Overall Record: 108-25 (1996-present)
NCAC Record: 74-11 (1996-present)
Office Phone: (937) 327-6498

Postal Address: Wittenberg University P.O. Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501

Package Shipping Address: Wittenberg University 225 Fountain Ave. Springfield, Ohio 45504

Joe Fincham's tenure as Wittenberg's head football coach can be characterized as nothing short of a tremendous success. He has led his team to an 108-25 record with North Coast Athletic Conference titles in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2006 and six NCAA Division III playoff berths. Fincham has also earned several coaching honors as he was selected NCAC Coach of the Year in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2006, and American Football Coaches Association/Kodak District IV Coach of the Year in 1998.

He was considered an ideal choice to take over Wittenberg's coaching reins when hired in March 1996 after serving as an assistant for six years at Wittenberg. Fincham tutored the offensive line and served as Head Coach Doug Neibuhr's chief aide on offense.

As an assistant, Fincham was an integral part of teams that posted a combined record of 47-12-1 (.797), won two North Coast Athletic Conference championships and made an appearance in the 1995 NCAA Division III playoffs.

Known as a hard-nosed perfectionist, Fincham gets credit from his players as one who relates exceptionally well with them off the field. He also receives praise as a top-flight recruiter.

During his tenure as offensive line coach (a job he continues to hold), he has tutored 10 All-America offensive linemen: Doug Cochran (1990), Mark Chubb (1994), Ron Cunningham (1995), Xan Smith (1996), Jonathan Farley (1997), Aaron Shaffer (1998), Mark Sunderman (2000), Chad Thompson (2002 and 2003), Brad Kassner (2003) and Tim Funke (2006). Dozens of his players have earned first-team all-conference honors since he joined the Wittenberg staff in 1990, including 10 in 2006.

In addition, Fincham helped coach an offense which has put up record numbers since 1990. In 1995, the Tiger offense averaged a school-record 484.1 yards per game (third in Division III) and 304.0 ypg rushing (fourth). In 1990, Tiger tailback Jon Warga led Division III in rushing with 1,836 yards and he combined with teammate Jeff Stockdale to set a Division III record for yards rushing by two running backs, 2,563 yards. In 2000, tailback Casey Donaldson set school and conference records for rushing, scoring and touchdowns under Fincham's guidance. In recent years, the Tigers ranked among the nation's best in total offense and scoring offense several times, and in 2006 Tristan Murray shattered school records for consecutive 100-yard rushing games and 100-yard rushing games in a season.

American Football Quarterly Magazine named former head coach Doug Neibuhr and Fincham as Division III "Co-Offensive Coordinators of the Year" in 1995.

A native of Williamstown, W.Va., Fincham was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Ohio University. He served as team captain in 1986. A 1988 graduate of OU, Fincham received a scholar-athlete award from the university and earned a master's degree from the school as well.

Fincham's previous coaching experience includes two years as a graduate assistant at OU and one season as offensive coordinator at Urbana University.

Fincham inherited a winning tradition unmatched among small colleges. He is the fifth head coach of the "modern era" of Tiger football, following Bill Edwards, Dave Maurer, Ron Murphy and Neibuhr.

Through the 2006 season, Fincham has led the Tigers to stunning overall and NCAC records of 100-23 and 68-10. He ranks among the top active coaches in college football (based on winning percentage), he led the program to its 600th all-time victory in 1999 and he has a playoff record of 7-6.

Fincham resides in Springfield with his wife, Rita, and their children, Mac, Samantha and Annie.

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Born: October 6, 1964
Hometown: Williamstown, W.Va.
Alma Mater: Ohio University '88

College Coaching Experience: 1987-89 Graduate Assistant, Ohio University
1989-90 Offensive Coordinator, Urbana University
1991-96 Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach, Wittenberg University
1996-present Head Coach, Wittenberg University

Fincham Year-by-Year:
1996: 9-1, 7-1 NCAC
1997: 9-1, 7-1 NCAC
1998: 11-1, 8-0 NCAC
1999: 11-1, 6-0 NCAC
2000: 12-1, 7-0 NCAC
2001: 11-2, 7-0 NCAC
2002: 10-2, 6-1 NCAC
2003: 8-2, 4-2 NCAC
2004: 7-3, 5-2 NCAC
2005: 5-5, 5-2 NCAC
2006: 7-4, 6-1 NCAC
2007: 8-2, 6-1 NCAC

Coaching Honors:
North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006)
American Football Coaches Association/Kodak District IV Coach of the Year (1998)
American Football Quarterly, Co-Offensive Coordinator of the Year (1995)

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