Rocky Mount, N.C. - N.C. Wesleyan head football coach Jeff Filkovski has finalized his coaching staff for the upcoming season, putting together a staff with a variety coaching experience that spans every facet of the game. Filkovski, who is in his first year with the Battling Bishops, began with the retention of former NCWC standout and fifth-year assistant coach Quinderra Spellman, who assumes the title of Assistant Head Coach and will guide the defensive line. From there, Filkovski has added five new faces for Wesleyan's 2013 campaign, the program's tenth overall.
Mark Jochum has been named NCWC's Offensive Coordinator and will coach the offensive line. He reunites with Filkovski, having served on his staff at Marietta College during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Euclid, Ohio native has over ten years of coaching experience at the Division III level and joins the Battling Bishops after a successful stint as O-line coach at Baldwin Wallace University. There, he helped coach the Yellow Jackets to a solid 22-8 record over three seasons.
Prior to BWU and Marietta, Jochum spent three years as offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, and assistant strength and conditioning coach at Franklin College from 2005 to 2008. A 2002 graduate of John Carroll University, he had previously served in a similar position with his alma mater for three seasons. As a four-year letterman on the JCU football team in the early 2000s, Jochum received the team's "Unsung Hero Award" for his leadership and dependability as a senior offensive lineman.
Tyrone Pettaway has been tabbed Defensive Coordinator and will coach linebackers. A native of Newport News, Va., Pettaway has over seven years of coaching experience at the Division I, II, III, and professional levels, having spent the past two seasons in the NFL as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins, respectively. Prior to his stint as an assistant linebackers coach at Tampa Bay, he spent one year in the same position at D-I powerhouse USC alongside head coach Lane Kiffin, who brought him onto the Trojan staff following a successful tenure at the University of Tennessee. His Division I experience followed a 2008 season that saw Pettaway coach at USA South foe Christopher Newport, serving as defensive line coach and helping the Captains achieve their first unbeaten conference title. Before joining CNU, Pettaway guided the linebackers at Division II Fort Valley State University.
Pettaway is a 2005 graduate of St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C., where he was named the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year as a senior linebacker. There, he played for his late friend and mentor Andre Waters, whom he coached with at Fort Valley State while working on his master's degree.
Ryan Barry is also on-board as a Battling Bishop assistant and will coach wide receivers. Barry comes to Wesleyan from Bridgewater State University, where he served as a student assistant coach last season. While at BSU, Barry helped guide the Bears' defensive backs while heading up the scout team defense as its coordinator. His BSU tenure also afforded the him valuable experience in film breakdown, scouting and game/practice preparation. Before beginning his coaching career with his alma mater, Barry was a three-year letterwinner for the Bears from 2009 to 2011.
Jemar Lewis joins the staff as running backs coach. A product of Heidelberg University, Lewis served in a similar capacity at his alma mater the past two seasons. As a Heidelberg graduate assistant, Lewis guided the Student Prince backfield, as well as assisted with special teams, video coordination and recruiting. He worked within an offense that has been ranked in the Top 15 nationally in scoring and total yardage the past two years, helping develop a trio of All-Conference selections and a pair of All-Americans along the way. Prior to his move to the sidelines, Lewis enjoyed a solid career in the backfield for Heidelberg, which culminated with First Team OAC All-Conference honors as a senior.
Finally, Nate Wilson begins his collegiate coaching career as a Wesleyan assistant and will coach defensive backs. He joins the Battling Bishops after completing a solid career at Eastern Michigan University in 2011. Wilson's EMU career saw him earn three letters at defensive back and be named an honorary team captain as a senior. The Mentor, Ohio native also served as the Eagles' on-field signal caller at his position while working alongside his defensive coordinator to prepare scouting reports. Additionally, he designed workouts for EMU's cornerbacks.
The Battling Bishops will kick off the 2013 season on Friday, September 6th, at Stevenson University, followed by their home opener versus Southern Virginia the following Saturday. Please continue to check www.ncwcsports.com for the latest news and updates!