3 things to know about Wisconsin football's new wide receivers coach
A dive into the resume and playing career of one of Wisconsin's newest assistants.
The University of Wisconsin football program brought on an assistant with NFL experience after seeing one depart for the league.
Wisconsin announced Wednesday the hiring of wide receivers coach Ari Confesor, among several other updates to the staff. FootballScoop first reported the program targeting Confesor to replace the outgoing Jordan Reid on Feb. 20, and as of Feb. 26, Confesor’s name could be found in the university’s directory. 247Sports reported Tuesday that he was anticipated to become the next receivers coach in Madison.
"I'm honored to be joining Coach Fickell's staff at Wisconsin," Confesor said in Wisconsin’s press release. "Wisconsin is a place with a tradition of success and I'm excited to help elevate the offense and work with a group of high character men."
Confesor’s resume, according to several schools' profiles of the assistant (including Wake Forest) includes being a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ scouting department during the 2012 season. He also worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.
Reid joined the Atlanta Falcons as its assistant quarterbacks coach last month. Wisconsin also announced Cam Odom, a former Ohio receiver whose resume also includes stops at Baylor and Georgia, as assistant wide receivers coach
Here’s what else to know about Confesor, one of Wisconsin’s newest assistants.
A standout receiver and returner for a well-known FCS program
Confesor’s name is littered across Holy Cross’ record book, including ranking first in single-season yards receiving (1,213 in 2003) and career kickoff return yards (2,267), tied for first in single-game touchdowns receiving (four in 2002), second in career yards receiving (2,352) and third in career touchdowns receiving (19).
He also earned Division I-AA (now FCS) second-team All-America honors in 2002 and 2023, according to the Crusaders.
A long-time assistant at the FCS and FBS levels
Confesor spent many years at the FCS level, starting at Rhode Island in 2009. His various assistant roles included assistant secondary coach, linebackers, special teams and wide receivers.
He moved on to his alma mater, Holy Cross, for the 2018 season under current UCLA coach Bob Chesney, then moved on to Air Force from 2019-22. His time in Colorado Springs, Colorado, briefly overlapped with current Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow, who coached the same position at Air Force from 2022-23.
Confesor mentored receivers Geraud Saunders and Ben Waters in 2019 when they caught a combined 52 passes for 1,404 yards receiving (27 yards per reception) and 14 touchdowns. Brandon Lewis received All-Mountain West honorable mention accolades after finishing with 20 receptions for 600 yards receiving in 2021.
His lone Power Four experience came from his two seasons at Wake Forest under former coach Dave Clawson from 2023-24. The Demon Deacons were 10th out of 14 ACC teams in passing yards per game (197.3), but wide receivers Jahmal Banks (59 receptions, 653 yards receiving, four touchdowns) and Taylor Morin (41, 617, two) were 12th and 13th in the conference in yards receiving per contest.
Banks transferred to Nebraska for the 2024 season, but Morin led Wake Forest with 64 receptions for 756 yards receiving that year. The Demon Deacons ranked ninth out of 17 conference teams in passing yards per game in 2024, and Morin earned All-ACC honorable mention.
A quick look at Power Four recruiting shows he helped reel in one 4-star recruit
Confesor was designated as the main recruiter for receiver Jeremiah Melvin (Fayetteville Cape Fear, North Carolina), according to 247Sports. The outlet evaluated Melvin as a four-star recruit, the No. 34 wide receiver and No. 205 player overall for the 2024 class.
Melvin caught three passes for 39 yards and one touchdown in 11 games as a redshirt freshman last season at Wake Forest under coach Jake Dickert. Melvin transferred to East Carolina during the offseason.