THE INGE FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Birthdate: Dec. 17, 1973
Hometown: Kirkwood, Missouri
Education: Iowa, 1996 (bachelor’s in sports, health, leisure, physical studies); Iowa, 1999 (master’s in athletic administration)
Playing Experience: Iowa – DL (1993-96)
Wife: Rae Ann
Children: Isaiah, Keara, Raya

COACHING HISTORY

1998-2000: Iowa, Graduate Assistant/Recruiting Coordinator
2001-02: Northern Iowa, Linebackers
2003: Northern Iowa, Defensive Line
2004: Northern Iowa, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams
2005: Colorado, Defensive Line
2006-07: San Diego State, Linebackers
2008-09: Cincinnati, Linebackers
2010-11: Buffalo, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2012: Buffalo Bills (NFL), Assistant Defensive Line
2013-15: Indiana, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2016: Indiana, Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator
2017: Indiana, Linebackers
2018-19: Indiana, Special Teams Coordinator
2020-21: Fresno State, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2022-23: Washington, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2024-present: Tennessee, Linebackers

CONFERENCE/DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 Pac-12 – Washington (co-DC/LB)
2008 Big East – Cincinnati (LB)
2008 Big East – Cincinnati (LB)
2005 Big 12 North – Colorado (DL)
2003 MVFC – Northern Iowa (DL)
2001 MFVC – Northern Iowa (LB)

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (13)

2024 CFP First Round – Tennessee
2024 CFP National Championship Game – Washington
2024 CFP Semifinal Sugar Bowl – Washington
2022 Alamo Bowl – Washington
2021 New Mexico Bowl – Fresno State
2020 Gator Bowl – Indiana
2016 Foster Farms Bowl – Indiana
2015 Pinstripe Bowl – Indiana
2009 Sugar Bowl – Cincinnati
2008 Orange Bowl – Cincinnati
2005 Champs Sports Bowl – Colorado
2003 FCS Playoff Quarterfinal – Northern Iowa
2001 FCS Playoff Semifinal – Northern Iowa

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A PLAYER

1996 Alamo Bowl – Iowa
1995 Sun Bowl – Iowa
1993 Alamo Bowl – Iowa

updated summer 2025

William Inge owns over two decades of collegiate experience and has coached in back-to-back College Football Playoffs. He was officially announced as Tennessee’s linebackers coach on Feb. 21, 2024, and enters his second season on Rocky Top in 2025.

Inge has served as either defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator for 10 seasons, including tenures at Washington (2022-23), Fresno State (2020-21), Indiana (2013-15), Buffalo (2010-11) and Northern Iowa (2004). A three-year starter as a player at Iowa, the 2025 season will be his 28th in coaching. Inge’s distinguished coaching accomplishments include 13 postseason/bowl game appearances, six conference/divisional championships and two College Football Playoffs.

Inge played a pivotal role in helping lead the Volunteers to their first College Football Playoff in 2024. His linebackers helped form a defensive unit that ranked in the FBS top 10 in six different categories, including fourth-down conversion defense (third – 31.8), yards per play allowed (fifth – 4.56), third-down conversion defense (sixth – 30.3), total defense (sixth – 293.2), scoring defense (seventh – 16.1) and tackles for loss (eighth – 7.7).

Despite losing team captain Keenan Pili to a season-ending injury midway through the year, Inge’s group responded mightily behind the play of true sophomores Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander. Carter led the squad in tackles, collecting 68 total to go along with 6.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and one interception. Telander was fourth on the team with 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a team-high three fumble recoveries. Their play sparked the Vols to victories over Florida, Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt with Carter recording a key interception against the Gators.

In Inge’s two seasons at Washington, the Huskies combined for a 25-3 record highlighted by a 2023 Pac-12 championship and an appearance in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game after reeling off 14 straight wins. Inge and UW defeated Texas in the CFP Sugar Bowl national semifinal as his defense forced two turnovers.

Under Inge’s tutelage, linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio developed into a catalyst for the Huskies’ defense in 2023. He ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in tackles with 96 and was selected as a finalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the top linebacker in the country. Ulofoshio earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors, and he was tabbed a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft (pick No. 160) by the Buffalo Bills.

Teammate Carson Bruener also enjoyed success as Inge’s protégé. The senior was a 2023 All-Pac-12 honorable mention recipient after gathering 86 total tackles, which ranked 10th in the conference. Inge was named Pac-12 Linebacker Coach of the Year by Our Coaching Network for his efforts.

Inge made an immediate impact in his first season in Seattle as Washington went from 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (194.0) prior to his arrival to third, allowing 121.2 yards per game on the ground. That figure ranked 25th in the FBS. The Huskies captured 11 victories and punctuated it with a 27-20 Alamo Bowl victory over No. 20 Texas as Inge’s defense limited the Longhorns to their second-lowest point total of the season.

Inge arrived in Seattle after a successful two-year stint as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Fresno State from 2020-21. The Bulldogs' defense went from 82nd in the nation in scoring defense and 88th in total defense in 2019, to 20th and 31st in the FBS in 2021, respectively – improvements of 62 and 57 places. In terms of FBS national ranking, the run defense improved from 71st to 24th while the pass defense leapt from 107th to 58th. Fresno State also improved its national ranking by 45 or more places in yards allowed per play, opponent first downs, sacks, tackles for loss, third-down percentage defense and fourth-down percentage defense.

In 2021, Fresno State ranked among the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense (20th – 20.5), tackles for loss (17th – 7.0), turnovers gained (15th – 24), fumble recoveries (fourth – 13), third-down conversion defense (24th – 34.4) and fourth-down conversion defense (seventh – 35.0). The Bulldogs finished the season with a 10-3 record, including a victory in the New Mexico Bowl. Five defensive players earned All-Mountain West Conference accolades.

In Inge’s first season at Fresno State in 2020, the Bulldogs began their new look 4-2-5 defensive scheme that he installed. His group of five postseason all-conference honorees, which included three defensive linemen, was the force that saw Fresno State finish among the national leaders in sacks. Twelve different players recorded a sack, resulting in 25 sacks in six games for an average of 4.17 per game – good for third in the final FBS rankings. The Bulldog defense also ranked among the top 20 in tackles for loss with 7.5 per game.

Inge spent seven seasons at Indiana from 2013-19, serving as the Hoosiers’ special teams coordinator for two years and linebackers coach for five seasons. Inge coached linebacker Chris Covington, who became the first IU linebacker drafted since 1988 going in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft to the Dallas Cowboys. In the season leading up to the draft, Covington picked up honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. That same fall, Tegray Scales became the first Indiana linebacker to claim first-team All-Big Ten honors since 1988.

In 2016, Scales arguably was named a second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated, becoming the first Hoosiers linebacker recognized on an All-America team since 1987. He led the country with 23.5 tackles for loss and 93 solo tackles.

Four linebackers earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors during Inge’s tenure, including Scales, who secured a spot on the 2014 247Sports True Freshman All-American team. Clyde Newton, Marcus Oliver and T.J. Simmons also picked up 2013 Big Ten All-Freshman team honors. Simmons tied an Indiana freshman record with 12 starts at middle linebacker en route to College Football News Freshman All-America honorable mention.

Before heading to Indiana, Inge spent one season in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. As an assistant defensive line coach in 2012, he coached All Pro defensive end Mario Williams and defensive tackle Kyle Williams. This was after making the move from the University at Buffalo, where he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for two seasons (2010-11).

In 2010, the Bulls’ defense finished 32nd nationally in total defense (340.5) and second in the Mid-American Conference in pass defense (181.4). It was at Buffalo where he mentored future NFL star, linebacker Khalil Mack during his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons. Mack was later selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. During the 2011 season, Mack was a Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-America selection. Mack has since been selected as an eight-time Pro Bowler, a four-time first-team All-Pro and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

In the summer of 2011, Inge participated in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program with the Bills and worked part of the team's training camp. Inge was also one of seven Division I assistant coaches and athletic directors from across the nation invited to take part in the NCAA's 2011 Champion Forum.

Inge spent two seasons at Cincinnati prior to his time at Buffalo. He helped the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East championships and appearances in the 2009 Orange Bowl and the 2010 Sugar Bowl. In each of his two seasons with the Bearcats, the top two tacklers on the team were linebackers.

Prior to arriving at Cincinnati, Inge spent two seasons as the linebackers coach at San Diego State (2006-07). While with the Aztecs, he coached two players who made some level of All-MWC.

In 2005, Inge was the defensive line coach at Colorado, where he helped the Buffaloes to the Big 12 North Division title and the Big 12 Championship Game.

Inge began his career at Northern Iowa. He was hired as a defensive assistant in 2001. In his four seasons from 2001-04, he was elevated to co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. The Panthers reached the FCS playoffs twice during his tenure.

Inge was a four-year letterman at Iowa (1993-96) where he served as a team co-captain his senior season and collected honorable mention All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten accolades. Iowa went 17-7 in his junior and senior years, including wins in the Sun and Alamo Bowls. His Hawkeyes beat Washington in the 1995 Sun Bowl.

He capped his collegiate career by playing in the 1997 Hula Bowl, returned to his alma mater in 1998 and spent three years as the Hawkeyes recruiting coordinator and graduate assistant from 1998-2000.

The Kirkwood, Missouri, native earned his bachelor's degree in sports, health, leisure, and physical studies (1996) and his master's degree in athletic administration (1999). He and his wife, Rae Ann, have three children, Isaiah, Keara and Raya. Isaiah is in his second season as a defensive lineman for the Vols.