All-America Performers Under Wholley
 

2015

Stephen Hodge, LB - Associated Press (First Team)

Stephen Hodge, LB - STATS (Second Team)

Stephen Hodge, LB - College Sports Madness (Third Team)

All-Patriot League Performers Under Wholley

2015	2014
Stephen Hodge, LB - First Team	Brett Biestek, DL/OLB - First Team
Jihaad Pretlow, DB - First Team	Jordan Chapman, DB - First Team
JQ Bowers, DB - Second Team	Austin Hancock, LB - First Team
Niko Thorpe, LB - Second Team	DeAndre Slate, DL - First Team
	Ian Wiliams, DB - First Team
	Jake Dixon, DB - Second Team
	De'Nard Pinckney, LB - Second Team

Jon Wholley joined the Fordham staff in the spring of 2014 and will begin his third season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Rams this fall. A 2004 graduate of the University of Connecticut who earned a master’s degree from UConn in 2008, he arrived at Fordham after spending four years at his alma mater. He worked with the linebackers for the last three seasons after coaching the tight ends in 2010.

Last fall, Wholley co-coordinated a Fordham defense that led the Patriot League and was tenth in the NCAA FCS in turnovers gained (29) and fumbles recovered (13) while also leading the league and ranking 17th in the nation in passes intercepted (16). Individually the Rams had four players named All-Patriot League with Stephen Hodge (LB) and Jihaad Pretlow (DB) earning first team honors and JQ Bowers (DB) and Niko Thorpe (LB) being placed on the second team. Additionally, Hodge was named a consensus All-American.

In 2014, Wholley led a Fordham defense that saw seven players earn All-Patriot League honors, including linebackers Austin Hancock and De’Nard Pinckney. The Rams led the Patriot League and were ninth in the NCAA FCS in passing yards allowed (164.2) while also leading the league and ranking 14th in the nation in red zone defense (.714). Fordham also led the conference, and was 28th in the NCAA FCS, in fumbles recovered (11) as well as tackles for loss (6.9), ranking 32nd in the NCAA FCS. The Rams were also second in the Patriot League in both sacks (2.43) and third down conversions (.353), ranking 30th and 33rd, respectively, in the NCAA in each category.

In 2012 at UConn, a pair of linebackers earned First Team All-BIG EAST honors in Sio Moore and Yawin Smallwood. Moore was a third round pick of the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL Draft and played in the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game and also took part in the NFL Combine.

This will be Wholley’s second stint at Fordham as he also served as an assistant for the Rams in 2009, working with the running backs and serving as the recruiting coordinator. The Rams led the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in total offense that year at 488.82 yards per game.

A Southington, Conn. native, Wholley was a member of the UConn football team from 2001-04 as a running back, joining the team as a walk-on. He later earned a scholarship and was a member of the 2004 Motor City Bowl championship team.

Wholley earned his undergraduate degree in political science from UConn in December of 2004.

Following graduation, he was an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State for the 2005 season, working with the tight ends. The Blue Devils had a 7-4 record and were Northeast Conference co-champions.

Wholley then returned to UConn as a graduate assistant coach for the 2006-08 seasons working on the offensive side of the ball. He was part of the coaching staff that led the Huskies to a share of the 2007 BIG EAST Championship and an appearance in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Wholley earned his master’s degree in kinesiology from UConn in December of 2008.

Wholley and his wife, the former Carly Venditto, were married in July 2012.