Jacob Vellucci enters his third season as Safeties Coach and Special Teams Coordinator in the fall of 2025.
During the 2024 campaign, Vellucci oversaw a safety room led by Deno Wardlow, who recorded 57 tackles and a special teams unit that blocked a kick while not allowing any blocked kicks during the course of the season. As recruiting coordinator, Vellucci ushered in the newest class of freshmen at Catawba, who continued to be a young team in 2024, with numerous freshman starters, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
In his first season in 2023, Vellucci coached two All-Division performers in safety Deno Wardlow and placekicker Bryson Sims. The Catawba defense cut its point allowed by nearly 15 points in 2023, while Sims posted a 10-for-14 year from field goal range with six makes of over 40 yards.
Vellucci joined the Catawba coaching staff as safeties, Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator this past January after spending the past two years season at the University of Dayton. He most recently served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Ends Coach during the 2022 season.
While at Dayton, Vellucci created and implemented weekly game plans, depth charts, and scouting reports for all special teams’ units. They ranked 9th in kickoff defense nationally, 69th in kickoff return (11th on deep returns), 30th in punt return defense, and 38th in punt returns.
He arrived at Dayton as the Nickels coach where he helped guide Zach Rumpke to a 1st team all PFL selection in the 2021 season.
Prior to Dayton, Vellucci had stints at Concordia University Chicago, Guerin College Prep High School and Luther North College Prep High School serving as an assistant coach in multiple areas on the defensive side.
He is a 2016 graduate of the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.
