A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Wachenheim has been an assistant coach at various positions for nine different teams, ranging from the NCAA Division I FBS and FCS to a brief stint in the National Football League (NFL).

Wachenheim was most recently hired as the head coach of the VMI Keydets on December 14, 2014, replacing former bench boss Sparky Woods after seven seasons.

In his second season, Wachenheim was part of the Aggies' 1993 Big West championship team that won the second edition of the Las Vegas Bowl with a win over Ball State.

Though the Redskins went 4–12 that season, Wachenheim did work in the development of tight end Fred Davis, a second-round pick who caught 48 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns.

Under Wachenheim's guidance, four Cavalier linemen made NFL rosters: Morgan Moses of the Redskins, Luke Bowanko and Austin Pasztor of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oday Aboushi of the New York Jets.