RELEASE: NC State Announces Charley Wiles As Defensive Line Coach
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State head coach Dave Doeren has announced that renowned defensive line coach Charley Wiles will join his staff to coach that position for the Wolfpack. Wiles has spent the past 24 seasons mentoring the d-line at Virginia Tech, which consistently posted one of the nation's top-ranked defenses during his tenure.
"I'm very excited to bring Charley to our staff," said Doeren. "He's a highly-decorated and respected coach – not only in our region and conference, but in our profession. I look forward to having his personality around our guys and I know that he will bring an extremely positive attitude, a great work ethic, and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to developing and coaching defensive linemen.
"He also brings a history of incredible success recruiting in the state of North Carolina."
The productivity and consistency of Virginia Tech's defensive front under Wiles' direction were hallmarks of Tech's "Lunch Pail Defense" – so much so that after the 2019 regular season, he became just the second person ever at VT to receive a lunch pail.
Dating back to 1996 when Wiles began his tenure coaching Tech's defensive line, the Hokies registered 893 sacks, the highest total of any team in the nation over that span.
"I can't wait to get to work, get to know our defensive line and become a part of Wolfpack Nation," said Wiles. "Andi and I are excited about living in the Raleigh area and to be a part of what is happening at NC State. Coach Doeren has been great through this whole process and I look forward to working with him, Coach [Tony] Gibson and the rest of the defensive staff."
The ability of Wiles' linemen to put pressure on the passer helped Virginia Tech force an FBS-best 394 interceptions during his stint in Blacksburg. In 2017, Tech led all FBS squads, limiting opponents to a completion percentage of just 48.60 percent.
Under Wiles' tutelage, 26 different Virginia Tech defensive linemen earned all-conference honors and twice he coached a conference Player of the Year. He played an integral role in helping 24 consecutive Hokie teams earn bowl berths. That run included the 1999 National Championship Game, two BIG EAST championships and four ACC titles.
The Deland, Fla., native coached five individuals to seven All-America honors at Virginia Tech: Cornell Brown (1995 & 1996), Corey Moore (1998 & 1999), John Engelberger (1999), Darryl Tapp (2005) and David Pugh (2001). Moore won both the Lombardi and Nagurski Awards following the 1999 campaign and was the first VT defender ever to be named a unanimous All-American. Two of his players were NFL second-round draft picks: Engleberger (SF – 2000) and DE Jason Worilds (Pittsburgh – 2010) and he has coached multiple players who went on to play professionally.
In 1999, the Hokies tied for the national lead with 58.0 sacks and advanced to the national championship game. The Sporting News labeled the VT defensive front as the best in college football that season.
Wiles began his coaching career as a graduate assistant working under Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech in 1987, then spent a season as the offensive line coach at East Tennessee State. In 1990, he began coaching at his alma mater, Murray State, leading the defensive ends, running backs and linebackers during his stay there before working as co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in 1995. That year, he helped lead the Racers to an 11-0 regular-season mark and a berth in the Division I-AA playoffs.
Wiles played for Beamer at Murray State, where he won Kodak Division I-AA All-America honors as an offensive lineman in 1986.
He and his wife, Andi have two children: a son Eric and a daughter, Kendell. Eric is a sophomore at Virginia Tech, while Kendell, who ran track at Indiana, is in graduate school at Radford.