Wes Welnack joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2023 as an assistant coach for the football team to the offensive line. The 2025-26 season will mark Welnack’s third year as assistant coach.
At St. Francis, Welnack assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, assisting in training sessions, and implementation of game strategies.
Prior to joining the Fighting Saints staff, Welnack spent the past season (2022) as an assistant football coach at NCAA Division III North Park University (Ill.) as the Vikings’ offensive line coach/run line coordinator. During this season, the NPU offensive line gave up less than one sack per game on 428 attempts.
Welnack began his coaching career in 2015 as an assistant coach to the tight ends and tackles at California Lutheran University where he produced two All-Conference tight ends. The next year he accepted the assistant coach position as the Special Teams Coordinator and JV Offensive Coordinator at Illinois College where he also oversaw the development of the wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends. During his two years in this position (2016-2017), Welnack produced three All-Conference selections, and developed the 16th ranked punt return unit in NCAA Division III. In 2018, Welnack served time as an assistant coach to the offensive line and was named run game coordinator at Moorpark College, where he produced five All-Conference honorees. From 2018-2021, Welnack accepted the assistant coach position at Millikin University where he was also named the JV Offensive Coordinator. During his four seasons with the Big Blue, Welnack developed running backs, offensive lineman, tight ends, and defensive linemen. In 2020, he was named the Offensive Line Coach and in 2021 he was named the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, along with the titles of Strength & Conditioning Coach and JV Head Coach.
Welnack graduated from NCAA Division III North Central College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, and was a three-year starter of the Cardinal football team. During his collegiate career at North Central, Welnack helped the Cardinals to three consecutive conference championships and three playoff appearances. His team was ranked in the Top 25 nationally each season, and ranked as high as No. 2 in 2005. In 2004, Welnack began his playing career as a starting offensive lineman at Olivet Nazarene University and helped the Tigers claim the 2004 NCCAA Victory Bowl Championship. He was also a national qualifier for the ONU track & field team.
