ELI WICKLUND assumed the role of Defensive Coordinator at Christopher Newport University in December of 2021 as a member of Coach Paul Crowley’s inaugural staff. He will guide the CNU defense for his fourth season in 2025 as the Captains celebrate 25 years of Christopher Newport University football.
Wicklund's defense has seen marked improvement in each of his three seasons and has ranked as high as 15th nationally in 2023. He also been key in the development of All-Region safeties Kindrick Braxton in 2022, and Noah Martin in 2024. His defensive unit in 2023 allowed just 17 points per game as the Captains won their first ever New Jersey Athletic Conference title.
Before arriving at CNU, Wicklund spent four successful seasons at Hampden-Sydney College under head coach Marty Favret, where he primarily coached linebackers and cornerbacks. His influence helped develop multiple All-ODAC players, while also serving as the Tigers' Special Teams and Recruiting Coordinator.
Wicklund's coaching journey includes a noteworthy stint at Bucknell University in 2016-2017, where he coached cornerbacks and running backs. Under head coach Joe Susan, the 2017 Bison defense made waves, ranking 11th nationally in total defense and fourth in pass defense, a testament to Wicklund’s strategic acumen.
His early career saw him as a Quality Control Coach at Rice University from 2014 to 2015, where he worked with David Bailiff’s staff. Wicklund played a crucial role in game planning, scheme installation, and in-game adjustments, focusing on linebackers and safeties...skills that would serve him well throughout his career.
Wicklund made an impact at North Park University in 2013 as the Secondary Coach, contributing to the team’s best finish since 1971 and ending a 13-year conference winless streak with a respectable 3-4 record.
His coaching roots trace back to his alma mater, Miami University in Ohio, where Wicklund spent eight years in various roles, culminating as the Defensive Graduate Assistant. His experience included working closely with defensive backs and linebackers, and he was instrumental in the Redhawks’ 2010 MAC Conference and GoDaddy.com Bowl Championship run.
Eli and his wife, Lauren, reside in Midlothian, Va., with their three children, Sydney, Samantha, and
Dominic.
