SE Missouri hires Matukewicz as football coach
Tom Matukewicz, a veteran coach who spent the past two seasons
as defensive coordinator at Toledo, was introduced Wednesday as the
new head coach at Southeast Missouri State.
The 40-year-old Matukewicz replaces Tony Samuel, who was fired
after coaching the Redhawks to a 31-60 record in eight seasons. He
had two years remaining on a five-year contract when he was let go
Nov. 26.
Matukewicz also was linebackers coach at Toledo, a Mid-American
Conference team that went 7-5 in 2013. Under his guidance, Toledo’s
defense improved to ninth in overall defense from 12th in 2012.
His four-contract at Southeast Missouri provides a base salary
of $130,000 with additional compensation up to $57,000 per
year.
Matukewicz, a native of Silver Lake, Kan., was linebackers coach
at Northern Illinois before joining Toledo in 2012. He served as
interim head coach when NIU beat Fresno State in the 2010
Humanitarian Bowl after head coach Jerry Kill took the top job in
Minnesota.
Matukewicz also coached linebackers under Kill at Southern
Illinois in Carbondale from 2001 to 2007. He was named Football
Championship Subdivision assistant coach of the year in 2007.
Southeast Missouri finished the 2013 season 3-9 overall and 2-6
in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Redhawks have had winning
records three times since moving to Division I from Division II in
1991.
Southeast had just one winning season under Samuel, going 9-3 in
2010 and winning the OVC championship. Samuel won the Eddie
Robinson Coach of the Year honor that year, named for the top coach
in Division I’s Football Championship Subdivision.
Matukewicz said Wednesday he was ”thrilled” to get the
Southeast Missouri job.
”I feel like I am well-prepared for this opportunity and look
forward to making a difference not only in this football program,
but in this region,” he said.
Matukewicz’s coaching resume also includes positions at several
Kansas schools, including Emporia State and Pittsburg State, where
he earned a master’s degree in administration.