Donte Wilkins joined the Lobo Football program in December of 2023, and he serves as the defensive line coach for UNM. He comes to New Mexico after a two-year stint at Lafayette where he coached the defensive line.
Along with his time with Lafayette, Wilkins got his coaching start under Bronco Mendenhall at Virginia, his alma mater. He also brings with him experience as an athletic performance coach.
The 2024 season will be his fourth working with Mendenhall.
PREVIOUS COACHING STOP
LAFAYETTE (2022-23): Wilkins’ first full-time coaching stop was two seasons with Lafayette, helping the Leopards to a 2023 FCS Playoff appearance, its first since 2013.
With Lafayette he coached two-time All-Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Malik Hamm, who also became the first five-time All-Patriot League performer. In 2022, the Leopards finished second in scoring defense (21.7 ppg) and first in rushing defense (111.0 ypg). In 2023 the Leopards led the league in sacks with 37 (16 more than the second place team) and they again led the league in rushing defense (123.1 ypg).
Overall, along with Hamm, five of his charges earned All-Patriot League honors: Blamassi Meite (First Team); Jaylon Joseph (Second Team), Damon Washington (Second Team) and Jyaire Stevens (Second Team).
VIRGINIA (2019-21): Wilkins got his collegiate coaching career started under his collegiate head coach Bronco Mendenhall. He spent two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant. Additionally, he served as a regional scout under Mendenhall.
UCLA (2017-18): After his playing career, Wilkins started in collegiate athletics as an assistant athletic performance coach at UCLA, working with the football program.
PLAYING CAREER: VIRGINA (2013-16): As a player, Wilkins played from 2013-16 playing under both Mike London and Bronco Mendenhall. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Cavaliers and started all 12 games as a senior in 2016 when he also served as a team captain. A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Wilkins played in 45 career games and made 89 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 2017 and his master’s degree in social foundations in 2021.
| Donte Wilkins Profile |
| Born: May 1, 1995 |
| Hometown: Woodbridge, Va. |
| Alma Mater: Virginia, 2017 (B.A., Anthropology); Virginia, 2018 (M.A., Social Foundations) |
| Playing Experience: Virginia (2013-17). |
| Family: Single |
| Coaching Experience: | |
| 2024 | New Mexico (Defensive Line) |
| 2022-23 | Lafayette (Defensive Line) |
| 2020-21 | Virginia (Defensive Graduate Assistant) |
| 2019 | Virginia (Regional Scout) |
| 2017-18 | UCLA (Assistant Football Performance) |
| Postseason Coached (corresponding to the season, not the actual year of the bowl game): | |
| 2023 | FCS Playoffs – First Round |
| 2021 | Fenway Bowl* |
| 2019 | Orange Bowl |
| 2017 | Cactus Bowl |
*Not Contested