Jon Wholley

Height:
5-8
Weight:
202
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Southington, CT
Prev School:
Wagner College
High School:
Southington

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Jon Wholley begins his second season as the Huskies' linebackers coach. Wholley is familiar with the UConn football program as he spent four years, 2010-13, on staff in Storrs.

Prior to the 2017 season, Wholley spent three years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Fordham. A 2004 graduate of the University of Connecticut who earned a master’s degree from UConn in 2008, he worked with the linebackers for the last three seasons after coaching the tight ends in 2010.

In 2015, 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.

Wholley worked a one year stint at Fordham 2009 as an assistant coach, he worked with the running backs and was 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.