John Wetzel returns for his fourth season with the Shippensburg coaching staff as a volunteer assistant on the offensive line. Wetzel was a three-year starter at Bloomsburg from 1988-91.
Wetzel accrued six years of coaching experience and eight years of playing experience before arriving at Shippensburg. From 2004-05, Wetzel was the offensive coordinator for the Chambersburg Cardinals, a semi-pro football team that plays in the North American Football League (NAFL). In two seasons with the Cardinals, Wetzel was part of a staff that led the Cardinals to its first two playoff appearances.
In 2000 and 2001, Wetzel served as the offensive and defensive line coach at Eastern Lebanon County High School (ELCO) High School in Myerstown, during which the team had a two-year record of 18-5. While there, he was part of a staff that led the Raiders to its first two PIAA District 3 playoff appearances in school history.
Prior to ELCO, Wetzel got his first coaching experience with the Myerstown Panthers, a midget football league team. He spent two seasons as the offensive and defensive line coach in 1998 and 1999.
As a player, Wetzel was a three-year starter and four-year letterman at ELCO as a member of the offensive line before earning All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team honors in 1990 at Bloomsburg.
Following his high school and collegiate careers, Wetzel played two seasons of semi-pro football for the Central Penn Piranha of the then-International Football League (IFL) in 1996 and 1997. During that time, the team had a combined record of 29-1 advancing to the IFL championship twice and winning the title in 1997.
Wetzel received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bloomsburg in 1998 and is currently working on his applied psychology master’s degree from Penn State. He currently serves as the warden of the Franklin County Jail, a position he has held since 2002.
From 1992 to 2002, Wetzel held a variety of positions for the Berks County Prison, including correctional officer, training academy director and supervisor of treatment services. He was also a prison guard at Lebanon County Correctional Facility from 1989-92.
In his 20-year involvement in criminal justice, Wetzel has authored or co-authored articles in national publications as well as participated in presentations both statewide and nationally. In addition, he has also taken part in various community activities that include serving on the Board of Directors for the Franklin/Fulton Country Behavior Health Advisory Board and as a member of the Chambersburg Public Opinion Diversity Panel.
A native of Myerstown, Wetzel currently lives in Chambersburg with his wife Theresa and their four daughters, Ariel, Machaela, Tamaira, and Johnay.
