Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
Ware, KiJuan
vs
LIU
Sep 6 (Sat)
7 p.m.
KiJuan Ware
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Secondary
- Email:
- kware2@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
KiJuan Ware is entering into his first year at Eastern Michigan University as the team’s secondary coach.
Ware comes to EMU after spending the past two seasons at Western Illinois University, most recently serving as the team’s offensive coordinator after exclusively coaching the running backs in 2011.
Last season, the Leathernecks ranked third in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in red zone efficiency by scoring on 94 percent (15-of-16) of its trips inside the 20-yard-line. Overall, WIU averaged 113.1 yards rushing per game with a trio of players turning in 100-yard rushing contests. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Jimmy Holtschlag became a repeat selection to the FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star team.
During the 2011 campaign, even with four different running backs missing time due to injuries, Ware saw his backfield record five 100-yard rushing games including two during the North Dakota State game - the only time all year the FCS National Champion allowed that feat to happen.
WIU “true” freshman Nikko Watson pressed into action during the eighth game of the season due to the rash of injuries, turned in three of those 100-yard rushing efforts and was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.
Ware’s running backs finished the season without losing a single fumble in 332 rushing attempts, the only time during Western’s Division I era accomplishing that feat.
Ware joined Western after spending two seasons at Miami University where he helped orchestrate one of the best turnarounds in NCAA Division I history. The RedHawks went from 1-11 in Ware’s first year to 10-4 in 2010. He was part of the Mid-American Conference championship team and GoDaddy.com Bowl win over Middle Tennessee State.
Miami went from averaging 71 rushing yards per game in 2009 to 98.3 in 2010 while recording five more rushing touchdowns (14 in 2010). He coached two-time MAC East Player of the Week and Most Valuable Player of the 2010 MAC title game, Thomas Merriweather.
Before his time at Miami, Ware spent the 2008 season at Notre Dame working as an offensive intern. He worked with the running backs and special teams as the Fighting Irish would claim the 2008 Hawaii Bowl championship. Ware was also responsible for film breakdown, scouting reports, playbooks and other day-to-day office duties.
He spent two seasons each at Dartmouth (2004-05) and Georgetown (2006-07) working as the recruiting coordinator before his time at Notre Dame.
Ware began his collegiate coaching career working at his alma mater Springfield College for two years. During his time there, he worked with both running backs and receivers. Springfield captured consecutive Freedom Football Conference championships and back-to-back Division III rushing titles.
Ware worked for five years as a teacher and the offensive coordinator at Weaver High School in Hartford, Conn..
During his undergraduate career at Springfield, Ware was a two-sport standout in football (quarterback) and baseball (pitcher and first baseman). He graduated in 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and computer science. He earned his master’s degree from Springfield College in physical education and athletic administration.
In January 2000, he was selected as a Fulbright Scholar - chosen for his academic merit and leadership potential, and studied in Tokyo. Ware was one of 15 selected to participate in the NCAA Football Coaching Academy during the summer of 2006. In June 2010, Ware attended the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy.
Ware and his wife Michelle have a daughter, Kalyx.
The KiJuan Ware File
Name: KiJuan D. Ware
High School: Hartford Public H.S. - Hartford, Conn.
College: Springfield College - Bachelor’s degree in mathematics/computer science - 1997
Springfield College - Master's degree in physical education/athletic administration - 2004
Family: Wife-Michelle; Daughter - Kalyx
Coaching Experience
Year School Position
2012 Western Illinois University Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
2011 Western Illinois University Assistant Coach/Running backs
2009-10 Miami University Assistant Coach/Running backs
2008-09 University of Notre Dame Offensive Intern/Graduate Assistant
2006-08 Georgetown University Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2004-06 Dartmouth College Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/DBs
2002-04 Springfield College Assistant Coach
1997-2002 Thomas S. Weaver H.S. (Conn.) Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Bowl Appearances
2008 Hawai'i Bowl W, 49-21 vs. Hawai'i
2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl W, 35-21 vs. Middle Tennessee State
Ware comes to EMU after spending the past two seasons at Western Illinois University, most recently serving as the team’s offensive coordinator after exclusively coaching the running backs in 2011.
Last season, the Leathernecks ranked third in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in red zone efficiency by scoring on 94 percent (15-of-16) of its trips inside the 20-yard-line. Overall, WIU averaged 113.1 yards rushing per game with a trio of players turning in 100-yard rushing contests. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Jimmy Holtschlag became a repeat selection to the FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star team.
During the 2011 campaign, even with four different running backs missing time due to injuries, Ware saw his backfield record five 100-yard rushing games including two during the North Dakota State game - the only time all year the FCS National Champion allowed that feat to happen.
WIU “true” freshman Nikko Watson pressed into action during the eighth game of the season due to the rash of injuries, turned in three of those 100-yard rushing efforts and was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.
Ware’s running backs finished the season without losing a single fumble in 332 rushing attempts, the only time during Western’s Division I era accomplishing that feat.
Ware joined Western after spending two seasons at Miami University where he helped orchestrate one of the best turnarounds in NCAA Division I history. The RedHawks went from 1-11 in Ware’s first year to 10-4 in 2010. He was part of the Mid-American Conference championship team and GoDaddy.com Bowl win over Middle Tennessee State.
Miami went from averaging 71 rushing yards per game in 2009 to 98.3 in 2010 while recording five more rushing touchdowns (14 in 2010). He coached two-time MAC East Player of the Week and Most Valuable Player of the 2010 MAC title game, Thomas Merriweather.
Before his time at Miami, Ware spent the 2008 season at Notre Dame working as an offensive intern. He worked with the running backs and special teams as the Fighting Irish would claim the 2008 Hawaii Bowl championship. Ware was also responsible for film breakdown, scouting reports, playbooks and other day-to-day office duties.
He spent two seasons each at Dartmouth (2004-05) and Georgetown (2006-07) working as the recruiting coordinator before his time at Notre Dame.
Ware began his collegiate coaching career working at his alma mater Springfield College for two years. During his time there, he worked with both running backs and receivers. Springfield captured consecutive Freedom Football Conference championships and back-to-back Division III rushing titles.
Ware worked for five years as a teacher and the offensive coordinator at Weaver High School in Hartford, Conn..
During his undergraduate career at Springfield, Ware was a two-sport standout in football (quarterback) and baseball (pitcher and first baseman). He graduated in 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and computer science. He earned his master’s degree from Springfield College in physical education and athletic administration.
In January 2000, he was selected as a Fulbright Scholar - chosen for his academic merit and leadership potential, and studied in Tokyo. Ware was one of 15 selected to participate in the NCAA Football Coaching Academy during the summer of 2006. In June 2010, Ware attended the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy.
Ware and his wife Michelle have a daughter, Kalyx.
The KiJuan Ware File
Name: KiJuan D. Ware
High School: Hartford Public H.S. - Hartford, Conn.
College: Springfield College - Bachelor’s degree in mathematics/computer science - 1997
Springfield College - Master's degree in physical education/athletic administration - 2004
Family: Wife-Michelle; Daughter - Kalyx
Coaching Experience
Year School Position
2012 Western Illinois University Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
2011 Western Illinois University Assistant Coach/Running backs
2009-10 Miami University Assistant Coach/Running backs
2008-09 University of Notre Dame Offensive Intern/Graduate Assistant
2006-08 Georgetown University Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2004-06 Dartmouth College Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/DBs
2002-04 Springfield College Assistant Coach
1997-2002 Thomas S. Weaver H.S. (Conn.) Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Bowl Appearances
2008 Hawai'i Bowl W, 49-21 vs. Hawai'i
2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl W, 35-21 vs. Middle Tennessee State
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