Jay Sawvel coaches the defensive backs and is the special teams coordinator. He has coached under Jerry Kill for more than a decade, beginning at Southern Illinois in 2001 and moving on to Northern Illinois in 2008.
Sawvel helped lead NIU to a No. 14 national ranking in scoring defense in 2010. The Huskies also ranked No. 27 in total defense in 2010. Sawvel's defensive backs were an integral part of a Huskie defense that recorded 16 interceptions in 2010, to rank No. 27 in the nation. In each of Sawvel's first two seasons at Northern, the Huskies led the Mid-American Conference in total defense.
On special teams, the Huskies blocked 17 kicks in Sawvel's three seasons. The Gophers blocked one punt for a touchdown and returned two kickoffs for scores during the 2011 season.
In seven seasons at Southern Illinois, Sawvel's defensive backs helped hold opposing offenses to just 18.5 points per game. In 2007, the Salukis tallied 21 interceptions (fourth most in the nation) and the defensive backs accounted for nearly 53 percent of the team's total tackles. In 2004, SIU led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 13.2 points per game. The Salukis intercepted 17 passes, while allowing just 12 passing touchdowns.
Special teams were strong at SIU under Sawvel, as well. The Salukis ranked No. 1 in the Gateway Conference and No. 7 in the nation in net punting, while leading the conference and ranking No. 6 in the country in kickoff returns. Sawvel coached two special teams All-Americans in 2007. Overall, Sawvel's units blocked multiple kicks in six of his seven years at SIU.
Prior to coaching at SIU, Sawvel coached at Ferris State in 1999 and 2000. FSU won the 1999 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 1999. Sawvel also has experience as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame and Eastern Kentucky.
On the field, Sawvel was a three-year letterwinner and an all-conference linebacker in 1993 at Mount Union, which won the NCAA Division III Championship that season. He holds a bachelor's degree from Mount Union and master's degrees from both Eastern Kentucky and Notre Dame.
Sawvel and his wife, Jeannine, have two daughters: Mackenzie and Miranda.
THE SAWVEL FILE
Coaching Experience
2011: Minnesota - Defensive Backs/Special Teams
2008-10: Northern Illinois - Defensive Backs/Special Teams
2001-07: Southern Illinois - Defensive Backs/Special Teams
1999-00: Ferris State - Defensive Backs/Special Teams
1996-99: Notre Dame - Graduate Assistant
1994-95: Eastern Kentucky - Graduate Assistant
Playing Experience
Mount Union (Linebacker), 1989-93
College
M.A., Notre Dame, 1997
M.A., Eastern Kentucky, 1995
B.A., Mount Union, 1993
High School
Barnsville (Ohio), 1989
Birthplace
Barnsville, Ohio
Birthdate
March 14, 1971
