Roy Wittke - Director of Player Personnel - Football Support Staff

Roy Wittke

Title:
Director of Player Personnel
Email:
rawittke@syr.edu
Phone:
1859

A fixture in college football for four decades, Roy Wittke assumed the role of director of player personnel in 2020 after serving as Syracuse’s director of player development for four seasons. Wittke is in charge of roster management and acts as the primary liaison between the program and University personnel, including the Student-Athlete Academic Development staff. Additionally, he oversees the team’s community outreach programs and serves as an advisor to the Syracuse University chapter of Uplifting Athletes.

During Wittke’s tenure, the Orange received AFCA Academic Honorable Mention status each season until the AFCA discontinued the recognition in 2018. Additionally, the team earned the 2016-17 ‘Cuse Cares Award for its outstanding commitment to community service.

Several players have been individually recognized for their civic engagement activities during Wittke’s time at Syracuse. Linebacker Kielan Whitner was selected to the 2018 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team for his dedication to community service and enriching the lives of others. Former Uplifting Athletes chapter presidents Zack Mahoney and Sam Heckel were named finalists for the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award. Heckel was also voted to the inaugural Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team in 2019. The trio all received the ACC’s Top Six for Service Award at least once during their careers.

Prior to joining the Orange, Wittke was Bowling Green’s recruiting coordinator (2015) and director of operations (2014) under Dino Babers.

Before making the transition from coach to administrator, Wittke spent 33 years on the sidelines. He coached 19 seasons at Eastern Illinois, 17 of which were spent as the offensive coordinator in two separate stints under head coach Bob Spoo.

As the architect of the Panthers offense from 1990-2002, Wittke helped EIU win 82 games and make five FCS playoff appearances. He is best known for developing former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo during that period. Under Wittke’s direction, Romo was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year three times and captured the 2002 Walter Payton Award as the best player in Division I-AA (now FCS). Wittke was honored as the AFCA Division I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year in Romo’s senior season of 2002, as the Panthers ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (35.3 ppg) and fifth in total offense (452.6 ypg).

Wittke coached 14 players who earned All-America honors and numerous all-league selections in both the Ohio Valley Conference and Gateway Football Conference during his first stint at EIU. In addition, three of his offensive units ranked among the top five in EIU single-season history for both total offense and scoring.

After the 2002 season, Wittke worked as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas from 2003-05. He spent one season each at Arizona State (2006) and Northern Illinois (2007). In 2003, he helped the Razorbacks to the Independence Bowl. Wittke coached in the 2006 Hawaii Bowl with Arizona State.

Wittke returned to Eastern Illinois as offensive coordinator in 2008. His second go-around with the Panthers included tutoring another NFL quarterback – Jimmy Garoppolo. The second-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2014, Garoppolo earned Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year honors in 2010 despite only eight starts. Garoppolo continued his development under Wittke in 2011 and, like Romo, eventually went on to win the Walter Payton Award as the top FCS player as a senior in 2014.

After the 2011 season, Wittke made the move to administration, serving as EIU’s director of operations under Babers from 2012-13.

In addition to his stops at Eastern Illinois, Arkansas and Northern Illinois, Wittke’s coaching résumé includes stints at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1979-81), Montana State (1982-84) and Central Missouri State (1985-89).

Wittke is a 1982 graduate of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He and his wife, Patty, have three children – sons Brad and Jeff, and daughter Bekah. Brad Wittke is Syracuse’s director of football operations.