Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is pleased to announce that Wheaton (Ill.) College defensive coordinator Jordan Langs has been named the first head coach in Indiana Wesleyan football history. Langs, 27, has spent the past four years on the coaching staff at NCAA Division III Wheaton as the defensive coordinator the past two seasons and the defensive backs coach in 2012 and 2013.
“We are pleased and excited that Jordan Langs will be joining our IWU Athletic family,” said Mark DeMichael, Indiana Wesleyan Director of Athletics. “Jordan brings with him a wealth of experience as both a player and coach and separated himself in the way he was able to communicate not only his passion and vision for Indiana Wesleyan football but even more so in his vision for integrating faith in every aspect of the IWU football program so that it truly will be a Christ-centered football program for years to come.”
IWU announced the addition of football as the 18th intercollegiate sport on April 1, 2016 and Langs is tasked with building the Indiana Wesleyan football program from the ground up. “It is a process that we do not take lightly,” said Langs. “We are confident that the recipe for building a successful program is possible because the ingredients needed already exist at IWU. The track record of the Athletic Department speaks for itself and has already proven that a Christ-centered scholarship athletics program can compete at the highest level in each of their individual sports.”
“We could not be more humbled and grateful for the belief that Mark DeMichael, Dr. Keith Newman, and President Wright have shown in us,” said Langs. “We feel blessed to be leaving a place that showed that same type of belief in us and who we owe a lot to because of the role Wheaton College has played in our spiritual, relational, and career development. We are excited that God is bringing us to a place filled with a lot of awesome Christ-centered individuals.”
In the two years with Langs as defensive coordinator at Wheaton, the Thunder won back-to-back College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) championships and have a combined 22-2 mark. The Thunder were 7-0 in the CCIW and a perfect 10-0 in both regular seasons with Langs heading up the defense. Both years the Thunder advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA DIII playoffs and were ranked in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll Top-10.
Langs’ defense ranked 12th in the nation in 2015 with 262.5 yards per game and ranked in the top-10 nationally in defensive touchdowns, red zone defense, scoring defense, interceptions, and third down conversions. The Thunder led the CCIW in every defensive category but one in 2015.
“I am extremely pleased with the selection of Jordan Langs as the first coach for Wildcat Football,” said Dr. Keith Newman, Chancellor, IWU - Marion. “His experience as a player, position coach, and now coordinator in a Christ-centered football program set him apart. Jordan brings a contagious commitment to Christ, an infectious enthusiasm for life, a passion for developing young men in character, scholarship, and leadership. Jordan is uniquely prepared for this assignment and I am excited to introduce him to our campus, our community, and most of all to our future athletes.”
Langs will remain at Wheaton for the 2016 season which will be his fifth year on the coaching staff and his third year as the defensive coordinator. He will join Indiana Wesleyan following the completion of the Thunders’ 2016 season.