Eric Ludwig is in his 14th season in 2025, serving as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Wesleyan. The Cardinals have finished with a winning record in all 13 competitive seasons with Ludwig on staff and have won six outright Little 3 titles in those campaigns.
A member of the 2024 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year, which marked the team's first-ever NESCAC Coaching Staff recognition, Ludwig helped lift the Cardinals to the team's best season in the modern era in 2024, as Wesleyan went 8-1, captured a third straight Little Three title, and culminated in the team's first-ever outright NESCAC Championship. Opening the year with a 43-7 drubbing of Middlebury on the road, that win marked the Panthers' biggest home loss in over 40 years. Wesleyan then held Tufts without a touchdown in a 20-9 triumph under the lights at home. After suffering their first defeat of the season to Bates in Week 3, the Cardinals rebounded with six straight wins to end the year. That six-game win streak started with 19 unanswered fourth quarter points to defeat Hamilton on the road 19-7. Jake Edwards returned a fumble 88 yards for a game-winning, walk-off overtime touchdown in a 23-17 win over Colby in Week 5. The Cardinals held off Bowdoin for a 17-14 road win before scoring 31 unanswered to defeat Amherst 31-14 in a game that Wesleyan trailed 14-0 in the first quarter. With a third straight Little 3 title on the line, the Cardinals drove over 90 yards down the field with less than two minutes to play in regulation, as WR Luke LaSaracina '25 hauled in a game-deciding touchdown with six seconds left as Wesleyan defeated Williams 25-24 in an epic clash to claim three straight Little Three Championships for the first time since 1946-48. Then in the season finale, Wesleyan's defense held Trinity scoreless in the second half, converting two lengthy fourth downs in pivotal moments in the fourth quarter, to defeat Trinity 27-17 in what was the de-facto NESCAC Championship game in Hartford.
Under his guidance, QB Niko Candido '25 earned All-NESCAC Second Team honors in the 2024 season while his main target WR Chase Wilson '25 was named 2024 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming just the third Cardinal in team history to take home the league's highest individual honor on offense.
Ludwig's offense featured dynamic playmakers in David Estevez '22 and Logan Tomlinson '22 in 2021 and 2022 as the pair both earned All-NESCAC honors in each season. Three offensive lineman earned All-NESCAC honors in those seasons as well. Wesleyan's offense ranked third in yards per game in the NESCAC in 2022 and 2nd in passing yards per game.
In 2019 on the offensive line, senior Ryan Schutta and junior Bryce Jenkins were both named First Team All-NESCAC. Jenkins was also named to the D3Football.com All-Region Team. In his eight seasons at Wesleyan, Coach Ludwig has had at least one offensive lineman named to an All-NESCAC team every year and 12 offensive lineman total earning All-NESCAC honors.
In 2017, the Wesleyan offense set 22 team and individual records. The offense averaged 417.8 yards per game, including a Wesleyan record 303.0 yards of passing offense per game. The Cardinals also set school records in passing completions in a game with 39 (vs. Middlebury), passing completions in a season with 237, and touchdown passes in a season with 22. The combo of quarterback Mark Piccirillo ’19 and wide receiver Mike Breuler ’18 were responsible for setting 18 individual Wesleyan records.
Ludwig joined the Cardinal coaching staff in 2012 after serving as the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line coach at NY Maritime College. In his two seasons as Offensive Coordinator, NY Maritime went 18-3 and made an appearance in the Division III National Playoffs. For three seasons as the Offensive Line coach, Ludwig coached nine All-Conference lineman. NY Maritime led all of Division III in both 2009 and 2010 in sacks allowed and finished the 2009 season ranked fourth in the nation in rushing offense. Ludwig also spent time as the Recruiting Coordinator and the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Maritime.
Prior to his stint at Maritime, Ludwig was the Offensive Line Graduate Assistant Coach at Springfield College for two seasons. In 2007, Springfield was second in the nation in sacks allowed and third in rushing offense. Before arriving at Springfield, Ludwig coached the tight ends for Williams College under current Wesleyan Director of Athletics, Mike Whalen. The 2006 team finished 8-0 in the NESCAC.
A 2006 graduate of Williams College, Ludwig was a captain of the 2005 squad and earned All-NESCAC, All-ECAC, and All-American honors as an offensive lineman. He also played in the Aztec Bowl, a Division III All-Star game played between the United States and Mexico.
Eric and his wife Rachel, the Deputy Director of Athletics at Wesleyan, currently reside in East Hampton, Conn. with their three children Will, Jack, and Emma.
