Wilkes University Athletics

Chris Bantell enters his second season as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Colonels in 2025.

In 2024, Bantell coached a defense that saw nine defensive players earn All-Landmark Conference honors, with Donell Mackey-Woodson being named an All-American. Mackey-Woodson and defensive lineman Angel Ramos also landed on the All-Region 2 team, placing on the third and second team respectively under Bantell's leadership.

Bantell returns for his second stint on the Wilkes football staff having served as Defensive Backs coach, Defensive Pass Game Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator for the Colonels for three seasons from 2012 to 2014. Bantell coached seven All-Conference players during that stretch including one linebacker and two defensive backs who earned First and Second Team honors.
 
Bantell comes to Wilkes following five seasons at nearby King’s College where he was in charge of the defensive backs. During the 2020-21 season, he was promoted to co-Defensive Coordinator. His defenses ranked nationally in multiple categories including 4^th in passing and 7^th in total defense in 2023. Bantell also helped develop two All-American defensive backs in 2022 and 2023 while coaching 12 All-Conference players from 2019 to 2023. He also served as Academic Coordinator overseeing 46 players who earned 3.0 grade point averages or better in 2021.
 
Before his time at King’s, Bantell spent three years as the Defensive Backs and Defensive Pass Game Coordinator at Division II Kutztown University from 2017 to 2019. While at Kutztown, he helped KU to a Top 20 national ranking, while assisting the squad to a 2018 NCAA Division II Playoff berth. His defensive unit was top 10 in Division II in interceptions, turnovers and turnover margin. Prior to Kutztown, Bantell made a stop for one season at Misericordia University where he held the same role.
 
Prior to his first stint at Wilkes, Bantell served two years as an assistant coach at his alma mater West Chester University working as the defensive backs coach with the Rams during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.  During his tenure he helped mentor the safeties including two All-Conference players. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Widener University where he worked extensively with the linebackers and defensive backs. He also gained experience in film and video editing, breakdown, and recruiting while at Widener.
 
Bantell takes over the helm of a stout Colonel defense in its first year in the Landmark Conference ranking second in points allowed (25.3 points per-game) and second in total yards (344.5 yards per-game). Wilkes also ranked second in rushing defense (128.1 yards per-game) and had the third most sacks in the league (23).
 
Bantell earned his bachelor of arts in communications/athletic coaching from West Chester in 2009. He lives in Dunmore with his wife Ashley and his three sons, Carter (8), Cullen (5) and Cade (3). 

Recruiting Areas
PENNSYLVANIA: BUCKS, CHESTER, DELAWARE, LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE, MONTGOMERY, PHILADELPHIA, WAYNE, WYOMING