University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line Coach
- Email:
- football@uconn.edu
Assistant Head Coach Kenny McClendon returns for his fourth season as the Huskies defensive line coach on head coach Jim Mora’s staff in 2025.
In 2023, he coached defensive end Eric Watts in his last season in Storrs and helped the senior end earn a spot at the NFL Combine as well as an appearance at the Reese’s 75th Anniversary Senior Bowl. Watts went on to sign as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.
In his first year on the UConn sidelines, McClendon helped Watts and fellow defensive end Pryce Yates to career-years. Both finished among the team’s top-10 tacklers while also Watts led the team with 7.0 sacks.
McClendon came to UConn after spending the 2020 and 2021 seasons as the defensive line coach at Youngstown State. While at YSU, the defensive line had a strong campaign in his final season in the spring of 2021, which included an honorable mention All-MVFC selection for defensive end James Jackson.
McClendon spent three successful campaigns as the defensive line coach at Valdosta State before joining the YSU program.
McClendon spent three successful campaigns as the defensive line coach at Valdosta State before joining the YSU program.
In 2019, the Blazers won their first 10 games of the season before falling to eventual Division II National Champion West Florida in the opening round of the playoffs. McClendon coached all-league performer Thomas Incoom during the 2019 campaign.
In 2018, McClendon helped the program with its fourth national championship in 14 years and produced the first undefeated season in school history (14-0).
McClendon coached all-league performers Iseoluwapu Jegede and Joe Mozone as the VSU defense finished ninth in red-zone defense, 12th nationally in sacks at 3.29 per game, while ranking 18th in tackles for loss at 8.4 per contest. The Blazers forced 27 turnovers for the season for 11th nationally, while the 47 total sacks ranked second all-time in school history in a season.
The Saint Louis, Mo., native, came to VSU after a brief stop at Carthage College in Racine, Wis., as a special teams coordinator and defensive line coach.
Prior to that, McClendon spent the 2017 season at Iowa State, helping the Cyclones to an 8-5 record and a Liberty Bowl victory. At Iowa State, McClendon helped lead the Cyclones to a school-record for wins over ranked teams (three), victories on the road (five), wins versus conference opponents (five) and Iowa State appeared in the AP national rankings for the first time in 12 years.
McClendon served as a defensive graduate assistant at Central Michigan in 2016 helping the Chippewas to a bowl berth. He also assisted his high school alma mater DeSmet Jesuit and Lindenwood (Mo.) prior to his graduate assistant position at CMU in 2015.
McClendon earned his bachelor’s degree at CMU in 2013 where he was a four-year letterwinner on the defensive line. He also has a master’s degree in management. While at CMU, he played in 47 games for the Chippewas, recording 37 tackles, 7.0 TFL and five forced fumbles.
Coaching Career
|
Years |
University/Organization |
Position |
| 2024- | UConn | Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line |
|
2022-23 |
UConn |
Defensive Line |
|
2020-21 |
Youngstown State |
Defensive Line |
|
2018-19 |
Valdosta State |
Defensive Line |
|
2018 |
Carthage College |
Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Line |
|
2017 |
Iowa State |
Graduate Assistant |
|
2015-16 |
Central Michigan |
Graduate Assistant |
