Antonio Fenelus

Antonio Fenelus (born January 15, 1990) is an American football coach and former defensive back who is currently a defensive analyst at the University of Virginia. He began his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL), and played his college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Antonio Fenelus

Current position
Title	Defensive analyst
Team	Virginia
Conference	ACC
Biographical details
Born	(1990-01-15) January 15, 1990 (age 35) Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
2008–2011	Wisconsin
2012	Indianapolis Colts
2012	Omaha Nighthawks
2013	Saskatchewan Roughriders
2014	Arizona Rattlers
Position(s)	Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2015–2017	Wisconsin (GA)
2018–2020	East Central University (DC/DB)
2021–2022	LSU (DA)
2023	Illinois (DB)
2024–present	Virginia (DA)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
ArenaBowl champion (XXVII)
Awards
2× First-team All-Big Ten (2010, 2011)

Playing career

Fenelus played his college football at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema being awarded first team all Big Ten twice.^[1][2] In 2012 he was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts but he never made the final roster.^[3] After playing out 2012 with the Omaha Night Hawks, he then had a season in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013.^[4] In 2014 he played with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League where he won the Arena Bowl.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Fenelus began his coaching career in 2015 at his alma mater working as a graduate assistant. He stayed in that position until 2017. In 2018 he served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at East Central University in Division II.^[5] In 2021 and 2022 he worked as a defensive analyst in the SEC at LSU.^[6]

Illinois

On December 30, 2022 he joined his former coach Bret Bielema at Illinois as the team’s defensive backs coach.^[7][1]

References

1. Bricker, Grant (December 30, 2022). "Illinois football officially announces hiring of former Wisconsin player as next DB coach". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
2. Michael Conroy. "Antonio Fenelus, UW football at Purdue". Wisconsin State Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
3. "Antonio Fenelus on signing with the Colts". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
4. "Riders Add Two; Release Three". Saskatchewan Roughriders. April 29, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
5. Editor, JEFF CALI Sports. "New ECU coach introduces assistants". The Ada News. Retrieved December 30, 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
6. Nadeau, Rene (February 11, 2021). "LSU adds Gerald Chatman, Antonio Fenelus as defensive analysts". Crescent City Sports. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
7. "Illini announce Antonio Fenelus as new defensive backs coach". 247sports.com. Retrieved December 30, 2022.