Central Michigan has hired Army assistant Matt Drinkall as its next head coach, the Chippewas announced Monday. Drinkall replaces Jim McElwain, who retired from coaching after his sixth season at the school.
Drinkall was the Black Knights offensive line coach this season during their run to the American Athletic Conference championship. His position group is one of three finalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line.
“Matt has been successful everywhere he’s been,” athletic director Amy Folan said in a statement. “He is very innovative, he’s been a student of the game and has a passion for college football. He’s coming from an institution in Army West Point that puts a premium on leadership. He has had success as a head coach and has a reputation as a players coach. With Matt’s background and abilities, he is the perfect fit to lead us into the next chapter of Central Michigan football.”
🏈 Matt Drinkall named @cmu_football head coach!
Drinkall will be introduced to the @cmuniversity community in a “Fired Up to be a Chippewa” welcome event on Tuesday at Noon.
📰 https://t.co/g4392K05Zp#FireUpChips 🔥⬆️🏈 pic.twitter.com/TyrOC0mqVb
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) December 9, 2024
Before his six-year stint as an Army assistant, he compiled a 42-17 record as the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan from 2014-18. He produced some of the NAIA’s top offenses there, winning the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title and reaching the national semifinals in 2018.
The Iowa native and former Hawkeyes receiver is a Western Illinois alumnus. He was also an offensive assistant at St. Ambrose, an NAIA school in Iowa, from 2008-14.
“We are so excited to get back to our Midwest roots and to be a part of this passionate community,” Drinkall said. “We cannot wait to build meaningful relationships and help contribute to the success of this storied program.”
(Photo: Patrick Oehler / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
