2021	2020-21
Phil Saleh, OL - First Team	Phil Saleh, OL - First Team
Nick Zakelj, OL - First Team	Nick Zakelj, OL - First Team

Alex Huettel, a former graduate assistant at Cincinnati, was named offensive line coach at Fordham University in March of 2020.

Last fall, the Fordham offensive line was a key part of a unit that led the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and led the League and ranked 12th in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game). The 2021 Rams ranked second in the PL and 18th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game). The Fordham front five also helped the Rams lead the PL and rank 22nd in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.36/game) and lead the League and rank ninth in the NCAA in TFLs allowed/game (3.91/game).

The 2021 Fordham offensive line was led by consensus All-American Nick Zakelj, who was drafted in the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers. He was joined by Phil Saleh in receiving First Team All-Patriot League honors.
 
In 2020-2021, the Fordham offensive line helped the Rams lead the Patriot League and rank 17th in the NCAA FCS, in scoring averaging 31.7 points/game. The 2020-2021 Fordham offense also led the League and was 14th in the NCAA FCS in total offense (433.3 yards/game) and led the League and was sixth in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (349.7 yards/game). Senior Nick Zakelj and junior Phil Saleh were both named First Team All-League.
 
Huettel arrives at Fordham after working with the University of Cincinnati football program in 2019 where he served as a graduate assistant, working with the offensive line. He was also charged with coaching the defensive scout team, running daily meetings for the scouts, and running the offensive line weekly scout meetings. The Bearcats went 11-3 in 2019, 7-1 in the AAC, and fell to #17 Memphis in the AAC Championship game. Cincinnati then defeated Boston College, 38-6, in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl and finished ranked 21st in the nation.
 
Prior to Cincinnati, Huettel served as the offensive line coach at Gannon University in 2018. His responsibilities included developing run and pass protection techniques with the offensive line and tight ends, creating scout reports, breaking down film, running the defensive scout team and assisting in recruiting efforts. Behind the offensive line, the Knights rushed for 2,173 yards (197.5 yards/game) that fall.
 
Huettel got his start in coaching as an offensive graduate assistant at Bowling Green University from 2016-2017.

The Pickerington, Ohio, native was a standout offensive lineman for Bowling Green from 2011-2015. A two-time MAC champion, Huettel started a program-record 55 consecutive games after redshirting in 2011. He was the anchor of an offensive line that helped Bowling Green set program records in points (591), first downs (389), passing yards (5,135), total yardage (7,655) and total offensive touchdowns (81) in 2015. Huettel earned All-MAC honors three times (2013-15) and All-America first-team accolades as a senior.

A team captain during his final two seasons, the right guard was selected to play in the 2016 East-West Shrine Game. He was also invited to minicamp for the NFL’s New York Giants in 2016.

Huettel earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family service from Bowling Green in 2015. He and his wife, Danielle, have a son, Boone.