Northwestern University Athletics
Louis Ayeni Named Running Backs Coach at Toledo
2/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 8, 2010
TOLEDO, Ohio -- University of Toledo head coach Tim Beckman today announced the appointment of former Northwestern player and coach Lou Ayeni to the UT football staff.
Ayeni, who most recently was the Wildcats' offensive graduate assistant for the 2008 and '09 seasons, will coach the Rockets' running backs.
"I got to know Lou in December when I went to Northwestern to watch them practice and prepare for their bowl game," said Beckman. "He's an outstanding young man who has a great background in running the kind of offense we want to run."
During his career at Northwestern from 1999-2003, Ayeni played running back before switching to safety prior to his senior season. He served as team captain in 2003 and 2004 and was a team representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from 2002-04. He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in communications and a minor in sociology.
Despite being limited his senior year by injury, Ayeni earned respect as one of the most feared hitters in the Big Ten Conference. In four games his senior year, he totaled 22 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In the 2003 season-opening win at Kansas, Ayeni was tabbed the team's defensive player of the game, his first game playing safety in college. Later that season he added "Player of the Game" and "Big Playmaker of the Game" accolades against Purdue and Wisconsin, respectively. As an offensive performer early in his career, Ayeni helped lead the Wildcats to a Big Ten Championship in 2000. As a true freshman in 1999, Ayeni led the team in kickoff return average and yardage, was third on the team in special teams tackles, and was the Wildcats second-leading rusher.
Ayeni played for Head Coach Tony Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts as a safety for the 2004-05 season before joining the St. Louis Rams and Head Coach Mike Martz in 2005-06 as a linebacker.
A native of Woodbury, Minn., Ayeni played his prep ball at Woodbury High School where he helped lead the Royals to their only state championship in 1998. He is the school's career leader in yards (3,504) and touchdowns (47). He ran for 2,112 yards and 34 touchdowns his senior season, both school records, and returned seven punts for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
Ayeni served as varsity defensive backs coach and varsity track and field coach from 2006-08 at his alma mater, Woodbury High School. Ayeni also participated in the Bill Walsh Coaching Internship with the Chicago Bears at their 2009 training camp.
