Kevin Hoyng has spent nine years with the University of Dayton Flyers Football team, but next year will be his first as a Wittenberg Tiger and as an offensive coordinator. After spending four years as a record setting quarterback for the Flyers before graduating in 2007, Hoyng has been coaching tight ends and quarterbacks for the last five years in Dayton. It’s this success as both a player and a coach that Wittenberg’s football team hopes to benefit from during their 2014 campaign.
A native of Coldwater, Ohio, Hoyng has big shoes to fill as the leader of the Tiger’s offense. After a productive eight years at Wittenberg, Andy Mitchel, the former offensive coordinator will be wearing a headset for Marian University in Indianapolis next year. Mitchel served as the offensive coordinator for the Tigers during some of the most successful offensive seasons. Records for offensive production and points were broken during Mitchel’s tenure along with several NCAC Offensive Players of the Year in recent years.
However, Hoyng isn’t coming into his new job unaccomplished. Hoyng still holds records for most total yards, passing completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns for his alma mater. Ironically, Hoyng helped break some of those records in the University of Dayton’s two wins against Wittenberg during Hoyng’s career in both 2005 and 2006.
The offensive line Hoyng will be taking over will look much different than it did this last season. With 32 seniors graduating from the NCAC Championship team, the Tigers will look to new faces in order to win a third straight conference title. Among those who won’t be suiting up for the red and white next year will be quarterback Reed Florence and wide receiver Brendan Cunningham. Florence, who was the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year for 2013, had significant playing time since the 2011 season. Both he and Cunningham were invited to play at several invite-only post season games this year.
Excitement for the new coach is apparent among those who will be seniors next season. “I think he will be a good fit,” says junior football player Gabe Cunningham. “He brings a lot of energy to practices so far and I think with his experiences he can bring some new twists to our offense.”
With spring practices well underway for the Tigers, they will have plenty of time to adjust to their new coach. Runningbacks Sean Gary and Jimmy Dehnke who ran for a combined 1,500 yards last year in their sophomore years will be keys to Hoyng’s offense next year. Whether the offense will be continue to be pass heavy or rely more on their running game is yet to be determined but either way there is already a change for Wittenberg Football.
