Running a Modern Double Wing Offense

with Jeff Reents,
Wilmington High School (IL) Head Football Coach;

• Illinois Class 2A State Champions (2025, 2023, 2021)
• Daily Journal Sports Citizen of the Year (2025)
• Inductee - Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame (2019)
• Illinois Class 3A State Champions (2014)
• The Daily Journal Sports Citizen of the Year (2014)
• Eureka College Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee (2007)
• 1991 Eureka College Team Inducted into the Hall of Fame (1999)
• Has led Wilmington to the playoffs every year (since 1996)
• Over 295 career wins
• Played college football for Eureka College

Establishing a powerful, consistent offensive identity is the cornerstone of any successful football program. While many modern schemes prioritize a pass-heavy approach, the double wing offense remains one of the most reliable and physically dominant systems in the game. It provides an offense with the tools to control the tempo of the game, wear down opposing defenses, and create schematic advantages through deception and specialized blocking.

Wilmington High School Head Coach Jeff Reents provides a comprehensive look at how he has modernized this classic system to create a powerhouse program. Coach Reents brings an incredible resume of success to this presentation, having led his team to the 2021 IL 2A State Championship using the exact concepts and strategies shared in this video. His approach proves that the double wing is not just a vintage concept, but a sophisticated and highly effective modern weapon.

The instruction begins with a deep dive into the philosophy of the double wing. Coach Reents outlines six critical reasons why this system provides an edge, focusing on its ability to dictate ball control and create constant conflict for defensive players. Viewers learn how to build a wall at the point of attack and the importance of changing blocking schemes without changing the play's intent. A unique aspect of this system is how it empowers offensive linemen, giving them the tools to call their own blocking assignments based on defensive fronts.

The technical portion of the video utilizes a combination of whiteboard diagrams and game film analysis to illustrate the "Buck" series. Coach Reents provides a detailed breakdown of the inside and outside buck plays, which serve as the foundation of the offense. To keep defenses from adjusting, he introduces a series of tags and change-ups. You will see how simple modifications like "Short," "FB," and "Power" allow a coach to turn a handful of basic plays into a massive, unpredictable playbook that keeps coordinators guessing.

Beyond the X's and O's, Coach Reents pulls back the curtain on his program's daily operations. He shares his specific practice plan, showing exactly how he implements these concepts with his athletes to ensure they are prepared for game-day execution. This includes the integration of play-action passes, which are essential for punishing defenses that cheat toward the line of scrimmage to stop the run.

By the conclusion of this video, coaches will have a complete roadmap for installing or improving a double wing system. Whether looking to transition to a full double wing attack or simply seeking to add more physical run concepts to an existing scheme, the strategies provided here are tried, tested, and championship-proven.