Ronnie Wheat begins his second season on the Wolf Pack coaching staff in 2021, taking over linebacker coach duties after coaching the safeties in 2020.
Last year, Wheat guided Wolf Pack safety Tyson Williams to All-Mountain West Honorable Mention, as Williams led the team with a pair of interceptions and finished second with 56 tackles (37 solo).
In addition to Williams' performance, fellow safety Christian Swint finished with an interception and 24 tackles, while at nickel, EJ Muhammed added a pick with three pass breakups.
Wheat came to Reno fresh off the 2019 national championship as a lead defensive analyst for LSU, serving as the Wolf Pack safeties coach..
Wheat came Nevada after seven seasons with the LSU football program. He joined the Tigers staff in 2013 and eventually became a lead defensive analyst under coordinator Dave Aranda.
Wheat was a football standout at Millsaps College in Mississippi, where he twice earned all-league honors as a linebacker. He also played two seasons of baseball – helping the Majors to a No. 1 ranking nationally as a senior -- and earned a pair of degrees while at Millsaps.
Wheat worked with Aranda with the linebacking corps in recent seasons at LSU and also assistant in recruiting. He helped coach a group of linebackers at LSU that included a number of NFL draft picks, including Devin White, Patrick Queen, Jacob Phillips, Kendell Beckwith, Duke Riley, Deion Jones, Kwon Alexander and Lamin Barrow.
In total, he worked under three different defensive coordinators with the Tigers – John Chavis, Kevin Steele and Aranda.
Prior to LSU, he coached for five seasons at his alma mater, beginning as a graduate assistant on offense for Millsaps in 2008 before moving back to the defensive side of the ball as an assistant coach in 2009, coaching linebackers. He added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2009.
The File on Ronnie Wheat
Born: Oct. 11, 1985
Hometown: Vancleave, Miss.
Family: Wife – Tiffany; Daughter – Ava Lanie.
Education: Bachelor's, Millsaps (2008); MBA, Millsaps (2009)
Coaching Experience
2020-present: Assistant Coach/Safeties, Nevada
2013-19: Lead Defensive Analyst, LSU
2009-12: Recruiting Coordinator/LBs, Millsaps College
2008: Graduate Assistant/Offense, Millsaps College
Playing Experience
2003-07: Millsaps College (Football and Baseball)
