Football

Veteran collegiate coach Wade Lang joined the Tusculum University staff in January 2024 where he serves as associate head coach and offensive coordinator, while mentoring TU’s quarterbacks.

Lang previously served on the coaching staff at Wofford College for 33 storied seasons including the last 31 as offensive coordinator. During his tenure with the Terriers, Lang helped lead Wofford to 12 NCAA Playoff appearances and seven Southern Conference championships.

The 1983 Wofford graduate mentored 20 All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, 150 All-Conference standouts, two SoCon Freshmen of the Year and a pair of SoCon Offensive Players of the Year.

Under his guidance, Wofford was ranked among the national leaders in team rushing, total offense and scoring offense year in and year out. The Terriers finished either first or second in the SoCon in rushing in 22 of his last 24 years in Spartanburg as Wofford was ranked amongst the top-10 rushing programs nationally for 24 straight seasons.

He coached some of the most successful quarterbacks in Wofford history, including All-American Shawn Graves as well as Travis Wilson, Josh Collier, Ben Widmyer, Mitch Allen and Joe Newman.

Newman was named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 as he threw for 1,150 yards and ran for 889 yards with 20 total touchdowns. Among SoCon teams, the rushing offense was first while the scoring offense and total offense were ranked second. The team secured a third straight Southern Conference Championship and played in the NCAA FCS Playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

In 2018, Wofford finished 9-4 overall and won the Southern Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. The rushing offense finished first in the league and fifth in the nation averaging 311.7 yards per game. The passing offense posted 115.5 yards per game as Newman threw for over 1,000 yards. Wofford total offense was third in the SoCon and 32nd in the nation.

During 2017, Wofford posted a 10-3 worksheet and reached the NCAA quarterfinals for a second straight season. The Terriers averaged 244.8 rushing yards per game which was second in the league and eighth-best in the country.

In 2016, the Terriers reached the NCAA FCS quarterfinals with a 10-4 record and Wofford finished runner-up in the league. Lang’s offense churned out 279.6 rushing yards per contest which were ranked fourth in the nation.

In 2012, the Wofford finished second in the country in rushing offensive (349.7 ypg) and established a new program single-season record with 4,546 rushing yards, topping the mark set a season before. In 2011, Wofford led the nation in rushing with 364.58 yards per game while its 444.7 total offensive yards per game was seventh-best in the land.

The Terriers led the nation in rushing in 2010 with 297.8 yards per game and the team was second in passing efficiency. During the 2009 campaign, the team was second in the country in rushing offense. In 2008, the offense had over 400 total yards in all but one game as they averaged 467.2 yards per game to finish second in the nation. The rushing offense was second in the nation with 339.75 yards per game and the scoring offense was sixth in the nation. The passing game led the nation in passing efficiency.

During the 2007 season, Wofford won the conference title as the team established school records with 5,559 total yards, 444 points, and 295 first downs. The rushing offense averaged 309.7 yards per game, which was second in the nation. The Terriers also led the nation in 2007 with 771 rushing attempts.

In 2006, the Terriers were first in the SoCon and second in the nation in rushing, averaging 264.5 yards per game on the ground. Wofford placed second in the nation in team rushing in 2002 with an average of 342.2 yards per contest. The 2003 Terriers were the SoCon’s highest scoring team in league games with 246 points (30.8 per game) in their run to a perfect 8-0 record and the SoCon title.

Lang spent five years as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State University. While in Johnson City, he served as a graduate assistant (1983-84), receiver and tight end coach (1985-86), outside linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator (1987).

He returned to Wofford in 1988 to join the coaching staff for legendary head coach Mike Ayers. After two seasons as running backs coach, Lang assumed the duties as offensive coordinator in 1990, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2021.

Lang played football, basketball and baseball at Plant City (Fla.) High School. He started at quarterback for two years and was an All-Western Conference selection his senior season.

As a Terrier, he lettered all four years at wingback (1979-82). He earned All-District honors as a junior and senior as he led the team in reception yards. Lang was named an honorable mention All-America his senior year as he co-captained Wofford to an 8-3 record. Lang has his name peppered throughout the Wofford record book as a student-athlete including the fifth-longest kickoff return in school history with a 95-yard touchdown against Gardner-Webb in 1980. He holds the school record with a 30.0 kickoff return average in 1980 and also holds the single-season mark with four two-point conversions in 1981.