All-MAC Performers Under Whitlow
| Doug Costin (2018) |
Second Team |
| Doug Costin (2019) |
First Team |
| Kameron Butler (2019) |
Second Team |
| Kameron Butler (2020) |
Third Team |
| Lonnie Phelps (2020) |
Third Team |
| Kameron Butler (2021) |
First Team |
| Lonnie Phelps (2021) |
Second Team |
| Dominique Robinson (2021) |
Third Team |
Twitter: @CoachWhit_MU
E.J. Whitlow is in his fourth year as the defensive line coach for the RedHawks.
Whitlow has shown a knack of producing All-MAC talent since his arrival to Oxford. In just three years, Whitlow has engineered five All-MAC honorees. In 2018 Doug Costin earned second team All-MAC. A year later, Costin was one of the best players in the entire conference, earning first team accolades and joined the NFL in 2019 with the Jaguars. Kameron Butler was named second team All-MAC in 2019 and a year later Butler and Lonnie Phelps garnered third team All-MAC honors as Whitlow's front four become one of the most feared units in the conference.
In 2019 Miami recorded 38 sacks, 28 of those coming from the defensive line. Miami's pass rush made national news in a contest versus Akron as the RedHawks recorded 12 sacks in the game. Six of those sacks came from freshman Ivan Pace, who matched an NCAA record for sacks in a game.
From 2018-19 Miami ranked second in the MAC with 67 sacks.
Whitlow joined Miami after four years on staff at Grand Valley State University coaching the defensive line. Under Whitlow, GVSU’s defensive line turned into one of the top defensive lines in the country annually. He tutored nine All-GLIAC honorees in four years, watching the Lakers record 144 sacks in that span.
In 2017, Whitlow’s defensive line had three players earn all-conference honors, including a pair of first team award winners. As a team, the Lakers allowed just 13.0 points per game, and due to the pass rush, gave up just four touchdown passes all season.
In 2016, the Lakers limited opponents to 134.3 rushing yards per game, recording 40 quarterback sacks and 96 tackles for loss. In 2015, Whitlow coached Matt Judon (now a starter with the Baltimore Ravens), who went on to win the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the nation’s top interior lineman. With Judon’s help, GVSU would lead the nation in sacks with 49
Prior to joining Grand Valley State, Whitlow spent four years at Notre Dame College (Ohio) and was a part of the program from its beginning as the Falcons initial season playing football was in 2010. Whitlow was a graduate assistant in 2010 and 2011, but became the full-time defensive line coach in 2012.
Whitlow played collegiately at Findlay from 2006-10, where he was twice an All-GLIAC performer as a defensive tackle and was named the Oilers’ 2009 Team MVP. He recorded 44 total tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss en route to earning All-GLIAC honors as a junior, followed by senior season in which he tallied career-highs in total tackles (60) and tackles for loss with six and was named First-Team All-GLIAC and team MVP.
E.J. and his wife, Kierre, are the parents of Emily and Emmanuel.
Whitlow Timeline
2018-PR - Defensive Line, Miami University
2014-17 - Defensive Line, Grand Valley State University
2012-13 - Defensive Line, Notre Dame College
2010-11 - Graduate Assistant, Notre Dame College
