Now in his third year on head coach Shawn Lutz’s staff, former NFL assistant coach Cedric Whitaker Jr. joined SRU in the summer of 2023 as a defensive backs coach. He added the title of special teams coordinator entering the 2024 season.
CAREER AT A GLANCE
• A veteran with nine years of coaching experience at all three levels of NCAA competition and in the NFL.
• Slippery Rock has compiled a record of 24-4 in Whitaker's two seasons on head coach Shawn Lutz’s staff.
• Coached two members of the SRU secondary to All-America honors in his first season with the program in 2023 with Eddie Faulkner IV and Josh Stokes being recognized. Stokes repeated as an All-America selection in 2024.
• Three Rock defensive backs have garnered All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division accolades under Whitaker Jr. - Faulkner IV (2023, 2024), Stokes (2023, 2024) and Jalen Dangerfield (2023).
• SRU ranked seventh in the nation in kick return average in 2024 (25.43) while Rock defensive backs also played a large role in The Rock ranking 31st in Division II in passing yards allowed per game (166.6).
COACHING TIMELINE
• 2015-17: Texas Lutheran University (assistant coach)
• 2017-19: Baylor University (graduate assistant/defensive backs)
• 2019: Houston Baptist University (pass defense coordinator / defensive backs)
• 2020-22: Carolina Panthers (assistant special teams / defensive backs)
• 2023: Slippery Rock (defensive backs)
• 2024-Present: Slippery Rock (special teams coordinator/defensive backs)
CAREER PATH
• Most recently, worked in the NFL as an assistant special teams coach and assistant defensive backs coach with the Carolina Panthers.
• Helped to lead the fourth ranked overall special teams unit in the NFL and also helped coach the fourth ranked passing defense in the NFL in 2021 when the Panthers’ defense ranked second in the NFL in total defense.
• While at Baylor, helped lead a turnaround in the Bears’ program that included assisting the third-ranked passing defense in the Big 12 in 2018.
• Served in several capacities at Texas Lutheran, including coaching wide receivers, speed and conditioning, junior varsity head coach, special teams assistant and defensive line assistant.
ATHLETIC CAREER
• Played football collegiately at Texas Lutheran University where he was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter.
• Started 27 games over three years at TLU, totaling 44 tackles, 1.5 TFL, five pass break-ups and one interception.
• Helped to lead TLU to a 22-8 record and a playoff appearance during playing career.
• Was a four-time academic all-conference selection.
PERSONAL
• Native of Houston.
• Whitaker Jr. earned a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Texas Lutheran University in 2015.
• Earned master’s degree in Sports Administration from Baylor University in 2019.
