Dave Wiemers

Assistant Football Coach - Defensive Coordinator

David Wiemers begins his fourth season as the Gorillas' defensive coordinator after joining the Gorillas' staff on Jan. 10, 2008.

He was elevated to the role of Assistant Head Coach as well over the summer.

Wiemers came to Pitt State from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where he served as the Texans' offensive coordinator during the 2007 season.

The Clay Center, Kan., native previously served as head coach for MIAA rival Emporia State University from 2001-06, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at ESU from 1999-2000 and assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Saginaw Valley State University from 1994-1998.

He also served as a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State from 1992-93, helping the Gorillas to the 1992 NCAA Division II National Runner-up finish that year.

Wiemers, a member of the American Football Coaches Association, has enjoyed an 18-year career in the collegiate coaching ranks.

In 2008, Wiemers enjoyed a smooth transition to overseeing the Gorillas' defensive squad.  Pitt State ranked either second or third in the MIAA in nearly all major statistical categories, including scoring defense (23.5 ppg), rushing defense (129.2 ypg), total defense (321.0 ypg), QB sacks (28) and opponent third-down conversions (.358).

In 2009, the Pitt State defense allowed 27.8 points per game and 379.5 yards of total offense (133.0 rushing, 246.5 passing); while, last year, the Gorillas allowed 24.1 points per game and 361.7 yards of total offense (132.6 rushing, 229.1 passing).

During the 2007 season, he served as offensive coordinator at Tarleton State University, an NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference. The Texans posted a 9-2 record and narrowly failed to qualify for the NCAA-II playoffs. Tarleton averaged 37.2 points and 452.2 total yards per game, ranking 23rd nationally in scoring and 20th nationally in total offense.

Prior to joining the Tarleton staff, Wiemers spent eight years at Emporia, serving as offensive coordinator/assistant head coach for two seasons (1999-2000) for former PSU offensive coordinator Jerry Kill - now the head coach at Northern Illinois University.

Wiemers was named head coach at ESU on Dec. 8, 2000, after Kill left the school to become head coach at Southern Illinois University.

In six seasons as head coach for the Hornets (2001-06), Wiemers compiled a 35-32 (.522) record with an MIAA co-championship in 2003 and a Mineral Water Bowl victory in 2002. He was named the Wilson/MIAA Coach of the Year in 2003 after guiding ESU to a 9-3 record, a share of the MIAA title and the program's first (and only) NCAA-II playoff appearance. Wiemers was the runner-up for the Schutt Sports Division II National Coach of the Year that season.

Wiemers also served as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for five seasons (1994-98) at Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA-II member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

At SVSU, he coached the linebackers and oversaw a unit that set school records with 44 sacks and 29 forced turnovers in 1998. SVSU posted a 38-14 (.731) record during his tenure, including back-to-back 9-2 seasons in 1997-98.

He spent two seasons as a graduate assistant defensive line coach at Pittsburg State in 1992-93, helping the Gorillas to a pair of NCAA-II playoff appearances including a 14-1 record and the NCAA-II National Runner-up finish in 1992.

Wiemers began his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach at Seaman High School in Topeka, Kan., in 1991 after a successful collegiate playing career at Washburn University (1989-90).

Wiemers was an All-State quarterback at Clay Center Community High School and he played in the 1986 Kansas Shrine Bowl. He played football and baseball at Dodge City Community College, earning All-Jayhawk Conference honors as a quarterback. He was a pitcher and quarterback at Washburn as well.

Wiemers earned his bachelor's degree from WU in 1990 and his master's in physical education from PSU in 1995.

Dave and his wife Susie have three sons, Brett (10), Tyson (8) and Brock, who turned two on May 11.