC pick and finished his career third at UNC in all-time interceptions. Safety Domonique Green started every game and earned freshman All-America recognition. Three defensive players, including Boston (fourth round), defensive end Kareem Martin (third) and cornerback Jabari Price (seventh) were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.
In 2012, Carolina finished third in the nation in tackles for losses with more than eight per game. Koenning's pupil, middle linebacker Kevin Reddick, led the ACC and was 12th in the country with 18.5 tackles for losses. Reddick also had 85 tackles, 6.5 sacks and forced two fumbles en route to first-team All-ACC honors.
Carolina is Koenning's second tour of duty in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He was Clemson's defensive coordinator from 2005-08 where he accomplished something no other Tiger defensive coordinator had accomplished in the school's history. Each of his four Clemson defenses finished in the top 25 in scoring, total and pass efficiency defense.
Koenning left Clemson and spent one season at Kansas State under Bill Snyder and two seasons at Illinois under head coach Ron Zook. He improved the Illini defense from 91st in the country in 2009 to 38th in 2010 and seventh in 2011. Illinois gave up just 291.8 yards per game and ranked fourth in the nation in pass defense, fifth in tackles for losses and ninth in sacks. Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus led the nation in sacks and was second in tackles for losses. Koenning led Illinois to a 20-14 win over UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger bowl on Dec. 31 as the team's interim head coach.
Koenning's first season with the Illini was an unquestioned success as he improved Illinois' defense from 76th in the country in rushing defense to 32nd, 96th to 48th in scoring defense, 100th to 61st in passing defense and 83rd to 22nd in turnover margin while serving as defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
In 2009, he helped Kansas State improve from 112th in the NCAA in rushing defense in 2008 to 16th in 2009, total defense from 117th to 40th and scoring defense from 110th to 48th. KSU allowed 140 yards fewer last season than in 2008 and 12 points per game less than the previous year.
In 2008, Clemson's defense led the ACC in scoring defense and ranked ninth in the nation by allowing just 16.6 points per game. The unit also was 12th in the nation in pass defense, 11th in pass efficiency defense, tied for eighth in interceptions and 16th in total defense.
The 2007 defensive performance might have been the best of his tenure at Clemson. The Tigers had just one player make first or second-team All- ACC despite leading the ACC in pass defense and turnover margin, and finishing second in total and scoring defense. Clemson was ninth in the nation in total defense (307 ypg), and 10th in scoring defense (18.7 ppg).
Koenning developed several Clemson players to the NFL. In 2006, cornerback Tye Hill was a first-round draft pick, while defensive end Gaines Adams, who passed away in Jan. of 2010, was the No. 4 overall selection in 2007. Defensive end Phillip Merling was the No. 32 overall selection of the 2008 draft by Miami.
Koenning built a strong résumé in two seasons at Troy from 2003-04. He led its defense to a top-10 NCAA finish in scoring, rushing and pass efficiency defense and yards per play in 2004.
Prior to his time at Troy, he was the head coach at Wyoming from 2000- 02. He coached 10 Cowboy players who earned first-team all-conference honors in his six seasons in Laramie, including three years as defensive coordinator. In 1997, UW led the nation in interceptions and was second in sacks.
Koenning served as a full-time assistant coach working with the defensive backs at Memphis from 1991-96. In his first year, he helped the Tigers to a 24-10 upset at No. 14 USC. His second season there saw the defense finish third in the nation in total defense and 15th in scoring defense. The Tigers enjoyed another successful year on defense in 1993, as Koenning's unit was 16th in the nation in total defense. In 1994, the Tigers were third in the nation in total defense and eighth in scoring defense. His final year at Memphis was highlighted by a 21-17 upset of No. 6 Tennessee.
A three-year starter, team captain and 1983 graduate at Kansas State, Koenning was the recipient of the Paul Coffman Award, presented to the Wildcat who displays the most outstanding leadership. Koenning was third on the team with 93 total tackles as a senior.
Koenning, a native of Owasso, Okla., pursued a playing career with the Denver Broncos, Oklahoma Outlaws (USFL) and Green Bay Packers between 1983-86 before starting work on his master's degree at Memphis in 1986. He later received his master's in athletic administration from Memphis in 1989.
Koenning and his wife Tracey have four children, Kimberly, Brady, Camden and Jackson.
Vic Koenning Coaching Year-by-Year
2012-present - North Carolina Associate Head Coach for
Defense/ILBs/Safeties Coach
2010-11 - Illinois* Defensive
Coordinator
2009 - Kansas State Assistant
Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2005-08 - Clemson Defensive
Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach
2003-04 - Troy Defensive
Coordinator
2000-02 - Wyoming Head Coach
1997-99 - Wyoming Defensive
Coordinator
1991-96 - Memphis Defensive
Backs Coach
1986-90 - Memphis Graduate
Assistant Coach/Strength Coach
*Interim head coach for
Illinois' bowl game
