Western Michigan University Athletics

Jake Moreland joined the Western Michigan staff for his second stint in January of 2017 and serves as the offensive coordinator, mentoring Western Michigan’s tight ends. Moreland began in 2017 as the co-offensive coordinator before taking over sole responsibility in the spring of 2018. Moreland spent the 2017-19 seasons overseeing the offensive line before shifting to the tight ends in the spring of 2020. 

Moreland is entering his 11th season overall as an assistant coach at WMU, having served as the Broncos’ tight ends coach from 2005-11. He was a four-year letterwinner as a tight end at Western Michigan, playing alongside current head coach Tim Lester from 1996-99.

The 2019 Bronco squad featured a dynamic offense, ranking third in the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense (33.1 points per game) and second in total offense (445.7 yards per game). Nationally, the WMU offense stood in the top 30 in fewest turnovers lost (14; 20th), third down conversion percentage (.453; 23rd), total offensive yards per game (25th), fewest fumbles lost (6; 26th), rushing yards per game (205.1; 28th) and points per game (30th). 

Moreland guided running back LeVante Bellamy to being named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, given to the top running back in college football, while tight end Giovanni Ricci was named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s top collegiate tight end. WMU joined Alabama, Clemson, Iowa State, LSU, Minnesota, Oklahoma, SMU and Utah as the programs with two or more different semifinalists for the top offensive awards in the 2019 season.

Bellamy went on to earn the Mid-American Conference’s Vern Smith Leadership Award as the league’s MVP, as well as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Bellamy, Ricci and center Luke Juriga all represented Western Michigan in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl. Bellamy also represented Western Michigan at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis from February 23 - March 2, 2020. 

Along the offensive line, Moreland’s 2019 group stood third in the conference in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.38) and 18th nationally. The group also ranked fourth in the MAC in fewest tackles for loss yielded per contest (5.08). The efforts helped the Broncos produce eight plays from scrimmage of 60 or more yards, doubling the team’s total from the 2018 season. 

Juriga repeated as a first team All-MAC honoree at the conclusion of the 2019 season with juniors Mike Caliendo and Jaylon Moore being placed on the second team. Juriga ended his time in Kalamazoo having started 52 consecutive games, every contest of his career.

Caliendo also received first team CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades with Juriga being chosen as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete for the third time. Juriga and Caliendo were named to the Academic All-MAC Team.

In 2018, Moreland’s first season as offensive coordinator, he coached a unit that boasted the 33rd-best rushing attack in the nation. The team averaged 32 points per game and 436.8 yards per game.

During the 2017 season, Western Michigan produced three offensive linemen who earned All-MAC honors. Offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and center John Keenoy were first team selections, while right guard Juriga was named to the second team. The Bronco offensive line helped pave the way for a running game that was ranked 23rd in the nation in rushing offense with 224.8 yards per game.

Okorafor was one of six national semifinalists for the 2017 Outland Trophy and earned six All-America recognitions, including a first team nod from the Football Writers Association of America. He became just the third Bronco ever to earn All-America status from the FWAA and only the second to be named to the first team. In April, Okorafor heard his name called in the NFL Draft, taken in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Okorafor was the first MAC player chosen in the 2018 draft, as well as the first player selected from the state of Michigan. 

Prior to returning to Kalamazoo, Moreland coached tight ends at Air Force (2012-14, 2016) and Syracuse (2015). At Air Force, Moreland oversaw the development of several key contributors during 10-win seasons in 2014 and 2016, which included victories at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and the Arizona Bowl. Players he developed include Garrett Griffin, who went on to sign with the New Orleans Saints. 

Throughout Moreland’s coaching career, tight ends have had success under him, with three becoming semifinalists for the John Mackey Award. In 2008, Western Michigan’s Branden Ledbetter finished his career with the most TDs by a tight end in program history (20) and recorded three consecutive seasons with at least six TDs. Three tight ends combined to score six TDs in 2009.

In 2007, tight ends accounted for 10 of WMU’s 23 scoring strikes (43 percent). Tight ends accounted for nearly 22 percent of the Broncos’ aerial scores in 2008 and helped the offensive line block for the program’s 15th 1,000-yard rusher.

During his first season back with the Broncos, Moreland had Tony Scheffler, ranked fourth in Mackey Award voting and a first-team All-MAC offense honoree, at his disposal and he came through with 670 yards and nine scoring grabs. The tight end arsenal did not end there for Moreland as Ledbetter also came through in 2005 with a pair of touchdowns on 11 catches.

Scheffler was selected 61st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. In two seasons, Scheffler hauled in 67 receptions for 835 yards and nine touchdowns. He grabbed five scoring receptions in 2007, bettering his rookie mark by one.

Moreland served as special teams coordinator and offensive assistant for Division II Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) College in 2004. Under his tutelage, the Pumas set school records in seven offensive categories. Prior to Saint Joseph’s, Moreland made his coaching debut at Elmhurst College in 2003. Working with tight ends, Moreland helped Elmhurst set 11 offensive records and register its first winning season in 15 years.

During his collegiate playing career, Moreland caught more passes (143) than any other tight end in school history and is tied for second in TDs (13) among tight ends. He earned All-MAC second team honors and was tabbed WMU’s offensive MVP in 1999. He was a first team All-MAC pick in 1998 and team captain in 1999. 

Moreland went on to a professional career in the National Football League, playing for the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. He retired in 2002, shortly after signing with the Houston Texans.

A Milwaukee native, Moreland earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Western Michigan in 2000. He and his wife, the former Anne Sampair, have three daughters, Courtney, Grace and Emma.