Antonio Fenelus - Football Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Antonio Fenelus

Title:
Defensive Backs

At Florida Atlantic

Joined the Owls staff in January of 2025, where he will focus his attention on the cornerbacks

At Illinois

Named Illinois' defensive backs coach on Dec. 30, 2022, and served in that position through the 2023 season
The addition to the Illinois staff reunited Fenelus with Bielema, his college head coach, and defensive coordinator Aaron Henry, his college teammate

At LSU

Spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a defensive analyst at LSU

At East Central

He then served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at East Central University (Division II) from 2018-20

At Wisconsin

Began his coaching career at Wisconsin where he was a graduate assistant working with the Badgers' defensive backs from 2015-17 under defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard.

As a Player

Four-year Wisconsin letterwinner
Helped the Badgers to Big Ten titles in 2010 and 2011, including a win in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game in 2011
Two-time All-Big Ten first-team selection, earning the honor after 56 tackles, four interceptions, and seven pass breakups as a junior, then again as a senior when he had 51 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, four interceptions, and nine pass breakups
Recorded 155 tackles, 22 passes defended, nine interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 52 games (32 starts)
Earned UW's Jimmy Demetral Team MVP award for defense, as a senior
Following his collegiate career, Fenelus signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts before stints with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League
Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree

PERSONAL

Hometown: A native of Boca Raton, Florida
Education: Graduated from Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in community and nonprofit leadership in 2013. Earned a master's degree in educational leadership policy analysis in 2018.
Family: Fenelus and his wife, Jordan, have four children: Alani, Arrow, Ace, and A.J.

FENELUS COACHING HISTORY

Year	School	Position	Bowl	Results
2025	Florida Atlantic	Cornerbacks
2024	Virginia	Defensive Analyst
2023	Illinois	Defensive Backs	Citrus Bowl vs Purdue
2022	LSU	Defensive Analyst	Citrus Bowl vs Purdue	W, 63-7
2021	LSU	Defensive Analyst	Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State	L, 42-20
2020	East Central	Defensive Coordinator/DBs
2019	East Central	Defensive Coordinator/DBs
2018	East Central	Defensive Coordinator/DBs
2017	Wisconsin	Graduate Assistant DBs	Orange Bowl vs No.10 Miami	W, 34-24
2016	Wisconsin	Graduate Assistant DBs	Cotton Bowl vs. No.12 Western Michigan	W, 24-16
2015	Wisconsin	Graduate Assistant DBs	Holiday Bowl vs No. 25 USC	W, 23-21