OTTAWA, Kan. – Ottawa University head football coach
Nick Davis has announced changes to the Braves' coaching staff for the 2026 season, promoting
Spencer Wheeler to Offensive Coordinator and
Chris Edwards to Special Teams Coordinator while adding Ahmad Smith as Defensive Coordinator.
"These promotions and additions reflect the growth of our program and the quality of coaches we have on staff," said Davis. "Spencer has earned this opportunity with his attention to detail and ability to lead an offense, Chris has done a tremendous job developing within our system, and Ahmad brings valuable Division I experience that will elevate our defense. We're excited about what this group can accomplish together."
Wheeler enters his second season with the Braves and his first as Ottawa's Offensive Coordinator. He brings more than 11 years of coaching experience at multiple levels of football, including collegiate programs and high school programs throughout Northern and Southern California.
Wheeler has coached on both sides of the ball during his career, serving five seasons as an offensive play caller and one season as a defensive play caller. His coaching background also includes experience as a collegiate Pass Game Coordinator and Video Coordinator while working with the offensive line and coordinating run game and recruiting efforts.
Prior to joining Ottawa, Wheeler was part of a 2024 Big South-OVC Conference Championship program that advanced to the FCS Playoffs. He is known for his disciplined leadership style, attention to detail, and commitment to player development, game preparation, and recruiting.
Smith joins Ottawa University as the Braves' Defensive Coordinator after spending the past several seasons coaching at the NCAA Division I level. Most recently, Smith served as an Assistant Defensive Backs Coach at the University of South Carolina from 2023 to 2025 after working as a Defensive Analyst for the Gamecocks from 2021 to 2023.
During his time at South Carolina, Smith helped mentor some of the top defensive backs in the country, including All-American safeties Nick Emmanwori and Jaylan Foster. The Gamecocks ranked among the national leaders in multiple defensive categories during his tenure, including leading the SEC in interceptions in 2022 and pass defense and total turnovers in 2021.
Prior to South Carolina, Smith coached at Western Kentucky University, serving as a graduate assistant running backs coach in 2018 before becoming the program's Assistant Defensive Backs Coach from 2019 to 2020. He also gained experience at Rose-Hulman as an assistant defensive line coach and at Indiana State University as a graduate assistant linebackers coach.
Smith has also participated in professional development opportunities with the Minnesota Vikings through the NFL's Diversity Coaching Summit and Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship programs.
Edwards enters his first season as Ottawa's Special Teams Coordinator after serving as a graduate assistant coach with the Braves during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Before arriving at Ottawa, Edwards was a member of the Alma College football program from 2020 to 2023. During the 2022 season, he served as a student assistant while recovering from a medical redshirt season and assisted with all aspects of the program.
Edwards also gained coaching experience as a volunteer assistant coach at Royal Oak Shrine Catholic High School, where he helped install the offense and worked with the development of the quarterbacks.
A strong student in the classroom, Edwards earned Dean's List honors during the Fall and Winter semesters in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He graduated from Alma College in 2024 with a degree in business administration and a minor in data analytics. Edwards later earned his MBA in Business Data Analytics from Ottawa University.
