Bill Wienke served as the linebackers coach from 2002 to 2009 and the defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2006 and from 2008 to 2009. He now serves as an assistant coach, along with offensive coordinator Eric Stuedemann, working with the offensive line.
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).
As defensive coordinator, 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 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 an associate professor of education in North Central’s education department. He has served as a faculty mentor to the Cardinals’ men's 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, and two grandchildren, Mason and Avery.
