Springfield, OH – Wittenberg University Head Football Coach Jim Collins '88 has announced the addition of Allan Moore and Joe Nemith III as the newest additions to the Tiger staff ahead of the 2023 season.
Spending the past 18 season in nearby Westerville, Ohio with Otterbein University, Moore will take charge of the Defensive Coordinator role for the Tigers.
Nemith joins the Wittenberg staff having most recently coached at nearly Capital University.
"I am really excited about the addition of Allan Moore as our defensive coordinator and Joe Nemith as our passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach. Both are not just great coaches and leaders, but also great men," said Collins. "They know what it takes to build a championship level defense and the fact that they have a history together is also a big plus. We are all enthused about the direction our defensive staff is going to take our defense and looking forward to seeing things start to take shape this spring."
Moore has guided some top defensive units throughout the Ohio Athletic Conference during his tenure, including a 2012 group that led the league in turnover margin and finished second in total/scoring defense. Otterbein went 8-2 overall that season, holding six opponents under 14 points.
More recently, his 2017 unit featured 3x All-OAC defensive end Kyle Blust (graduated top-five all-time at Otterbein in both sacks and tackles for loss), 3x All-OAC linebacker Austin Jones (fourth all-time in tackles) and second team All-American safety Fred Hardgrove, who earned the OAC's Lee Tressel Award as the league's most outstanding defensive back in 2017. The Cardinal defense had 16 interceptions that year and 22 total takeaways.
Moore taught health and physical education classes at Northmor (OH) High School where he served as head football coach (2000-03) and assistant football coach/defensive coordinator (1998-2000). While at Northmor, he also assisted in wrestling and track and field.
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Nemith's coaching career began in 1998 when he joined the University of Akron as its defensive graduate assistant. After two seasons with the Zips, he made the jump to Tri-State University (now Trine University) to become its defensive coordinator. In two seasons, his defenses twice placed inside the nation's top-25 in different statistical categories. In 2001, the Thunder finished 8-3, were co-champions of the Mid-State Football Association (MSFA), and was a national playoff qualifier. He was also named the MSFA Assistant Coach of the Year following the 2000 season.
Nemith then spent two seasons at Robert Morris University (Pa.) and again, his defenses found their place in the national rankings. In 2002, the Colonials ranked seventh in total defense (261.6 yards per game) and were number one in pass defense, allowing just 90.9 yards per contest. The following year, they finished as the seventh-best run defense after allowing just 116.1 yards per game.
In 2004, Nemith returned to the Buckeye State where he helped start the Ohio Dominican University football program. From 2004 to 2009, he served as the associate head coach, defensive coordinator and was in charge of the Panthers' defensive backs. In 2007, Nemith helped build a defense that posted a plus-15 turnover margin, which ranked sixth in the country. Behind that performance, ODU went on to win a conference championship and earn a national playoff qualifying spot.
Nemith then stayed in the Columbus area but took over as the co-defensive coordinator at Otterbein University for three years (2010-12). In his first year, he coached All-American Dominic Jones to the Lee Tressel Award for most outstanding defensive back and All-OAC pick Anthony Korpieski to lead the league in interceptions.
In 2013, Nemith made the jump to the NCAA Division II level as Ashland University's defensive backs and special teams coach. Two years into his stay, the Eagles won the 2015 GLIAC Championship and qualified for the postseason. The following season, Ashland led the league in pass defense (186.0 ypg) and was third in the nation in touchdown passes allowed (11).
After spending the 2017 season at Baldwin Wallace as its linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Nemith went to Urbana University as its co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach where he spent two seasons elevating the Blue Knights' defense to the top of the Mountain East Conference.
Over the course of his coaching career, Nemith has overseen the selection of 51 all-conference players, eight All-Americans, two conference rookie of the year picks, and one Cliff Harris Award nominee to recognize the best small college defensive back.
Additional changes to the Tiger staff include Jovon Johnson taking charge of the Wittenberg special teams unit. Rocky Zingale has also been promoted to full-time assistant heading into his second season with the Tigers, continuing to work with the wide receiver group.