The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has announced that Indiana Hoosiers cornerbacks back coach Rod Ojong has been selected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 2025 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, the AFCA announced today.
Congratulations to @IndianaFootball Cornerbacks Coach @CoachOjong on being named to the 2025 AFCA 35 Under 35 Class! 🏈 pic.twitter.com/xB2CYbRGl1
— AFCA (@WeAreAFCA) December 9, 2024
The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute is a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. Selected participants are invited to attend the one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance.
Members of the 2025 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will be published in AFCA Magazine, the AFCA Insider weekly email blast, and/or have their articles and videos added to the AFCA Educational Library. Additionally, participants will be placed on the AFCA Foundation Committee and become a part of a prestigious network of rising coaches in the profession along with many other great benefits.
Ojong coached DBs at Charlotte last season and at Buffalo for the two years prior. His list of former employers also includes Georgia as a graduate assistant, Buffalo Furman and Austin Peay per IU Athletics
Ojong along with defensive coordinator Bryant Haines revived an Indiana defense that ranked 98th in scoring defense and 85th in total defense in 2023 into a top-5 defense in just one season.
Per Pro Football Focus, Indiana has the No. 2 rated defense in the nation (94.2), behind only Texas.
To be eligible, applicants had to be born on or after January 1, 1989, and must be currently serving as a high school head coach, two-year college full-time assistant or head coach, or NAIA/NCAA (all divisions) full-time assistant or head coach.
No. 10 seed Indiana travels to take on Notre Dame in South Bend on Dec 20th at 8pm E.T on ESPN