Zach Wilkerson is in his first season as defensive coordinator, beginning in his role in January of 2024.
Prior to joining the Huskies, Wilkerson spent 10 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. In 2023, Wilkerson helped guide the Cowboys to the American Southwest Conference championship with a perfect 7-0 record in ASC play and a 9-2 overall record.
In 2021, Wilkerson’s defense ranked sixth in NCAA Division III in scoring defense (10.6 points per game), sixth in passing defense (132 yards per game) and 10th in total defense (237 YPG). The year before, 2020, HSU ranked in the top-10 in the NCAA in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, passing defense and third down defense.
A 2019 member of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 list, Wilkerson earned a pair of conference championships while at HSU and coached in the NCAA postseason six times. During his 10 seasons with the program, the Cowboys posted a cumulative record of 81-19.
Before joining the HSU staff, Wilkerson spent one season as the defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi College where he guided the No. 2 pass defense and No. 3 scoring defense in the ASC. From 2009 through 2012, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Southwest Baptist while also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. He also spent one season as the defensive backs coach and video coordinator at Southwest Baptist after a stint as a graduate assistant and cornerbacks coach with the program.
Wilkerson played linebacker at Kansas Wesleyan from 2002 through 2005 and earned a B.A. in history in 2006. He then earned his M.A. in education from Southwest Baptist in 2007.
He and his wife, Brittny, have two sons, Paxton and Knox.
