Skyler Crane

John Carroll Football Adds Five Coaches to Staff for 2026 Season

3/30/2026 12:00:00 PM | By: JCUSID

Head Coach Brian Polian '97 has filled out his staff with experienced coaches

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – Five new coaches have been added to the John Carroll Football staff in advance of the 2026 campaign.

The new additions bring a wealth of experience to the coaching staff under first-year JCU Head Coach Brian Polian '97.

Four of the five new coaches are on the offensive side of the ball, with the defensive staff remaining mostly intact under Defensive Coordinator / Associate Head Coach Dean Paul.

Scott Phillips will helm the offense as the team's Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach after last working as Executive Director of the American Bowl. Pat Denecke will lead the offensive line, bringing over a decade of experience, including a 2-year stint at Holy Cross. Jack Bush will mentor the receivers after a 2-season stay at Hillsdale College not long after starring at QB for Albion College. Alex Wood will guide the tight ends, boasting nearly four decades of experience in the collegiate and NFL ranks with a milelong resume of accolades. Finally, Kenzel Kelly joins the staff to coach the outside linebackers after playing LSU.

Here is a detailed biography of each of JCU's new coaches:

Scott Phillips - Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach

Scott Phillips most recently served as the Executive Director of the American Bowl before arriving at JCU. Phillips helped to launch the inaugural American Bowl, a postseason college football all-star game, which included JCU wideout TyrenMontgomery. Phillips served as Offensive Coordinator for the "Warhawks" under Brian Billick during the game, which showcases future professional athletes to the NFL personnel departments.

Previously, Phillips served as the Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting at Kent State in 2024 welcoming the top '25 committed class in the conference during the spring recruiting period.

During the 2023 season, Phillips worked as the co-offensive coordinator and Quarterback coach at Westminster College. The Titans notched a 6-4 overall record, as Phillips helped the Westminster starting quarterback to achieve all-conference recognition. For the 2022 season, Phillips worked as Assistant Quarterback Coach at the University of Toledo, where his quarterbacks led the Rockets to a conference championship and a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl vs. a previously ranked Liberty team.

His coaching career began in 2021 with a stint as the assistant director of scouting and quarterbacks coach for the Hula Bowl College All-Star Game. Phillips coached a number of future NFL starters during his tenure in Orlando including NFL draft pick and Rose Bowl MVP Sean Clifford, Jack Plummer, Carter Bradley, Anthony Brown, and Brady Cook.

Phillips spent much of his professional life in real estate, rising to CEO & Operating Principal of Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan while owning Guarino's Restaurant in Cleveland's Little Italy. He is a 2005 graduate of The Ohio State University.

Pat Denecke - Offensive Line Coach

Pat Denecke brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience and a strong background in developing offensive linemen and coordinating run-game offenses.

Before joining the JCU staff, Denecke coached at multiple Division I and Division I FCS programs. Most recently, he served as the offensive line coach at College of the Holy Cross, helping the Crusaders capture a share of the Patriot League championship during his first season on staff.

Prior to Holy Cross, Denecke was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Western Illinois University in 2023. He coached the offensive line at Valparaiso University in 2022, where his unit helped power a productive offense and contributed to the program's strongest road performance in league play in decades.

Earlier in his career, Denecke spent several seasons at University of Maine, where he worked as assistant head coach, run game coordinator, and offensive line coach after initially coaching tight ends. Maine notched two FBS wins and made an FCS Semifinal appearance in 2018. He also served as a graduate assistant at University of Nevada, Reno and began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at Bethany College.

Denecke played collegiately on the offensive line at Washington & Jefferson College, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starter. During his career, the Presidents compiled a 40-7 record, won two conference championships, and made four NCAA playoff appearances.

Denecke has coached four players signed NFL contracts / invited to NFL camp (Jeremy Salmon - TE/Maine, Liam Dobson OL/Maine, PJ Barr OL/Maine, Mike Gerace, OL/Maine). Seven players he recruited were drafted into the CFL.

Jack Bush - Wide Receivers Coach

Jack Bush arrives in University Heights following a 2-season stint at Hillsdale College as the running backs coach. In his first season with the Chargers in 2024, Hillsdale led the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in rushing yardage per game thanks in part to Bush's development of the running back position throughout the season. Bush coached the G-MAC Freshman of the Year, who also earned first team all-conference honors.

Bush previously spent two seasons at the NCAA Division I level, first as a volunteer offensive quality control and assistant tight ends coach at Northwestern University in 2022, followed by a year as an offensive graduate assistant at Central Michigan University in 2023. His duties with the two programs included working with Visio to build virtual playbooks and scout cards, as well as data entry and player evaluation on XOS/Catapult video platforms and Pro Football Focus.

In his first coaching gig, Bush spent a year as quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Chelsea High School in 2018, helping guide the Bulldogs to the MHSAA Division 4 state final and developing an All-State quarterback.

Bush graduated with a bachelor's degree in Finance from Albion College in December 2021. A four-year starting quarterback for the Britons, Bush guided the Albions to two MIAA championships and a 22-1 record as a starter while completing 64 percent (422 of 657) of his passes and throwing for 5,651 yards and 56 touchdowns in 27 career games played. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

As a junior, Bush was named the 2021 MIAA Offensive Most Valuable Player after he led the Britons to a 9-2 overall record, 5-1 league record and threw for 27 touchdowns and 2,228 yards, completed 65 percent (164-253) of his passes and averaged 247.6 yards passing per game. He was a three-time All-MIAA quarterback, two-year team captain, and also served on Albion's Leadership Council for four years.

Kenzel Kelly - Outside Linebackers Coach

Kenzel Kelly begins his first coaching gig following the conclusion of his collegiate career. Kelly played for four seasons at Grand Valley State before transferring to Louisiana State University in 2024 to play for his father, Brian Kelly. A linebacker, Kenzel played in 7 games for the Lakers, winning two GLEAC conference titles. For the Tigers, Kelly appeared in 2 games in 2024 and 3 games in 2025.

Kelly graduated from GVSU in 2024 before earning his Master's in Sport Management from LSU in 2025. Kelly notched SEC Academic Honor Roll status in 2025.

Kelly prepped at St. Joseph's High School in South Bend, notching all-state and first team All-Northern Indiana Conference honors as a senior.

Alex Wood - Tight Ends Coach

Alex Wood sports nearly four decades of coaching experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels, Wood brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and offensive expertise to the Blue Streaks program.

Wood most recently served on the staff of the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team as a wide receivers and quarterbacks coach.

A native of Massillon, Ohio, Wood played for the Tigers as a fullback from 1970-72, earning induction into the Tiger Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Wood went on to play college football on the Iowa Hawkeyes football from 1975–1977 as a running back and special teams player before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa in 1978.

From there, he built a strong collegiate coaching career with stops at several universities, including Kent State (1978-79), Southern Illinois (1981), Southern University (1982-84), Wyoming (1985-86), and Washington State (1987-88).

Wood spent four seasons as running backs coach for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was part of two national championship teams in 1989 and 1991.

Following a two-year stint as offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach at Wake Forest from 1993-94, Wood became the head coach at James Madison University. From 1995–98, Wood notched a 23-22 record with the Dukes.

Wood moved to the pro ranks in 1999, when Dennis Green hired him to serve as quarterbacks coach with the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked for four seasons. In 2000, Daunte Culpepper earned All-Pro status under his tutelage.

He also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals, including as offensive coordinator for the Cardinals in 2004. Wood returned to the college ranks in 2006 as quarterbacks coach at Arkansas for two seasons. A one-year stint at Miami (Ohio) was followed by four seasons at the University of Buffalo, where he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Wood served as interim head coach for the Bulls in 2014. Wood then served as head coach for the Florida A&M Rattlers from 2015–17.

Wood spent two stints at the University of Delaware as quarterbacks / wide receivers coach. In between, Wood worked as wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL.

Overall, Wood has coached for 14 college football programs and 3 NFL teams.

Print Friendly Version