Justin Mohning is in his first year as the Chargers' defensive coordinator. He spent the past year as the defensive line coach at Upper Iowa, in Fayette, Iowa. He also coached the punt return team and served as the team's video coordinator. Mohning heavily recruited Northwest Iowa, Southern Minnesota and Eastern Wisconsin. His experience and connections are expected to make an immediate impact.
"Being from Northwest Iowa and being a Northwestern alum, Justin brings a good understanding of our conference and a good relationship with coaches from around the area. He also brings multiplicity to our defense," said Rethman. "It was just a matter of time before he became a coordinator and we feel lucky to have him."
Prior to coaching at Upper Iowa, Mohning served as the defensive line coach at Northwestern, in Orange City, Iowa. He worked with the Red Raiders from 2005 through 2007 and again from 2009-10. There, he helped the Red Raiders bring in two of the program's largest recruiting classes and helped to put together a defense which was regularly ranked among the nation's elite. In 2010, Mohning served also served as the Red Raiders' special teams' coordinator. The squad responded to his tutelage, blocking six punts, returning three punts for touchdowns and ranking second in the league in kick return yardage.
Mohning graduated from Northwestern in 2008. Later that year, he served as a defensive line graduate assistant coach at Wayne State, in Wayne, Nebraska. Mohning served as the defensive coordinator at Marcus Meriden Cleghorn High School, in Marcus, Iowa, from 2000-2004. While at MMC, he also served as the head baseball coach (2004) and the head basketball coach (2004-05). From 2006-2008, he served as the head baseball coach at South O'Brien High School.
Mohning is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and has worked numerous camps over the years.
