From Player to Coach: Wennin ’12 Returns to Warrior Field

Patrick Wennin ‘12 fell in love with the game of football on Warrior Field, and now at 29, is Westminster ’s first alumni head coach to lead the program.

“It was my dream to coach at Westminster but I couldn’t see how it could happen,” said Wennin, “but God opened doors that I thought could not be opened.”

Patrick started playing football at Westminster in seventh grade, following in the footsteps of his cousins and older brother. His success as a running back landed him a spot on the football program at Maryville College in Tennessee. During his first season, he tore his ACL and found himself back in Miami to rehabilitate and train. To stay close to the game, he began coaching at Westminster and coached for three years while finishing college.

After graduating, he began to work in marketing and social media. After a few years his career led him back to Westminster as a social media specialist. Once back on campus, his love for football and working with students was reignited.

“At Westminster, I was back around the game I love,” said Patrick. “I couldn’t stay away. This is when I started to dream about becoming a head football coach.”

Wennin decided to step out in faith believing that God was preparing him for the role he was after

“I sent 600 to 700 emails to coaches I knew and some I didn’t, looking for a coaching opportunity here in the States. To my surprise, Europe answered,” said Wennin.

The European League of Football (ELF) started in November 2020, and he was recruited to coach for the Barcelona Dragons as the offensive coordinator/running backs coach and special teams’ coordinator in their inaugural January 2021 season.

“Coaching in Europe is not what I had envisioned for myself, but I knew God had a plan and, at that time, it was where I was being called.”

By the 2022 season, Wennin had become the assistant head coach and was nominated by the ELF as assistant coach of the year. In Barcelona, he also had the opportunity to coach under Andrew Weidinger, whom he credits for taking him to the next level as a coach.

“I like to say that I had a bachelor’s in football, and I earned my master’s in the game with him,” said Wennin. “Working with Andrew helped prepare me to become Westminster’s head coach.”

He says his coaching style is all about teaching and loving his players, more than traditional, hard-nosed football.

“My mom was a teacher, and I learned that every kid learns differently. It’s the same for sixth graders to 28-year-old men. Everyone learns differently so you have to coach differently. You cannot coach everyone the same way. It just won’t work,” said Wennin.

Wennin says he is building a program and creating a culture based on the pillars of faith, commitment, preparation and brotherhood. Followers of the team’s Instagram account (@wcsmiami_football) will see this phrase throughout their posts: “Faith is our Foundation, Commitment is our Culture, Preparation is our Promise, Brotherhood is our Bond.” Wennin says he understands that it is easy to say, but much more difficult to put into practice.

“There is a lot on students’ plates. There is academics and the other sports they play besides football. Because we may not have large numbers, we have to be strong. That comes by working out – hard work and 6:30 a.m. workouts. Kids are starting to buy in. They can see their muscles grow and will really see it when we have success on the field.”

The team saw success in their spring game on May 19. They played Braddock High School, and Varsity won 16-0, and JV won 27-6. It was an exciting first step that will hopefully fuel the hard work that will come in the summer and beyond.

“I hope students will be proud of the work they are putting in as football players and that the excitement will spread,” said Wennin. “We want middle school and elementary school students excited about coming to games. Some of my best memories are from watching my older brother play football.”

Wennin is also focused on building community. After being named head football coach for the Warriors, he organized a gathering for all football alumni with the goal of connecting alumni to program.

“ We want alumni to come back to games, and we want to invite former players to practices,” said Wennin. “My goal is to create connections between our current and former players so that the Warrior Football network is strong and provides opportunities for our young men.”

He also further strengthened the connection to alumni by adding Tobias Moss ’15 to the coaching staff, who brings incredible talent and experience to the team.

As an alumnus, Wennin understands and appreciates the role athletics plays in the lives of young athletes and the value of the lessons learned in competition. This is especially true at Westminster where the mission is to create ambassadors for Christ.

“My goal is to create a culture where kids are happy and proud of being in the program,” said Wennin. “I want young boys to come in at 14 and leave as young Christian men. To me that is the ultimate success.”