E.J. Whitlow

Biography

E.J. Whitlow joined the Badgers’ staff as defensive line coach in February 2024. Whitlow arrived in Madison after two seasons at Air Force and a total of 14 seasons in college football coaching. In 2025, Whitlow helped shape Ben Barten into an impact player up front. Barten led all defensive linemen with 24 tackles and was a stout run stopper. Wisconsin ranked 15th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten in rushing defense. In Whitlow's first year at Wisconsin, he helped transfer Elijah Hills flourish. Hills led the Badgers with 3.0 sacks and 5.5 TFLs. In 2023 at Air Force as the Falcons’ defensive line coach, Whitlow helped manage a defense that ranked No. 7 nationally in rushing defense (90.9) and No. 20 in passing defense (186.8). The Air Force defense totaled 30 sacks for just the second time since 2017. By the end of Whitlow’s tenure, the Falcons’ defense had allowed 21 points or fewer in 15 of the last 20 games. In 2022, his first season leading the defensive line at Air Force, Whitlow helped the Falcons become the No. 1 defense in the country (254.5 yards per game). Whitlow’s defensive line helped hold opponents to 95.3 rushing yards per game, the sixth-fewest in college football. Prior to his two-year stint at Air Force, Whitlow spent four years at Miami University (Ohio) from 2018-21. He developed several All-MAC performers and the RedHawks claimed the MAC Championship in 2019. In the conference championship season, Miami recorded 38 sacks, 28 of those coming from the d