After two seasons, and a total of five wins, Wayne State head coach Tyrone Wheatley is making some serious changes to his staff, sources tell FootballScoop.
Starting at offensive coordinator, source shares that associate head coach / offensive coordinator Russell DeMasi will not return. DeMasi joined the Warriors staff after serving as the offensive coordinator at Calvary Day School (Savannah, GA), where they averaged over 42 points per game.
DeMasi also spent time at Savannah State (FCS) coaching the quarterbacks and then receivers while also holding co-special teams and co-offensive coordinator titles in his seven seasons there.
Also, defensive coordinator Tom Sims is expected to be released. Sims, a native of Detroit who played at powerhouse Cass Tech before starring at Western Michigan and Pitt before playing for four teams in the NFL, also mentored the defensive line.
Like DeMasi, Sims also spent time at Savannah State (FCS) and also has stops around major college football including Western Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, and Pitt in addition to holding the defensive coordinator title at Savannah State and Arkansas Pine Bluff (FCS).
Sources tell FootballScoop Ed Collins (wide receivers) and Glenn Davis (LBs) also will not return.
Collins previously spent time as a high school assistant in Georgia before moving to Detroit, and Davis previously coached the corners at Robert Morris (FCS - PA) and had a stop at Savannah State as well in addition to Northern Michigan, IMG Academy, and Youngstown State (FCS - OH).
The appointment in metro Detroit marks Wheatley's second opportunity to lead a program. His first head coaching opportunity came at the FCS level at Morgan State.
While there, he went 3-9 in 2019, the season was cancelled in 2020, and then Wheatley led the Bears to a 2-9 mark in his second fall season at the helm. After that, Wheatley made the jump back to the NFL to become the running backs coach in 2021, joining the Broncos staff in Denver under Nathaniel Hackett.
Following the retirement of longtime head coach Paul Winters after back-to-back losing seasons, Wheatley was brought in to usher in a new era for the program. Winters had led the program for 18 seasons that included a trip to the Division II national title game in 2011.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.