Scott Allen Wachenheim (born August 13, 1962) is an American football coach. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Wachenheim has been an assistant coach at various positions for nine different teams, ranging from the NCAA Division I FBS and FCS to a brief stint in the National Football League (NFL). Wachenheim was hired as the head coach of the VMI Keydets on December 14, 2014, replacing former bench boss Sparky Woods after seven seasons. Before that, he served as an offensive line coach at Virginia under Mike London for four seasons.
Wachenheim then went on to serve as an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Liberty University, a former Big South Conference rival of VMI. Prior to the 2007 season, Wachenheim was upgraded by head coach Danny Rocco to the title of assistant head coach, and the Flames subsequently won two consecutive Big South championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, Wachenheim briefly moved up to the NFL coaching ranks, serving as the tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins. Though the Redskins went 4–12 that season, Wachenheim did work in the development of tight end Fred Davis, a second-round pick who caught 48 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns. Wachenheim returned to college ball the following season, working with first-year head coach Mike London and his Virginia Cavaliers. Initially, Wachenheim coached tight ends in his first season at Virginia, but was designated to coach the offensive line in 2011, a position he held for four years. Under Wachenheim's guidance, four Cavalier linemen made NFL rosters: Morgan Moses of the Redskins, Luke Bowanko and Austin Pasztor of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oday Aboushi of the New York Jets.
On December 14, 2014, it was announced by VMI athletic director Dave Diles that the school had hired Wachenheim as head football coach. Wachenheim became the Institute's 31st all-time head coach, replacing Sparky Woods, who, in seven seasons, compiled a 17–62 record with the Keydets. Wachenheim led VMI to a 2020 SoCon title (with the season played in the spring of 2021, due to COVID-19) and a first-ever FCS playoff berth. That was followed by a 6-5 season in the fall of 2021.
On November 20, 2022, with his three-year contract extension expiring in a month, Wachenheim announced his decision to step down as head coach.
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