Playing Experience
Played linebacker at Kansas State (1979-82)...three-year starter and team captain in 1982.
Bowl Participation as a Player
1982 Independence Bowl.
Education
B.S. degree in communications from Kansas State in 1983...M.A. degree in athletic administration from Memphis in 1989.
Coaching Experience
Graduate assistant/strength training coach at Memphis (1986-90)...defensive backs coach at Memphis (1991-96)...defensive coordinator at Wyoming (1997-99)...head coach at Wyoming (2000-02)...defensive coordinator at Troy (2003,04)...defensive coordinator/defensive backs at Clemson (2005,06).
Bowl Seasons as an Assistant Coach
2004 Silicon Valley Bowl...2005 Champs Sports Bowl...2006 Music City Bowl.
Personal Data
Born February 26, 1960 in Owasso, OK...married to Tracey...the couple has four children (Kimberly 27, Brady 11, Camden 7, Jackson 6).
Vic Koenning has brought the Tiger defense to a new level during his first two seasons as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. The Tigers have finished in the top 25 in the nation in total defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, and scoring defense each of the last two years. The Tigers had never been in the top 25 in all four of those areas in consecutive years prior to his arrival at Clemson.
In 2006, Clemson finished 13th in the nation in total defense, its highest mark since the 1991 team finished fourth. Clemson was 18th in rushing defense, 24th in pass defense (yards allowed), 17th in pass efficiency defense, 20th in sacks, and 16th in scoring defense. It marked the first time since 1990 (that team led the nation in total defense) that Clemson finished in the top 20 in the four major defensive categories in the same year.
Clemson was 17th in pass efficiency defense in 2006 and 18th in that important category in 2005. That was the first time in history Clemson finished in the top 20 in the nation in that area in back-to-back seasons. That has to bring pride to Koenning, who coaches the secondary. A highlight in 2006 took place during Clemson's 31-7 win over #13 Georgia Tech. The Tiger secondary held Georgia Tech All-American and #2 overall draft pick Calvin Johnson without a reception for the only time in his career.
The Tigers showed great improvement over the course of the 2005 season, his first at Clemson. The defense allowed 11.5 points per game in the last seven games, a big reason the Tigers went 6-1 in those contests. During that stretch, the defense held #16 Florida State (coached by Bobby Bowden) and #19 South Carolina (coached by Steve Spurrier) without an offensive touchdown. He became the first defensive coordinator to keep those two noted offensive minds without a touchdown in a season.
The 2005 season concluded with a 19-10 win over Colorado in the Champs Sports Bowl. The Tigers held the Buffaloes to 124 yards of total offense and just 17 rushing yards, the best bowl game defensive performance of the 56 Division I-A teams in the postseason. Clemson allowed one touchdown in its last 45 defensive possessions as well.
As defensive backs coach, Koenning had direct responsibility for the play of Tye Hill, a cornerback who was the #15 overall pick of the NFL draft after the 2005 season. He was a first-team All-American and finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Koenning's defense had another first-round selection when 2006 ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year Gaines Adams was the #4 overall pick of the 2007 draft by Tampa Bay.
Koenning came to Clemson prior to the 2005 season with a strong resumé. He led Troy's defense to a top-10 national finish in scoring defense, rushing defense, yards per play, and pass efficiency defense in 2004.
Troy's defense was first in the nation in interceptions (25), tied for second in turnovers forced (32), ninth in fewest yards per play allowed, and 16th in total defense (311.0). Only Southern California had more takeaways than Troy.
His defense featured standout outings by defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware, who was eighth in the nation in sacks and 13th in tackles for loss. Ware was the #11 overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft. Combined with the selection of Hill and Adams the last two years, Koenning has coached a top #15 overall pick of the NFL draft each of the last three years.
Troy's 32 forced turnovers in 2004 were tied for second in the nation behind Southern California. It marked the third time in five years as a defensive coordinator that his defense was in the top six in the nation in that category.
The 25 interceptions that led the nation in 2004 marked the second time in his career he coached a secondary that led the nation in that category. His 1997 Wyoming defense had a school-record 24 thefts that also led the nation.
He spent two seasons at Troy as the defensive coordinator under Head Coach Larry Blakeney. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Wyoming from 2000-02. He coached 10 Cowboy players who earned first-team all-conference honors in his five seasons in Laramie, including three years as head coach and two years as defensive coordinator.
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 #14 Southern California. 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 again 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 #6 Tennessee.
Koenning spent 10 years in all at Memphis. From 1986-90, he worked as a graduate assistant and strength training coach with the football program.
A three-year starting linebacker and team captain at Kansas State, Koenning led that team to the 1982 Independence Bowl, the school's first-ever bowl appearance. He was the recipient of the Paul Coffman Award, which is presented to the Wildcat player who displays the most outstanding leadership.
Koenning 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 from Memphis in 1986.
Koenning and his wife Tracey have four children, Kimberly (27), Brady (11), Camden (7), and Jackson (6).