Bill Wienke returned to the North Central College football coaching staff prior to the 2014 season on a part-time basis after a five-year absence. He currently serves the program as a recruiting liaison.
Wienke was the Cardinals’ linebackers coach from 2002-2009, also serving as the defensive coordinator from 2004-2006 and 2008-2009. In 2006, Wienke’s unit broke the North Central single-game record for opponents’ passing yardage when Augustana College did not manage a single yard through the air in a 27-0 Cardinal victory. The 2006 defensive squad also boasted the CCIW’s top rushing defense (89.7 yards allowed per game) while also leading the conference in turnover margin (+1.08 per game), opponents’ first downs (96) and passing efficiency defense (95.5). The Cardinals led the CCIW in quarterback sacks in both 2008 (33) and 2009 (28).
He coached a total of eight All-CCIW linebackers, including CCIW Defensive Player of the Year honorees Lenny Radtke ’06 (2005) and Matt Wenger ’10 (2008), who both went on to become two-time All-Americans. Wienke served as the defensive coordinator at York High School in Elmhurst, Ill., in 2010 and 2011, Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Ill., in 2012 and at the College of DuPage (Ill.) in 2013.
In his one season at DuPage, the Chaparrals ranked sixth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in fewest points allowed per game (13.7), 10th in quarterback sacks (35), 12th in fumble recoveries (14) and 14th in fewest rushing yards allowed per game (107.5). DuPage finished the regular season ranked 20th nationally and was invited to participate in the Carrier Dome Bowl in Syracuse, N.Y.
Wienke spent over 25 years teaching physical education and strength training at the high school level before retiring in 2004. During that time, he gained 16 years of head coaching experience in football and wrestling. He is currently a visiting assistant professor in North Central’s health and physical education department and has served as a faculty mentor to the Cardinals’ wrestling program.
Wienke graduated from Illinois State University in 1971 with a degree in physical education. He received his master’s degree in physical education from Northern Illinois University in 1975 and an administrative degree from Governor’s State University (Ill.) in 1988. Bill and his wife, Linda, live in Addison, Ill., and have two adult daughters, Erin and Kate.
