A DII football program named a former Michigan Wolverines great as their next head coach on Thursday.
Wayne State announced that Tyrone Wheatley, who sits fifth all-time in rushing yards and third all-time in rushing touchdowns at Michigan, will be their next head coach. Wheatley spent 2022 as the running backs coach for the Denver Broncos.
The University announced Wheatley’s hire on Twitter. “.@CoachWheat6 will be Wayne State’s 20th head football coach. A 16-year football veteran, most recently as the running backs coach for the Denver @Broncos, we’re thrilled to welcome him back home to Detroit,” they tweeted.
.@CoachWheat6 will be Wayne State's 20th head football coach. A 16-year football veteran, most recently as the running backs coach for the Denver @Broncos, we're thrilled to welcome him back home to Detroit.
➡️ https://t.co/QHwhYb5sfL@waynestwarriors @NFL #ThisIsOurDetroit— Wayne State University (@waynestate) January 26, 2023
Tyrone Wheatley has spent the last 15+ years in coaching. He has made stops at Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, the Buffalo Bills, the Wolverines, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Morgan State. At Morgan State, he was head coach from 2019-2021.
As a Wolverine, he enjoyed a celebrated career. The 1992 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year finished his collegiate career with 4,178 rushing yards and 47 rushing touchdowns from 1991-1994. The only two players who rank ahead of him in TDs are Michigan legends Willie Heston and Anthony Thomas. Mike Hart, Denard Robinson, Thomas, and Jamie Morris all stand ahead of him in rushing yards , so his place in Michigan history isn’t up for debate.
The Wayne State program produced future NFL running backs Joique Bell and Kevin Smith at one point. The program is looking for a big boost, and the hope is that Wheatley can provide it.
