Assistant Coaches

Vince Kehres Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers E-mail: kehresvg@muc.edu Vince Kehres enters his ninth year as a Raider assistant and third season as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator. A year ago his defense posted seven shutouts and was the top rated unit in all of NCAA Division III as they led the nation in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. A 1998 graduate of Mount Union, he was a four-year letterwinner (1994-97) at defensive end for the Purple Raiders, a member of two National Championship teams (1996 & 1997) and earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors during his senior year 1997. During his playing career, Kehres totaled 62 hits and 12 tackles for loss, and he was a key member of the Raider special team units. He was part of a Raider 1997 defensive unit that led all of Division III in fewest points allowed (5.6 ppg) and rush defense (48.6 ypg) while posting five shutouts and setting a Raider single-season mark for sacks in a season (53 in 10 regular season games). He and his wife, Lindsay, have a son, Evan.

Jason Candle Assistant Coach - Offensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator E-mail: candlejt@muc.edu Jason Candle is in his sixth season as an assistant coach at Mount Union. Candle is in his second season as offensive coordinator after four years in charge of the the Raider receivers. Candle also is the program’s recruiting coordinator, as he organizes all aspects of the recruiting efforts. A 2003 Mount Union graduate, Candle was an All-OAC first team selection in 2001 as he led the team in receptions (41), yards receiving (778) and touchdowns (9). He was a key member of the 2000 and 2001 National Championship teams and finished with 57 grabs for 1,037 yards and 11 scores.

Jeff Wojtowicz Assistant Coach – Secondary E-mail: wojtowjm@muc.edu Jeff Wojtowicz (wo-TOE-vich) enters his 22nd year as an assistant coach on the Raider staff and is in charge of the secondary. A 1984 Mount Union graduate, he was a three-year letterwinner as a defensive back from 1981-83, earning All-OAC honorable mention honors his senior year as team co-captain. In 2001, Wojtowicz earned the National Football Foundation’s Northeastern Ohio Assistant Coach of the Year Award. In 2004, he was named the OAC Co-Assistant Coach of the Year as voted on by the conference’s head coaches. In 2006, Wojtowicz was honored by being named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Assistant Coach of the Year. Prior to returning to Alliance in 1986, Wojtowicz served as a graduate assistant in the physical education department at Indiana State University in 1984 and as an assistant coach at Wittenberg University in 1985. Aside from his duties on the gridiron, Wojtowicz serves as an instructor in the College’s Health and Physical Education Department and is in his 13th year coaching the Mount Union men’s and women’s tennis program.

Joel Cockley Assistant Coach - Running Backs E-mail: cocklejo@muc.edu Joel Cockley enters his ninth season as an assistant coach in charge of running backs at Mount Union. It is Cockley’s second stint on the Raider coaching staff as he served as an assistant from 1989 to 1994, working the final three seasons as offensive coordinator & offensive line coach. Cockley brings 35 years of coaching experience to the staff as he had several head coaching stints, including Alliance High School (1981-88, ‘95-99), Dover High School (1979) and Buckeye North High School (1976-78) along with assistant coach positions at Youngstown State University (1980) and Wooster-Triway High School (1973-75).

Clyde Ross Assistant Coach – Kickers E-mail: rossc@muc.edu Clyde Ross is in 14th year as an assistant coach at Mount Union in charge of the kickers. Ross played at Morris Harvey (W.Va.) College (now University of Charleston) in 1955-56 and Southern Illinois University in 1957-58. A 1969 graduate of Bowling Green State University, Ross was an assistant football coach at the Falcons in 1968. In 1969 he moved on to be an assistant at United High School in Hanoverton, Ohio, and from 1970 t0 1976 served as an assistant coach at Salem High School.

Keith Wakefield Assistant Coach - Offensive Line E-mail: wakefika@muc.edu Keith Wakefield enters his third season on the Mount Union staff and will coach the offensive line. Prior to joining the Raiders, Wakefield spent two years (2004 and 2005) as head coach at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School. Before that he had a highly successful stint as head coach at Massillon Perry High School (1982-2003) where his teams compiled a 157-72 record, 12 Federal League titles and reached the Ohio Division I State semifinals in 2000. Wakefield also had head coaching stops at Mansfield Madison and Austintown Fitch high schools.

Jesse Wells Assistant Coach - Defensive Line E-mail: wellsjm@muc.edu Jesse Wells enters his third season as an assistant coach at Mount Union and will work on the defensive line. A 2007 Mount Union graduate, Wells was a two-time All-OAC defensive line man that tallied 204 career tackles and was a member of the 2002 and 2005 National Championship teams.

Derek Blanchard Assistant Coach - Offensive Line E-mail: blanchdj@muc.edu Derek Blanchard is in his first year as an assistant coach at Mount Union and will work with the offensive line. A 2008 Mount Union graduate, Blanchard started 57 consecutive games on the offensive line for the Raiders. He was a two-time All-American, a finalist for the 2007 Gagliardi Trophy given to the top player in Division III and a member of the 2005 and 2006 National Championship teams.

Jason Lewis Assistant Coach - Offensive Line E-mail: lewisjm@muc.edu Jason Lewis is in his first year as an assistant coach at Mount Union and will work with the offensive line. A 2007 Mount Union graduate, Lewis was a two-time winner of the OAC’s Mike Gregory Award given to the conference’s most outstanding offensive lineman. A two-time All-OAC and All-American selection, he also was a member of the 2005 and 2006 National Championship teams.

Paul Gulling Assistant Coach - Wide Receivers E-mail: gullinp@muc.edu Paul Gulling returns to the Mount Union coaching staff in 2008 and will work with the wide receivers. Gulling, a 1980 Mount Union graduate, served six years as assistant coach with the Raiders from 1997-2002. As a player, he was a three-time All-OAC first team pick and an 1979 AP All-American who ranks among the school receiving leaders with 130 receptions. Gulling signed a professional contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and was inducted into the Mount Union M-Club Hall of Fame in 1998.

Matt Kostelnik Assistant Coach – Safeties E-mail: kostelml@muc.edu Matt Kostelnik in his first year as an assistant coach at Mount Union and will work with the safeties. A 2008 Mount Union graduate, Kostelnik was a two-time All-OAC and All-American selection and was a member of the 2005 and 2006 National Championship teams.

Chris Kappas Assistant Coach - Cornerbacks E-mail: kappascw@muc.edu Chris Kappas in his first year as an assistant coach at Mount Union and will work with the cornerbacks. A 2008 Mount Union graduate, Kappas was a three-year letterwinner at defensive back that earned Academic All-OAC and Academic All-District honors while being a member of the 2005 and 2006 National Championship teams.

Ryan Magyary Assistant Coach – Offense E-mail: magyarrm@muc.edu Ryan Magyary is in his first season as an assistant coach at Mount Union and will assist on the offense. A 2007 Mount Union graduate, Magyary was a defensive back and a member of the 2005 and 2006 National Championship teams.