Report: Indiana hires Big Ten assistant as new defensive coordinator

The Indiana Hoosiers are sticking within the Big Ten to fill their open defensive coordinator position. According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Indiana is hiring Minnesota defensive line coach Chad Wilt as the Hoosiers’ new defensive coordinator.

Wilt has extensive experience as a defensive line coach. He has spent most of the last two decades in that role at a number of stops, including at Virginia, Maryland, Army, and Cincinnati in addition to Minnesota.

Wilt replaces Charlton Warren as Indiana’s defensive coordinator. Warren was with the Hoosiers for just one season, and he is now the co-defensive coordinator at North Carolina.

Indiana is coming off of a disappointing 2-10 season that saw a winless 0-9 record against Big Ten opponents. Wilt will be looking to help improve an Indiana defense that ranked in the bottom third of the Big Ten and allowed the most points in the conference at 33.3 points per game.

Wilt comes to Indiana following a successful stint with Minnesota

As Wilt coached Minnesota’s defensive line this season, the Gophers saw a lot of success. Minnesota allowed just 18.3 points per game this year, which is tied with Notre Dame for the ninth best total in the country. The Gophers also allowed 100.2 rushing yards (ninth in the country), 184.7 passing yards (11th), and 284.8 total yards per game (fourth).

In becoming Indiana’s defensive coordinator, Wilt becomes the second Minnesota defensive assistant to receive a promotion to a coordinator position. Joe Harasymiak previously served as Minnesota’s co-defensive coordinator, and is also staying in the Big Ten and heading to Rutgers.

Everywhere Wilt has coached, his defenses have seen success. Minnesota, Cincinnati, Army, and Maryland have all boasted impressive defenses that started with strong play up front on the defensive line.

Minnesota finished the season 9-4, including a 6-3 mark in the Big Ten. The best part of the Gophers team was the defense. Over Minnesota’s final three games, all of which were wins, the Gophers allowed 33 total points.

Indiana had just 17 sacks as a team this season, and 10 of them came from two players; Micah McFadden and Ryder Anderson. As Wilt takes over Indiana’s defense, the Hoosiers will be looking for wholesale improvement all around the unit.