Rod Ojong - Football Coach - Indiana University Athletics

Rod Ojong

Title:
Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs/Cornerbacks
Email:
football@iu.edu

Rod Ojong starts his second season as cornerbacks coach at Indiana after he helped the program to a College Football Playoff berth in 2024.

His first season on Bloomington saw D’Angelo Ponds garner first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-America honors after he was the sixth-highest graded cornerback in coverage per Pro Football Focus. His 12 passes defended (9 PBU, 3 INT) finished tied for No. 2 in the Big Ten.

In one season at Charlotte, Ojong helped Dontae Balfour to third-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Balfour ranked No. 2 in the AAC with 12 pass breakups in 11 games played. He added 54 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception.

Ojong made an impact in two seasons at Buffalo (2021-22) and tutored Marcus Fuqua to first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2022 after leading the FBS in interceptions (7). His seven interceptions were the most in a single season for a Bull since 1986.

During his first season with the Bulls, two of his pupils ranked among the top three tackles on the squad. Cory Gross ranked No. 2 on the team with 68 tackles and Fuqua ranked third on the squad with 59.

His 2020 season was spent as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia. The Bulldogs went 8-2 and collected a Peach Bowl victory over Cincinnati.

Prior to Georgia, Ojong spent the previous two years in the FCS ranks. He coached cornerbacks at Furman (2019) and Austin Peay (2018). He helped lead Furman to an eight-win season and a spot in the FCS Playoffs.

Ojong served as a defensive graduate assistant at North Carolina (2016-17) and Memphis (2015). He helped the Tar Heels to a berth in the Sun Bowl in 2016 and the Tigers to the 2015 Birmingham Bowl.

He served as the safeties coach at West Georgia (2014), outside linebackers coach at Lindsey Wilson College (2013) and as a student assistant on defense at his alma mater, Monmouth (Ill.) College (2012).

Ojong was a two-year letterwinner and team captain at Monmouth. He was an all-conference linebacker in 2011 and member of two Midwest Conference championship teams.

He graduated from Monmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2012.

Ojong is married to the former Molly Penland.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
Monmouth (Ill.) College
2012: Student Assistant – Defense
Lindsey Wilson College
2013: Outside Linebackers
University of West Georgia
2014: Strong Safeties
University of Memphis
2015: Graduate Assistant – Defense
University of North Carolina
2016-17: Graduate Assistant – Defense
Austin Peay State University
2018: Cornerbacks
Furman University
2019: Cornerbacks
University of Georgia
2020: Quality Control – Defense
University at Buffalo
2021: Safeties
2022: Defensive Backs
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
2023: Defensive Backs
Indiana University
2024-: Cornerbacks

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Monmouth (Ill.) College
2010-11: Linebacker