MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield announced the hiring of Spence Nowinsky on Tuesday as the team’s assistant defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
Nowinsky comes to the Tigers with nearly 30 years of coaching experience, including the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach at Ohio University. For his efforts in 2023, Nowinsky was a Broyles Award nominee, and named the Defensive Coordinator of the Year for the Group of Five.
“This is a big time hire for our program,” Silverfield said. “Spence navigated one of the very best defenses in all of college football and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our defensive line. We are very excited to add Coach Nowinsky to our staff.”
The 2023 season was one for the record books for the Ohio Bobcats’ defense and Nowinsky. During his second year at the helm, Nowinsky’s defense finished No. 4 in the nation, and were the No. 1 Group of Five Defense, as well as the No. 1 defense in the Mid-American Conference.
Additionally, the Bobcats finished the regular season in the top-10 for every defensive category during the 2023 season. Notably, the defense forced five turnovers during Ohio’s 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl, setting a program record for turnovers forced in a bowl game.
Four defensive Bobcats were named to the All-MAC team, with Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson receiving first team accolades, while Vonnie Watkins and Rayyan Buell were honored with third team distinctions.
“My family and I are extremely excited to be a part of the Memphis Tiger football program,” Nowinsky remarked. “I am very thankful that Coach Silverfield has given me this opportunity. I look forward to working with Coach Hankins, Coach Clark, Coach Howard, the entire football staff and an incredible group of student-athletes at the University of Memphis.”
In 2022, Nowinsky’s defense was instrumental in the Bobcats’ MAC East title, appearance in the MAC Championship game and their overtime victory over Wyoming in the 2022 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Over the course of his first year, Nowinsky’s defense led the league in fourth-down percentage, and was No. 2 in turnovers forced in the MAC.
The Bobcats’ defense improved from eight takeaways to 20 takeaways overall. In addition, the defense increased to 30 overall sacks, up from 17 the previous year. The Bobcat defense also increased their tackles for loss from 56 to 74 during the 2022 season. Nowinsky coached Jack McCrory, an All-MAC Third Team defensive end.
Prior to coaching for the Bobcats in 2022, Nowinsky was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio. In 2021, Nowinsky coached Ivan Pace, who was named First-Team All-MAC, Co-MAC Defensive Player of the Year, MAC Linebacker of the Year and Second Team All-American Action Network. Nowinsky also coached Matt Salopek, who earned All-MAC Second Team accolades. In total, Nowinsky had seven All-MAC Defense student-athletes during the 2021 season.
During the 2021 campaign, the Miami defensive unit was No. 1 in the MAC in scoring defense, rushing defense and sacks. The RedHawks earned their first bowl victory in over a decade, using a dominant defensive performance to defeat North Texas in the inaugural Frisco Football Classic Bowl. The RedHawks’ defense limited the Mean Green to 317 yards of total offense in the game, 89 yards rushing, 2.8 yards per carry, and 14 points on top of two forced first-half turnovers that helped Miami establish momentum in their 27-14 victory.
Under Nowinsky, the RedHawks’ defense finished in the top half of almost every statistical category in 2018. Miami finished fourth in scoring defense (25.5), third in rush defense (159.7) and fifth in total defense (368.2) and sacks (29). A year later, in 2019, the defense got even better, finishing second in scoring (22.5), third in total defense (352.9) and first in pass defense (175.9). Nowinsky’s linebackers have produced since day one. In 2018, Brad Koenig earned First-Team All-MAC. A year later, Myles Reid recorded Third-Team All-MAC honors.
Before arriving at Miami, Nowinsky spent nine seasons at Illinois State, including four as the Redbird’s defensive coordinator. He was also the team’s assistant head coach and mentored the defensive line. After taking the helm of the ISU defense, the Redbirds’ defense improved statistically every year. In 2014, the defense allowed an average of 345.5 yards per game. During the 2015 season the Redbirds defense ranked 16th nationally, allowing 306.7 yards per game. In 2017, ISU ranked 13th in sacks (33), 14th in rushing allowed (108.4) and 23rd in points (19.4).
In four years, ISU’s defense racked up 131 sacks, which helped the Redbird force 70 turnovers in that span. Illinois State was also strong on third downs, allowing a conversion rate of just 34-percent over seasons. Under Nowinsky, six players earned first-team all-conference honors and another was a two-time First-Team All-American (2012-13).
Nowinsky came to Illinois State following two years as the associate head coach and defensive line coach at NCAA Division II member Emporia State. He had prior experience coaching at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, including assistant coaching positions at Western Athletic Conference (WAC) member Idaho (2003) and Wisconsin (1999-2002).
Prior to coaching at Emporia State, Nowinsky spent three seasons at his alma mater, Minnesota State, where he coached the defensive line during the 2004 and 2006 seasons. In 2005, Nowinsky coached the Mavericks’ offensive line coach. Nowinsky spent the 2003 season as a defensive line coach for Idaho.
He began his collegiate coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Wisconsin from 1999-2002. The Badgers won the 2000 Rose Bowl with a 17-9 victory over Stanford. Nowinsky was an assistant coach at Wittenberg-Birnamwood (Wis.) High School from 1997-99 and began his coaching career in 1995-97 as an assistant at Lake Crystal-Welcome Memorial (Minn.) High School.
Nowinsky played football at Minnesota State from 1991-94 as a defensive lineman. He and his wife, Jen, have two sons, Tommy and Jack.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team’s social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
2024-04-10 03:22:34
#University #Memphis
