RIVER FOREST, ILL. – The Concordia University Chicago football program has finalized the coaching staff with the addition of Charlie Drewek as the Defensive Coordinator.
 
"It is not very often a team has the opportunity to add a coach like Charles to their coaching staff and we are beyond excited to see the impact he can make with our players and within our program," Head Coach Chase Hankins noted. "His on field accomplishments and reputation as a coordinator within the conference speaks for itself, however Coach Drewek has truly set himself apart in the interview process by showing a deep level of understanding in scheme while also being closely aligned with the philosophy and mindset the program has taken. He has a high standard and expectation for himself which extends to the defense he has coached and it will be a great sight to see watching the Concordia defense under his leadership."
 
Drewek is a highly skilled and experienced coach with his most recent position at St. Norbert College, a fellow Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) school. During the last three seasons as the Defensive Coordinator at St. Norbert College, the team has ranked among the nation's top defensive units, with his first season marking a dramatic improvement in defensive performance by elevating the unit from 70^th to 16^th nationally in scoring defense. His efforts also helped propel the team to Top 25 nationally in 15 defensive categories, including Total Defense, Redzone Defense, and Turnovers Gained. Following the 2024 season, Drewek was named NACC Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
Drewek is responsible for overseeing the recruitment, retention, and well-being of 60-70 student-athletes, managing off-campus recruiting in states including Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, and California. He also ensures academic success for underclassmen by leading weekly meetings aimed at maximizing classroom performance. Drewek coached standout player Joe Jung to First Team All-American honors in 2022.
 
Before joining St. Norbert College, Drewek accumulated a wealth of experience in football operations at prominent institutions. He served as a Defensive Analyst at Northwestern University in 2021, where he contributed to film analysis and recruiting efforts. Prior to that, he worked as a Defensive Assistant at the University of California-Davis and Weber State University, gaining hands-on experience in teaching football concepts and developing recruiting strategies during the pandemic. Drewek also held a role as a Defensive Analyst at the University of Illinois from 2014-2018, where he supported the Defensive Coordinator, managed large-scale research projects, and maintained the JumpForward database for recruiting.
 
"Given his accomplishments throughout his career, we believe Coach Drewek will facilitate success for our student-athletes both on and off the football field as we continue improving the student-athlete experience," Director of Athletics Janet Wolbert had to say regarding the hiring. "Consistently demonstrating his passion not only for the sport of football, but also for building relationships with student-athletes to mentor and support them, it became evident Coach Drewek will be a great addition to Cougar Athletics. We look forward to seeing growth for the football program under his collaboration with Coach Hankins."
 
Early in his career, Drewek contributed to the University of Wisconsin's football program as an Assistant Recruiting Coordinator and Student Assistant, where he was involved in large event planning, budgeting, and social media coordination.
 
Drewek graduated with his BA from the University of Wisconsin in 2011.