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In just three short years, Vic Koenning has accomplished something no other Clemson defensive coordinator has accomplished in Tiger football history. Each of his first three defenses has finished in the top 25 in scoring, rushing, total, and pass efficiency defense each season. A top-25 final ranking in all four categories in the same year had been accomplished just twice prior to his arrival.
Koenning has had productive defenses that have taken advantage of the talents of players from different positions. His first defense in 2005 featured first-round draft pick Tye Hill, a cornerback now starting in the NFL with the Rams. His 2006 defense featured defensive end Gaines Adams, the #4 selection of the Buccaneers. His 2007 unit featured another defensive end in Phillip Merling, who was the #32 overall selection of the 2008 draft by the Dolphins.
Koenning was the defensive coordinator at Troy in 2004 and DeMarcus Ware was on the defense he coordinated. Thus, he has coached a top-32 selection in the NFL draft each of the last four years.
With nine underclassmen in the starting lineup for most of the season, the 2007 performance might have been the best of the last three years. Clemson had just one player make First or Second-Team All-ACC, yet the Tigers led the ACC in pass defense and turnover margin, and they finished second in total defense and scoring defense. Clemson was ninth in the nation in total defense, allowing just 307 yards per game, and 10th in scoring defense, giving up 18.7 points per outing.
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), 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.
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 collegiate 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 the same season. His defense helped the Tigers to victories over the same two former National Championship head coaches in 2007, giving the Tigers a 5-1 record since Koenning came to Clemson.
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 just one touchdown in its last 45 defensive possessions that season.
Koenning came to Clemson prior to the 2005 season with a strong résumé. 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 led the nation in interceptions (25), tied for second in turnovers forced (32), was ninth in fewest yards per play allowed, and 16th in total defense (311.0). Only Southern California had more takeaways than Troy.
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, presented to the Wildcat 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 at Memphis in 1986. He later received his master's degree in athletic administration from Memphis in 1989.
Koenning and his wife Tracey have four children, Kimberly (28), Brady (12), Camden (8), and Jackson (7).
