Wheeling University Men's Football

Martins Ferry native and former Purple Rider football standout Zac Bruney enters his eighth season and ninth year overall as head coach at Wheeling University in 2026. Over his first eight seasons at the helm, Bruney has led the Cardinals to a combined 42-35 record, including an 28-32 record in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. 2025 marked the fourth straight season that the Cardinals would finish .500 or better, going 6-5 overall and 5-3 in MEC play. Their 5-3 mark was good for their highest conference winning percentage in program history, and their tie for third in the conference was their best finish in program history. The offense was the driving force of the team's success, averaging 27.82 points per game, and scoring 30+ points five times during the season. They would get off to a 3-1 start in conference play, and found themselves batting for an MEC title down to the final week of the 2026 season. They put themselves within striking distance with a 38-35 win over Glenville State in week 10, and set the single-game points record the following week in what would be a 68-67 loss to West Liberty. Their success on the field did not go unnoticed, with 12 players earning All-MEC honors, marking the most since the spring 2021 season, when the Cardinals had 15 players earn honors. The success was headlined by the program's first-ever MEC Freshman of the Year award winner, taken home by linebacker Dylan Newman. Along with Newman's honor, the Cardinals had two First Team All-MEC honors, with Leonard Sherrod III and Jefferson Bretanys-Desca taking home the honors. Desca would se tthe program's single-season tackles record, finishing with 114.0, while Sherrod set the program's interception record (5) to round out a strong season. The Cardinals pushed their run of .500 or better finishes to three straight seasons in 2024, with the team finishing 6-5 overall and 5-4 in MEC play. The Cardinals fell one game shy of tying the single-season win record behind what was a balanced attack. The defense was allowing just over 28 PPG while the offense matched that with just over 33 PPG of their own. After winning their conference opener, the Cardinals went on a late season push that put them over the .500 mark. It was a week seven win over West Virginia State that turned the tide and got the Cardinals going. They went 5-1 down their final six-game stretch, capping off the year with a 40-16 win over West Liberty that made sure they eclipsed the .500 mark on the season. The Cardinals would be rewarded with eight All-MEC honorees during the season, including three different players earning forst team honors. Each of the Cardinal's eight All-MEC players earned Second Team or higher, marking the most first and second team honorees in program history. Linebacker Jack Parry, Defensive Back Justin McIlwain, and Wide Receiver Tre Holloway each earned first team honors for their work during the 2024 season. Bruney also helped coach senior running back Steven Mitchell to Second Team All-MEC, the first award of his career, after rushing just short of 1,000 yards. During the 2023 season, the Cardinals would continue their run of .500 or better seasons, finishing 5-5 overall and 4-5 in MEC play. It marked the fourth consecutive season that the Cardinals finished .500 or better, and saw the program finish .500 or better for the fourth time in five seasons. The team set the new single-game points record when they took down West Virginia Wesleyan 58-3 during their homecoming match. The team was off to a 3-2 start to the season in the early going and added a big win over West Virginia State on senior day in week 10. For their efforts, eight Cardinals earned All-MEC honors, including Second Team All-MEC honors from Peter Schmitt, Tre Holloway, and Caleb Grant. IT was also a big year for alumni of the program with former Cardinals Sy Alli, Jayvon Johnson, Zay Lewis, Xavier Thomas, and Aaron Finch all inking professional contracts. The team also had a representative in the FAF Senior Bowl for the third straight season. Bruney helped coach the first D2CCA All-Region and All-American in program history when Aaron Davis led NCAA DII with 25 pass breakups during the season. The Fall of 2022 was the best season yet for Wheeling Football under Bruney, as the Cardinals finished 6th in the conference at 7-4 overall and 6-4 in MEC play. His team set the single-season win record for the program while several individual and team records were broken throughout the year. The Cardinals were in the top three of the conference up until the final three weeks of the regular season. The Cardinals had nine All-MEC award winners by year's end, including a program best eight players on either the first or second team. Rich White III earned the program's second Don Hansen DII All-American Award and the program also saw its first two professional contract signed as Brandon Munoz and former Cardinal Aaron Finch signed with the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League. During the Fall of 2021, and COVID-shortened 2021 spring season, Bruney's team made great strides. The fall of 21 they finished 5-6, (5-5) good for 5th in the MEC and 2-2 in that previous Spring, competing for the MEC North Division Championship against Notre Dame College. The Cardinals picked up 2 City Championship victories over West Liberty in the Spring and Fall Seasons (42-19, & 26-20). He helped lead a group that included five All-MEC Postseason award winners in the Fall of 2021, and helped the program to the 2nd straight .500 conference record in 3 seasons of conference play. In the first 4 seasons in program history, Bruney has gone a combined 16-18 over those 4 seasons as Head Football Coach as the team heads into its 4th season in the MEC. In the initial season of 2018, the Cardinals played an independent driven schedule, and finished with a perfect record of 8-0 with a roster comprised of almost exclusively Freshmen. Bruney’s Cardinals broke through for the program’s historic first Mountain East win in a 27-20 victory at Concord during the 2019 campaign.  In total, 27 Players have received All Mountain East Honors in the first 3 seasons in the league, and also the program's First All-American, Cornerback Richard White III (Don Hansen Football Gazette 2nd Team All American, 2021).  In the fall of 2021, 29 Members of the football squad received All Academic All-Conference awards (3.7-4.0) At a press conference on July 17, 2017, Bruney was officially named the first head football coach in school history. After a full year of recruiting, the Cardinal football team began play in 2018 before embarking on its first season as members of the Mountain East Conference in 2019. Bruney returned to the Ohio Valley following a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Ohio Dominican from 2013-16, including two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. The Panthers amassed a 36-10 record during his time in Columbus, captured the 2013 GLIAC Championship, won the 2014 GLIAC South Championship and were an NCAA Division II Regional finalist, finishing #4 in the country in the final AFCA Poll. Bruney started his coaching career at his alma mater, Mount Union, before becoming a graduate assistant coach with the University of Toledo, where he worked with both Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers. Bruney returned to Mount Union in 2009 to become the Purple Raiders offensive coordinator. From 2009-2012, the program racked up a 43-3 record, captured three OAC championships and made three appearances in the NCAA Division III Stagg Bowl (national championship game). Bruney is a 2004 graduate of the University of Mount Union and was a quarterback for legendary Head Coach Larry Kehres. Bruney was a member of the Purple Raider teams that captured the 2001 and 2002 NCAA Division III National Championships. Mount Union also appeared in the 2003 Stagg Bowl and were National Semifinalists in 2004. Bruney wrapped up his career with a 27-1 record as starting quarterback, an All-American in 2004, and was also a finalist for the Gagliardi Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in Division III. Bruney comes from a family with a storied football legacy. His father, Dave Bruney, had been the head coach at Martins Ferry High School from 1979 to 2018, and is a member of the Ohio High School Football Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. His late uncle, Fred Bruney, played at The Ohio State University in the 1950s and went onto a successful career as a player and coach in the NFL. Bruney and his wife Amber (married in 2013) have three children: Quinn (9), Decker (9), and Zara (7).   2018 (8-0) Independent Season 2019 (1-10, 1-9) First Season as a Member of the MEC 2020 (2-2, 2-2) CoVid Shortened Spring Season, City Champs, MEC North Division Runner Up 2021 (5-6, 5-5) 2nd Full Season in Division II/MEC, City Champs, 5th in MEC 2022 (7-4, 6-4) City Champs, 6th in MEC 2023 (5-5, 4-5) 2024 (6-5, 5-4) City Champs, T-5th in MEC 2025 (6-5, 5-3) T-3rd in MEC (Highest Conference Finish) Totals (42-35, 28-32) 3X City Champs

Steve McNeely enters his fourth season as a member of Zac Bruney's Wheeling University Football coaching staff in 2026. It will be his third season as the teams Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, and his second season working with the Tight Ends. He served as the team's Passing Game Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach in 2023 during his first season with the team. During the 2025 season, McNeely lead an offense that averaged 27.82 points per game, while averaging 356.0 total yards per game. He would coach a tandem of quarterbacks in Landon Lutz and Ade Olanegan, who combined to throw for over 2,400 yards while connecting on 20 touchdowns throughout the year. Highlighted in his position group was the performance of Alex Godavitarne, who earned Honorable Mention All-MEC honors. Under McNeely's watch, Godavitarne would set a career high with 19 catches for 255 yards and five touchdowns to lead the tight end group. During the 2024 season, McNeely's offense stepped up their game even further, scoring just over 33 points per game during the season. It was an average of five points per game more than 2024. Under McNeely's watch, Landon Lutz stepped in after an injury and helped lead the Cardinals to a 5-1 record down the stretch, finishing just one game shy of tying the program's single-season win record. Lutz would set the single-season touchdown record with 19, while throwing just two interceptions under McNeely's guidance. McNeely helped lead a Cardinal offense that averaged 28.60 points per game this past season. Under his watch, Landon Lutz would step up for the Cardinals, starting nine games dur to an injury to Javon Davis, and helped the Cardinals go 5-5. The sophomore threw for 1,394 yards and nine touchdowns in nine starts, completing 47.30% of his passes. His offense broke the single-game points record in their homecoming game against West Virginia Wesleyan, where the team picked up a 58-3 victory.  Prior to Wheeling, McNeely served as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach at Franklin University during the 2022 season. Under his watch, the Grizzlies averaged 25.40 points per game while averaging 201.10 yards per game through the air and 18 touchdowns. Under his watch, Kai Ross won All-Conference honors for the first time in his career, throwing for 2001 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season, while three Grizzly offensive lineman took home honors during the year. Prior to Franklin University, McNeely spent five seasons with Guillford College, where he lead a pair of top-five offenses in yards per game. He also was he Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers coach at his Alma Mater, the University of Mount Union from 2012-2014, where he helped lead the team to a pair of NCAA DIII National title games. With the Purple Raiders, he helped lead quarterback Kevin Burke to the 2013 and 2014 Gagliardi Award, recognizing the most outstanding player in NCAA DIII.

Troy James enters his first season as a member of Zac Bruney's Coaching Staff during the 2026 season. He will serve as the team's Academic Coordinator while also working with the team's Defensive Linemen. James comes to Wheeling after a five-year career on the defensive line at Prairie View A&M, earning three letters throughout his career. He would appear in 24 games for the Panthers across three seasons, finishing with 101 total tackles, 39 solo and 62 assisted, while adding 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He would put together a career-year in 2021, where he finished with 43 total tackles and 4.5 sacks, setting career-highs in both categories. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native also added an interception during that 2021 season, the only interception of his career. James will play a key role in the Cardinal's success in the classroom, captaining the study table sessions and making sure the Cardinals are in good academic standing across the entire team.

Arthur Smith enters his third season as a member of Zac Bruney's staff during the 2026 season. The 2026 season sees Smith promoted to the team's Defensive Coordinator, and will also see him take over as the position coach for the Defensive Backs. Over his first two seasons with the Cardinals, Smith served as the team's Special Teams Coordinator, and Linebackers Coach for the 2025 season, and served as a Co-Defensive Coordinator with the team during the 2024 season. In 2025, Smith continued his work with the Special Teams Unit, helping lead punt returner Nasir Rhem to Honorable Mention All-MEC honors. As a team, the Cardinal punt returners finished with an average of 13.77 yards per return, while the kick returners added an average of 22.89 yards/return and two touchdowns. Smith also helped sophomore kicker Conor Fitzpatrick earn Honorable Mention All-MEC honors, while setting the single-game record with four field goals made against Concord. Smith has also had his hand on the defensive side of the ball throughout his time with the Cardinals, working with the team's linebackers. He helped guide Jefferson Bretanys-Desca to the team's single-season tackles record, as well as First Team All-MEC honors during the 2025 season. In 2024, Smith led a Wheeling Special Teams Unit that made history during the season. He helped lead a kick return team that picked up the first two kick-off return touchdowns in the program's history. Both kick returns came in the Homecoming Game against Fairmont State courtesy of Tre Holloway. Under his watch, former Cardinal kick returner Tre Holloway earned Second Team All-MEC honors for his work on special teams. He also assisted in coaching First Team All-MEC Linebacker Jack Parry, whi finished with the MEC lead in tackles with 91.0. Smith comes to Wheeling after spending a year as the Defensive Coordinator for Alvernia University in Alvernia, PA. Under his watch, Alvernia finished the season with 9.0 total sacks and 10 interceptions to go along with 35 pass breakups. He helped coach Elijah Carr to All-MAC honors during the season, helping him to become the leading tackler in the MAC with 104.0 total tackles to average 10.4 tackles per game.  Prior to Alvenia, Smith spent two seasons at Delaware State, where he would be part of a defensive staff that lead the MEAC in back-to-back #1 overall defenses during the 2021 & 2022 seasons. His coaching career also includes stops at Wesley College, where he spent four years as an Assistant and helped coach Seven All-NJAC performers, Wesley Smith, Montana State University - Northern, and Mount Union. During the course of his career, Smith has won a NCAA DIII National Championship (Mount Union, 2012) and had several All-Conference honorees on the defensive side of the ball. As a player, Smith played in several Indoor football leagues professionally over five seasons. His stops included the Allen Wranglers, Wyoming Cavalry, Billings Wolves, Marian Blue Racers, and Amarillo Venum. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education, with a Minor in Health and Education from Mount Union in December of 2012, and added a Master of Science in Education, Instrution, and Learning from Montana State University - Northern in 2017. During his time with the Purple Raiders, Smith played for Bruney as a member of the Purple Raiders football team. Smith lives with his wife Sade M. Smith and his two sons Arthur D. Smith IV and Carlos James.

Brandon Robinson returns to Zac Bruney's Coaching staff, starting his first year of his second stint with the Cardinals, and his third overall with the program. He will begin his second stint with the program as the team's Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach in 2026. Robinson previously served as the Co-Offensive Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, and Wide Receivers Coach during the 2018 & 2019 seasons. Robinson returns to Wheeling after serving as the Head Football Coach at Bethany College over the past four seasons. He earned his first win as a collegiate Head Coach during the 2022 season, leading the Bison to a 3-37 record over three seasons at the Helm of the Bison. During his time at Bethany, he would coach three All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) honorees, including 2022 All-PAC Second Teamer Tre'Jour Owens. Along with serving as the Head Coach of the Bison Football program, Robinson also served as an Assistant Director of Athletics at Bethany. In his first stint with the Cardinals, Robinson helepd guide the team through their 2018 exhibition season, as well as their first season in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. During that season, he worked with an offense that averaged 16.09 point per game, and a passing game that averaged 203.55 yards per game. During that season, he led former Cardinal Ryan LaFollette to All-MEC honors, pulling in 29 catches for 655 yards and four touchdowns to lead the effort.   Robinson came to the Ohio Valley from NAIA Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, where he served as the wide receivers coach. He was also responsible for the wide receivers academic progress and was the team's video coordinator.   Under his tutelage, the Blue Raider offense finished fourth in the NAIA in total passing offense and sixth in scoring offense per game. Prior Lindsey Wilson, Robinson worked with Bruney at Ohio Dominican and served as as the tight ends coach. Brandon covered eastern and southeastern Ohio as part of his recruiting area with the Panthers.   Before his two previous college coaching stints, Robinson was the wide receivers coach and junior varsity head coach at his alma mater Eaton High School in Ohio. Robinson was a three-year starter and an All-GLIAC receiver at Ohio Dominican. He led the team with 59 receptions for 738 yards as a sophomore and still ranks among the top-10 in program history with 164 career receptions and 1,877 receiving yards.   Robinson holds a bachelor of science degree in integrated social studies education-secondary and a master’s degree in education leadership both from Ohio Dominican.

Jason Emerich enters his seventh season as a member of Head Coach Zac Bruney's staff for the 2026 season as offensive line coach and Run Game Coordinator. In 2025, the offensive line would pave the way for an offense that averaged 133.7 rushing yards per game and allowed just 16.0 sacks during the season. The Cardinals run game eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark twice during the season, with their high-water mark coming in a 207 yard effort in an MEC-opening win over Fairmont State. They hit the 100-yard mark eight times during the season, and rushed for multiple touchdowns on three different occassions, setting the team single-game record with five against West Liberty. Under his watch, center Angel Figueroa took home the first All-MEC honors of his career, earning Second Team All-MEC honors for his efforts. The Cardinal offensive line continued to grow under Emerich in 2024, paving the way for the fifth highest rushing offense in the MEC. The Cardinals averaged 160.1 rushing yards per game, and eclipsed 100 rushing yards in nine of the 11 games during the season. Their season-best effort came  against Concord, where they finished just eight yards shy of the single-game record, rushing for 273 yards. Under Emerich's watch, Alex Goodrick would earn the first All-MEC honor of his career, taking home Second Team All-MEC honors at Right Guard.  The 2023 season was one of the most successful for the Wheeling University runnin game, finishing with 1,710 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns during the year. Under Emerich's watch, the Cardinals set the new single-game rushing record when they ran for 281 yards in the team's 58-3 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan on Homecoming & Family Weekend. Emerich also helped two of his offensive lineman receive year-end awards, with Peter Schmitt earning Second Team All-MEC honors while Zay Lewis was named Honorable Mention All-MEC. In 2022, Emerich coached an offensive line that helped set records in the Wheeling Football rushing game. They cleared the way for the single-season program rushing yard record of 2,256 yards and helped the Wheeling running backs average a single-season best 4.7 yards per carry. His group plowed the way to a program record 224 net rushing yards against Alderson Broaddus on September 17th. He helped Cade Raudebaugh earn the second All-MEC honors of his career, when he was named First Team All-MEC for his efforts. In 2021, Emerich played a big role in the team's National Signing Day, helping to bring 35 student-athletes while also playing an instrumental role in running two successful camps during the off-season. Emerich also captained an offensive line that doubled down on their best running game in program history as they led the way for Sy Alli to become the first 1,000-yard rusher in program history. Cade Raudebaugh earned his second All-MEC Honors when he was named All-MEC second team following the season. During the 2020 season, Emerich oversaw a recruiting class that included 30 high school/college transfers signing their National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day. He also helped lead an offensive line that produced the best ground attack in school history, and included two All-MEC Honorees in center Aaron Hess and Tackle Cade Raudebaugh. Prior to Wheeling, Emerich spent the past two seasons on P.J. Fleck's coaching staff at the University of Minnesota as an offensive graduate assistant working primarily with the offensive line. He was instrumental in the development with several All-Big 10 honorees on the offensive line, including two-time All-Big 10 selection Blaise Andries. Three members of the offensive line on the 2019 team that went 11-2 overall were named All-Big 10, including Andries, Sam Schlueter, and Curtis Dunlap Jr. Emerich arrived in Minnesota after serving as an offensive quality control assistant for one season at Western Michigan. During his tenure with the Broncos he worked with All-American Chukwuma Okorafor, who was selected in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2018 NFL Draft. Emerich played at Syracuse from 2012-16 and earned four letters after taking a redshirt year. He saw action in 29 career games and started 15 at center for the Orange. He started the first two games of his senior season, but his career was cut short after suffering a shoulder injury. Emerich also represented Syracuse off the field. He represented Syracuse at the 2016 ACC Kickoff media event and also served as president of the Syracuse University chapter of Uplifting Athletes from 2014-16. Emerich spearheaded an effort that raised more than $50,000 for those affected by rare diseases during his three-year term. The New Ringgold, Pennsylvania, native was a three-time ACC Honor Roll selection and was named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team in 2012 and the ACC All-Academic Team in 2015. In 2016, he was a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and Wuerffel Trophy for his commitment to athletics, academics and community service. Emerich has a bachelor's degree in sport management and a master's in instructional design from Syracuse. He is currently completing a Master's in Education in Youth Development Leadership from Minnesota.

Andre London is entering his fourth season as a member of Zac Bruney's staff in 2026. He will enter his second season serving as the Pass Game Coordinator as well as the Wide Receivers Coach, after serving as Co-Offensive Coordinator/ Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach in 2024. London helped lead a passing game that would finish as the fifth-best passing offense in the MEC, averaging 222.3 yards per game in 2026. His receivers would pull in at least one touchdown in 10 of the team's 11 games, including setting a season-high with three receiving touchdowns on three different occasions. He helped lead the receiving duo of Jordan Kaiser and Colin Oberdick to career seasons, each pulling in at least 400 yards receiving as well as five touchdowns. He would also play a big role in Alex Godavitarne taking home Honorable Mention All-MEC honors for the first time in his career. London continued to help the Cardinal wide receiver core excel in 2024, averaging 240.91 receiving yards per game. The Cardinals.wide receiver core finished with 2,650 receiving yards, while seven different Cardinal players finished with at least one touchdown. Under his watch, Cardinal wide receiver Tre Holloway would earn First Team All-MEC honors, finishing with a team high 12 touchdowns while pulling in 785 receiving yards. As Pass Game Coordinator, London helped create a quarterback, wide receiver connection that led to the fifth highest passing offense in the conference. Under London's watch, the Cardinal receivers pulled in 189 catches for 2,303 yards, averaging 12.19 yards per catch in 2023. His receivers would average 230.3 yards per game during that time, with six different receivers pulling in multiple touchdowns on the year. He helped lead Quron Winder to All-MEC Honorable Mention honors during the year, pulling in 27 catches for 551 yards, while leading the team with three touchdowns. Prior to Wheeling, London spent the past four seasons as a wide receivers coach at Seton Hill University from 2019 - 2022. During his time with Seton Hill, he helped the program tie for the second most wins in school history in 202 and, during his first season he led the Griffins to the seventh highest passing offense in the PSAC with 245.8 yards/game. He played an intrical role in coaching Kinan Humphreys to have the fifth most catches in the PSAC during that 2019 season. London began his coaching career at St. Lawrence and Columbus East High Schools, before taking his first collegiate coaching job at Briar Cliff University. He would coach two All-Conference wide receivers and had one receiver set the new school record for touchdowns in a season. He played his college ball at St. Joseph's College and went on to five season of professional indoor football, making stops with the Erie Explosion, Green Bay Blizzard, Nebraska Danger, and the Sioux City Bandits. Over his indoor football career, London has amassed over 3,200 receiving yards and 56 touchdowns. London earned his degree in sports management with a focus in excercise science from St. Joseph's University and his master's in Healthcare Administration from Briar Cliff University