Zach Wilkerson is in his third season as HCU’s defensive coordinator and his first as associate head coach, first joining the HCU staff in January of 2024.
In 2025, the HCU defense tied for the Southland Conference lead and tied for seventh in the FCS with 15 interceptions. Additionally, the Huskies’ four defensive touchdowns tied for sixth-most in the nation. As a unit, the HCU defense held opponents to just a 34.7 percent success rate on third down conversion attempts. Redshirt freshman Tyran Chappell tied the program’s single-season interception record, with four, and led the SLC with 11 passes defended en route to Freshman All-America status.
In his first year with the Huskies, Wilkerson’s defense ranked second in the Southland Conference in fourth down conversion defense. HCU allowed opponents to convert fourth down attempts on just 32.1 percent of their attempts. The Huskies ranked ninth nationally in the category.
In 2024, the Huskies recorded the program’s first-ever win over a ranked opponent with a 43-22 win over No. 22 McNeese on Oct. 5 at Husky Field while racking up a program-record 414 yards rushing. Additionally, HCU closed the season with a 62-24 win over Northwestern State for the largest margin of victory by an HCU team vs. a Southland Conference opponent. Wide receiver AJ Wilson led all of Division I (FBS and FCS) in yards per catch, averaging 28.45 yards per reception. The HCU defense finished the year with 12 interceptions, ranking 35th in the FCS and tied for fourth in the SLC.
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.
