Tyrone Wheatley - Head Coach - Staff Directory (2024)

Updated June 27, 2024

Link to Introductory Press Conference

Wayne State University Director of Athletics Erika Wallace announced Tyrone Wheatley as the next football head coach for the Warriors on Jan. 26, 2023. He became the 20thhead coach in program history, which completed its 107th year and 106thplaying season (due to COVID in 2020) in the fall of 2024.

In his first season at WSU, Wheatley helped guide the Warriors to three wins, matching the total from 2021 and 2022 combined, while playing the toughest regular-season schedule in NCAA Division 2 (61-34, .642). Four of WSU's eight setbacks were to playoff teams, while another two losses came either in overtime (at Saginaw Valley State) or in the final minute of regulation (Concordia).

In addition, he mentored First Team All-GLIAC running back Kendall Williams. The WSU offense led the GLIAC and was tied-for-sixth nationally in fewest fumbles lost (3). The Warriors also led the GLIAC in fourth-down conversion percentage (71%, 10-of-14), and was second in time of possession (30:51).

Academically, 40 football student-athletes earned Academic All-GLIAC recognition, including 27 who received Excellence Team honors for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

"I am beyond excited to welcome Coach Wheatley and his family to the Wayne State community," stated Wallace. "Coach Wheatley has a passion for developing the student-athlete not only on the field, but off. His ability to mentor men, develop talent, and recruit will elevate our football program. I'm looking forward to watching his leadership as he guides our Warrior student-athletes into a new era.

"First of all I would like to thank Wayne State University, President M. Roy Wilson and athletic director Erika Wallace for the opportunity to lead a great university and its football team," commented Wheatley.

"Throughout the interview process, Mrs. Wallace showed that Wayne State was well prepared and very detailed in what they wanted in the football program and the direction of the athletic department. This made me really excited about the job. I am looking forward to coming home, as they always say there is no place like home. No matter where I have been, I've always tried to recruit the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit. I am pleased, honored and blessed to be back home and to coach at Wayne State University."

Wheatley is a 17-year coaching veteran, including five years in the National Football League. Before coming to WSU, he most recently served as the running backs coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022.

Prior to joining the Broncos, Wheatley served as Morgan State's head coach for three seasons from 2019-21. During his tenure, he led the program to five wins despite the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's cancelation of the 2020 fall football season (COVID-19).

Overseeing Jacksonville's running back room from 2017-18, Wheatley helped orchestrate a rushing attack that averaged 124.6 rushing yards per game over his two seasons. In 2018, the Jaguars posted the NFL's best rushing attack (141.4 YPG) and tallied the second-most rushing touchdowns (18) that year.

Before Jacksonville, Wheatley spent the 2015-16 collegiate seasons coaching running backs for his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Wheatley was part of a coaching staff that guided the team to consecutive 10-3 seasons and back-to-back appearances in a bowl game.

In his first season at Michigan, the Wolverines rushing attack collected over 2,000 yards on the ground with 27 touchdowns. The following year, Michigan rushed for 212.9 yards per game and registered 304 rushes for 2,768 yards (4.8 avg.) with 41 scores.

Wheatley's first stint in the NFL came as running backs coach for Buffalo from 2013-14. In his first season with the team in 2013, the Bills produced the league's second ranked rushing attack (144.2 YPG) and had two rushers (C.J. Spiller & Fred Jackson) who each collected over 850 yards rushing while combining for 11 rushing scores.

Preceding his time in the NFL, Wheatley spent five seasons coaching running backs in the collegiate ranks. He spent the 2008 season at Ohio Northern before spending one season (2009) at Eastern Michigan and three years (2010-12) at Syracuse.

Wheatley began his coaching career at Robichaud High School where he served as head football coach for the Bulldogs in 2007. That season, Robichaud went 9-2 in the regular season and was a perfect 6-0 in league play.

He earned three consecutive All-Big Ten accolades (1992-93-94) for the Wolverines after graduating from Dearborn Heights Robichaud High School.

As a sophom*ore in 1992, Wheatley won the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year award and concluded that season with a 235-yard game in the Rose Bowl earning him the game's MVP award. He rushed for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns, while adding three receiving TD's and one on a kickoff return.

Wheatley would surpass the 1,000-yard rushing plateau each of his finals two seasons in Ann Arbor garnering 1,129 yards and 1,144 yards, respectively. He completed his Wolverine career with 4,187 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards and 53 total touchdowns.

In addition, he had a standout track and field career for the Maize and Blue winning three letters (1993-95). Wheatley earned an All-America citation for his eighth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1995 NCAA Championships. He won the Big Ten's Outdoor title in the 110-meter hurdles in 1994. Wheatley still owns top-10 times in Michigan history in the 100-meter dash (8th/ 10.46) and 110-meter hurdles (5th/ 13.77).

He was a first round draft selection by the New York Giants in 1995 (17th overall) and concluded his 10-year professional career by spending the last six seasons with the Oakland Raiders. Between the two organizations, Wheatley rushed for 4,962 yards and 40 touchdowns, while adding 900 receiving yards and 705 kickoff return yards. He played in the 2003 Super Bowl as a member of the Oakland Raiders.

Wheatley earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2008 from Michigan. He and his wife Kimberly have five children: Tyrone, Jr., Terius, Tyrique, Tiana and Tamari. Tyrone Jr. is currently a member of the Cleveland Browns organization as an offensive tackle, while Terius played running back at Virginia Tech in 2018 and 2019, before finishing his collegiate career in 2021 at Morgan State playing for his father.

The Inkster native was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Famein 2013. He was also selected as the top Michigan High School athlete of all-time by State Champs in 2017.

Wheatley was selected for induction into the National Federation of State High School Associations National Hall of Fame in March of 2024.

What They Are Saying About Tyrone Wheatley
Fred Jackson (former Michigan running backs coach) – I've coached a lot of great players, the difference was Tyrone was always searching for ways to get better on the football field, and off the field as well. He didn't just want to be great. Tyrone was always chasing greatness. He was always trying to put himself in a position to be a better player. I knew he would be a fantastic coach."

Doug Marrone (former Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach) -- "Wayne State got it right with the hiring of Tyrone Wheatley as the school's head coach. He is a Michigan man through and through and he's extremely proud of his home state and that's an excellent starting point for his new endeavor. I've known Tyrone for close to 15 years and I've had the good fortune to have worked closely with him on a few different occasions. I've seen the attention to details and I've seen how he interacts with people and that's an excellent combination. Then you combine his knowledge of the game with the varied and multiple offenses that he has been a part of and implemented with great success. He's a leader of men and he's going to be a tremendous asset to Wayne State and the Detroit community."