Nyeem Wartman - Football Coach - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Nyeem Wartman

Title:
Defensive Line

Alma Mater: Mississippi State '19; Penn State '15
Season at Massachusetts: First

After overseeing the defensive line and outside linebackers for the previous three seasons at Akron, Nyeem Wartman joined the Minutemen football staff in January 2025 as the defensive line coach.

With the Zips, Wartman aided the defense to five top-45 national rankings, while sitting in the top 25 in two categories. In 2023, the Akron defense ranked 14th in first down defense and 31st in total defense in FBS. He also served as the position coach for 2023 All-MAC first team selection CJ Nunnally.

Prior to Akron, Wartman spent two years at New Hampshire as a defensive line coach. He helped the team to the 2022 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Conference Championship and a second round FCS playoff appearance. Wartman had two Wildcats garner the 2022 Associated Press FCS All-America accolades, collecting second and third team honors, while one player earned a spot on the All-CAA Third Team.

Before joining the UNH staff, Wartman served as a defensive graduate assistant at Mississippi State during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Wartman was a standout linebacker at Penn State from 2012-16. A 2016 Butkus Award Preseason Watch List member, he helped the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten Championship. In 2014, Wartman made a career- and team-high 11 tackles in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl victory against Boston College at Yankee Stadium. He also earned 2013 Academic All-Big Team honors and was one of only six true freshmen to see game action in 2012.

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wartman earned his bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Penn State in 2015 and his master’s degree in workforce education leadership from Mississippi State in 2019.