Love, Effort, Attitude and Discipline (L.E.A.D) are the pillars of Tom Matukewicz’s process-driven program that has vaulted Southeast Missouri into the national spotlight.
Matukewicz enters his 12th year as the Redhawks head coach in 2025. He guided his teams to three Ohio Valley Conference-Big South titles (2019, 2022, 2024), four NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoff appearances (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024) and the school’s only FCS Playoff win (2018). Matukewicz has nine wins over nationally-ranked FCS opponents, most of any head coach in SEMO history. He holds the most wins (63) and OVC victories (47) of any head coach during the school’s NCAA Division I era.
SEMO put together five-straight winning seasons in OVC play from 2018-22, another program first for Matukewicz. The Redhawks went undefeated in conference play for the first time ever when they finished the 2022 campaign at 5-0. SEMO put together back-to-back nine-win campaigns for the first time in program history when it went 9-4 in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The Redhawks were a combined 12-1 at home over that span, as well.
In 2024, SEMO finished with nine wins in a season for a program record fourth time under Matukewicz. The Redhawks went 9-4 overall and 6-2 in OVC-Big South play en route to their third conference title and fourth NCAA Playoff appearance with Matukewicz at the helm.
SEMO enjoyed quite a turnaround a year ago after going 4-7 and 3-3 in conference play the year before.
For the second time in his career, Matukewicz coached both the OVC-Big South Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the same season when quarterback Paxton DeLaurent and linebacker Bryce Norman claimed the prestigious accolades in 2024.
Statistically, the Redhawks led the conferencre in fourth down conversion percentage (78.9 pct.), fourth down conversion percentage defense (35.7 pct.), first downs (306), passing offense (322.1 ypg), red zone defense (69.2 pct.), sacks allowed (1.4 per game) and winning percentage (.692).
Matukewicz’s 2024 team produced 13 All-OVC-Big South selections and five All-Americans, including Delaurent, Norman, DC Pippin, Dorian Anderson and Carter Guillaume.
Additionally, SEMO ranked in both the AFCA Coaches and Stats Perform Media Top-25 polls a total of 11 weeks during the 2024 season. The Redhawks established their highest ranking ever in both polls when they climbed to #6 on Oct. 21. SEMO ended the year ranked #16 in the AFCA Coaches and #17 in the Stats Perform rankings.
During the 2023 campaign, SEMO placed fifth in the OVC-Big South and had the league’s top red zone offense scoring on 86.1 percent of its chances inside the 20-yard line.
In 2022, SEMO tied for first in the OVC and advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the fourth time.
SEMO won its final three regular-season games by a combined score of 125-29. The Redhawks also had the best scoring defense (22.6 ppg allowed), total defense (361.1 ypg allowed), rushing offense (225.6 ypg), rushing defense (106.8 ypg allowed), kick return average (23.3 ypr), PAT kicking percentage (53-of-53, 1.000), first down average (23.2 per game), fourth down conversion percentage (11-of-17, 64.7 pct.) and total offense (468.2 ypg) in the OVC during their 2022 championship run.
Nationally, SEMO led the FCS in tackles for loss allowed (3.7 per game) and ranked among the top 10 in fourth down conversion percentage (8th), fumbles lost (6th), sacks allowed (0.92), total offense (8th) and turnovers lost.
Five Redhawks garnered All-America honors, including Geno Hess, Zack Gieg, Lawrence Johnson, Norman and Paxton DeLaurent. Hess was also named both OVC Male Athlete of the Year and OVC Offensive Player of the Year, while Gieg became SEMO’s third Rimington Award winner. In total, SEMO had 14 All-OVC selections, with nine players securing first-team accolades in 2022.
SEMO topped the OVC in kick returns (25.7 ypr), fourth down conversions (10-of-15, 66.7 pct.), opponent fourth down conversions (10-of-23, 43.5, pct.), red zone offense (33-of-33, 1.00 pct.) and red zone defense (31-of-40, 77.5 pct.) in 2021. The Redhawks led the FCS in red zone offense as one of only two teams in the country that converted all of its chances inside the 20-yard line.
In a challenging year brought on by a global COVID-19 pandemic, SEMO concluded its abbreviated 2020 season with an overall record of 4-4 and took fourth in the OVC with a 4-3 mark.
In 2020, SEMO led the OVC and rated eighth in the nation in red zone defense. The Redhawks were also eighth in the FCS with 10 interceptions.
The 2019 Redhawks topped the OVC and ranked 20th nationally in interceptions (14). SEMO rated second in the league in red zone defense and had 24 takeaways, which ranked third among conference foes.
Matukewicz’s 2019 squad claimed a share of the OVC title and advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the second-straight year. The Redhawks went 7-1 in conference play en route to just their second OVC crown in school history and first since 2010.
The Redhawks upended then-#14 Jacksonville State on the road becoming the first team to beat JSU in Jacksonville, Alabama in SEMO’s Division I era. Matukewicz became the first head coach to knock off the Gamecocks in back-to-back seasons during the school’s entire Division I tenure (since 1991). Additionally, the Redhawks ended JSU’s 36-game winning streak in OVC play and 32-game winning streak in home regular-season contests.
SEMO’s lone conference blemish that year came on the road at Austin Peay, which shared the regular-season championship with the Redhawks. After that, SEMO won its final six games of the season and hoisted the trophy following a 31-24 home victory over rival Murray State. The Redhawks closed out 2019 with a loss to Illinois State during the first round of the FCS Playoffs in Cape Girardeau.
In 2018, SEMO’s program turned the corner with a historic season that saw Matukewicz steer the Redhawks to a 9-4 overall record, second-place finish in the OVC and the school’s first NCAA FCS Playoff berth in eight years..
The Redhawks knocked off two ranked opponents and posted their first postseason victory when they toppled #15 Stony Brook in the first-ever NCAA Playoff game played at Houck Field.
SEMO nearly swept the league’s coveted specialty awards as Matukewicz was named OVC Coach of the Year, linebacker Zach Hall was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year and running back Marquis Terry was selected Offensive Player of the Year.
Statistically, the Redhawks led the FCS in turnover margin (+1.85), turnovers gained (36), interceptions (23), blocked punts allowed (0) and fumbles lost (1). SEMO also led the OVC in 13 different categories.
Along the way, SEMO broke six single-season school records, including points scored (482), points per game (37.1), touchdowns (63), total plays (891) and all-purpose yards (7,094).
Six players earned All-America recognition. Hall, who became SEMO’s first player to win the Buck Buchanan National Defensive Player of the Year Award, was named to eight All-America teams alone. Forbes, Terry, Bydarrius Knighten, DJ Freeman and Zion Custis were the Redhawks other All-America honorees.
Nine individuals garnered All-OVC accolades. Daniel Santacaterina, Terry, Forbes, Hall and Knighten were first-team selections, while Clarence Thornton, Justin Swift, Kristian Wilkerson and Lucas Orchard were second-team picks.
SEMO went a perfect 6-0 at home and later won 13 in a row at Houck Field prior to its first-round FCS Playoff loss to Illinois State (Nov. 30, 2019).
SEMO led the OVC and ranked sixth in the FCS with 37 sacks in 2017. The Redhawks also finished among the top four teams in the league in scoring defense (21.8 ppg allowed), rushing offense (4th, 137.7 ypg), kickoff returns (3rd, 22.8 ypr), punt return average (3rd, 10.1 ypr), sacks allowed (3rd, 14), fourth-down conversions (3rd, 50 pct.), turnover margin (t2nd, +3) and red zone defense (4th, 75 pct.).
Four Redhawks, including Kendall Donnerson (first-team), Terry (first-team), Hall (second-team) and Forbes (second-team) garnered All-OVC accolades. Donnerson was later drafted by the Green Bay Packers, becoming the first SEMO player drafted in 14 years.
In 2016, SEMO lost four games by a combined 12 points en route to finishing with an overall record of 3-8.
The Redhawks ranked third in the OVC in both scoring defense (24.4 ppg allowed) and rushing defense (138.5 ypg allowed), and boasted the league’s second-best red zone defense. Five Redhawks, including Chad Meredith (first-team), Alex Knight (first-team), Cameron Sanders (first-team), Will Young (second-team) and Jesse Hosket (all-newcomer) earned All-OVC honors.
SEMO completed its 2015 campaign ranked among the top three teams in the OVC in rushing offense (2nd, 182.9 ypg), kickoff returns (20.6 ypr), punt return average (3rd, 9.6 ypr), kickoff coverage (2nd, 40.6 net avg.), sacks (2nd, 31), fourth down conversions (2nd, 60 pct.) and turnover margin (1st, +10). The Redhawks 31 sacks were third-most in a season. In addition, SEMO led the league in turnover margin after ranking last in that category the year before. The Redhawks faced four ranked teams and lost four games by a combined 14 points that year.
Individually, Dante Vandeven, Tremane McCullough, Paul McRoberts, Garret Baker, Mike Ford, Knight and Roper Garrett earned All-OVC honors in 2015.
Vandeven was the league’s Freshman of the Year, McCullough and McRoberts were first-team selections and Baker, Garrett, Knight and Ford were second-team picks.
McRoberts went on to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams and was then signed to the team’s active roster on Dec. 23, 2016. McRoberts was on the practice squad for the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2019-21.
Three players, including Donnerson (Green Bay Packers, 2018), Forbes (Cleveland Browns, 2019) and Ryan Flournoy (Dallas Cowboys, 2024) were selected in the NFL Draft with Matukewicz at the helm. Flournoy became only the third player in SEMO football history invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Forbes and Flournoy were selected in the sixth round tying the program’s highest draft picks all-time.
In all, nine players who played under Matukewicz at SEMO are or were in the professional football ranks. Currently, Mike Ford (Houston Texans), Lawrence Johnson (New Orleans Saints) and Flournoy (Dallas Cowboys) are on active NFL rosters.
Under Matukewicz, SEMO has ranked among the nation’s Top-25 teams in the FCS Stats Perform Media or American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Polls a total of 43 weeks, including two in 2020, 13 in 2019, three in 2018, 10 in 2022, four in 2023 and 11 in 2024. The Redhawks began the 2023 season with their highest preseason ranking ever at #9 in the Athlon Sports Top 25.
Every year that Matukewicz has been head coach at SEMO, the Redhawks finished among the top two in the Big South-OVC in either red zone defense, sacks, turnover margin, third down defense or interceptions.
A native of Silver Lake, Kansas, Matukewicz hit the ground running during his head coaching debut in 2014.
That year, SEMO celebrated two wins over ranked opponents, beating then-#3 Southeastern Louisiana and then-#20 Tennessee State. Southeastern Louisiana was the highest-ranked opponent SEMO has ever beaten and the 2014 campaign marked the first time the Redhawks knocked off two ranked opponents in one season.
After those wins, SEMO moved to No. 23 in the Oct. 6, 2014 Sports Network Poll, claiming its first Top 25 ranking since the end of the 2010 season.
The Redhawks led the OVC in third down conversion percentage (45.7), fourth down conversion percentage (66.7) and sacks allowed (9).SEMO was also sixth in the FCS in sacks allowed, 13th in fourth down conversion percentage and 14th in third down conversion percentage.
As a team, the Redhawks scored 384 points, their most in a season since 2002.
The excitement of Matukewicz’s brick-by-brick approach generated an increase in home attendance during two of his first three seasons as head coach.
Matukewicz coached a total of 80 All-OVC performers, including three OVC Offensive Players of the Year (Terry, Hess, DeLaurent), one OVC Male Athlete of the Year (Hess), two OVC Defensive Players of the Year (Hall, Norman), one OVC Freshman of the Year (Vandeven), 40 first-team selections and 27 second-team picks during his first 10 years as SEMO’s head coach. McRoberts (2016) and Flournoy (2024) became the first Redhawks invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, as well.
Academically, SEMO achieved hits highest spring semester grade point average with a 3.18 mark in 2024. The Redhawk football team helped lead SEMO to a Department of Athletics 3.44 spring GPA.
Matukewicz’s program is highly visible in the community and steadily engages in acts of kindness. He simply uses goodwill to teach his players valuable life lessons.
SEMO teamed up with the Cape Girardeau Police Department to raise money for the Minority Police Academy Scholarship Fund on Oct. 10, 2020. The event raised $13,000, which helped fund two scholarships.
In 2015, SEMO partnered with Saint Francis Medical Center to announce a new collaboration, taking the Redhawks’ Pink Up efforts to a new level.
As part of a Pink Up Jersey Auction, the football team raised over $75,000 for breast cancer awareness over a four-year period. The Redhawks donned special pink jerseys, each personalized with a name in honor or memory of a survivor or loved one during this special initiative.
Before its 2016 season-opener at Memphis, SEMO visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Redhawk players, coaches and support staff toured the amazing facility that leads the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. SEMO donated teddy bears and other items along with a check for over $500 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
On July 21, 2016, Matukewicz organized a Cops and Hawks flag football game which brought a whole community together in light of shootings in the United States. Redhawk players and local law enforcement officials were teammates in the event which raised $4,500 for BackStoppers, a non-profit organization that provides needed financial assistance and support to the spouses and dependent children of fallen and injured service members in the line of duty.
During SEMO’s 2014 season-opener against Missouri Baptist, the Redhawk captains took a No. 14 jersey to midfield for the coin toss to honor the memory of Kaden Robert. Robert was a local Kelly High School football player who died in an accidental shooting on June, 2014.
A week later, Michael Douglas, a 16-year old from Kansas, accompanied the Redhawks on the sideline for their game against the Jayhawks on Sept. 6, 2014. Douglas was diagnosed with an interstitial lung disease when he was a year old and has to use an oxygen tank. The teenager initially contacted wide receiver Mike Cyliax for an autograph the summer before the 2014 campaign. Once Matukewicz heard the story, he wrote Douglas a letter and invited him to the game.
SEMO’s football program generously donated to the Nolan Weber Believers 5K & Fun Run/Walk in nearby Jackson. Weber was a soccer player at Jackson High School who fought brain cancer for almost three years (doubling the life expectancy of what his illness normally came with) before he passed away. The contribution went to the Believing Beyond Nolan Weber Foundation that provides financial and/or spiritual/emotional support to children and their families battling cancer and other catastrophic illnesses.
Matukewicz also presented a check to the parents of Dominic Hooper -- a Scott City teen who tied in February, 2014 from injuries sustained in an ATV accident -- during the team’s annual spring game.
In 2022-23, Matukewicz formed two L.E.A.D Revival professional development workshops that focus on leadership within any type of organization or team. The event affords participants the opportunity to learn the art of leadership and building/maintaining a championship culture. Participants also participate in discussion groups with SEMO Football Assistant Coaches and Student-Athletes through this initiative.
A tireless worker, Matukewicz brings energy and passion like no other. His commitment to excellence and Brick-by-Brick mantra have the Redhawks soaring to new heights.
Popularly known as “Coach Tuke,” Matukewicz was introduced as SEMO’s 13th head coach on Dec. 18, 2013.
Matukewicz is used to transforming programs into winners and he did just that as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois.
While at NIU, Matukewicz helped lead the Huskies to the Mid-American Conference West title in 2010 and an outright MAC Championship in 2011. Matukewicz was the linebackers coach in 2011 after serving as defensive run-game coordinator for three seasons under then-head coach Jerry Kill.
Matukewicz reached the pinnacle of his NIU stint when he was interim head coach for the Huskies’ trip to the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl after Kill accepted the Minnesota job at the end of the season. He led NIU to a commanding 40-17 victory over Fresno State in that game.
Matukewicz was responsible for coordinating the Huskies’ run defense during his first three seasons at NIU. In 2010, the Huskies ranked 24th nationally and third in the MAC in rushing defense, allowing 126.5 yards per game. NIU also had the MAC’s No. 1 total defense in 2008 and 2009.
In his first year in DeKalb, Matukewicz was part of a staff that turned NIU into the No. 1 scoring and total defense in the MAC, and one of the top 20 units in the country. The Huskies boasted the second-most improved scoring defense in the nation in 2008. That year, NIU allowed only 18 points per game, down from 30.8 the previous season. The Huskies ranked 17th nationally in total defense and was fifth in the country in pass defense.
Before that, Matukewicz spent seven seasons at SIU. As linebackers coach and run-game coordinator, he had a big hand in three Missouri Valley Football Conference championships (2003, 2004, 2005) and five NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).
Matukewicz was named the 2007 FCS Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association after helping turn the Salukis into one of the top rushing defenses in the nation. SIU held its opponents to a rushing average below 135 yards per game every year from 2002-07. The Salukis had three of the top-10 rushing defenses in program history during that time.
Matukewicz’s 2004 linebacker corps formed the heart of a defense which gave up just 101.7 rushing yards per game, led the nation in scoring defense and allowed 13.2 points per contest.
Matukewicz made one more stop at the University of Toledo prior to accepting his first head coaching job at SEMO.
At Toledo, Matukewicz was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
In 2012, Matukewicz helped guide a defense that ranked among the top 25 in the nation in fourth-down conversion (9th), red-zone defense (10th), interceptions (18th) and turnovers forced (25th). The Rockets went 9-4 and earned a trip to the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Matukewicz’s defense also featured the nation’s leading tackler in linebacker Dan Molls. Molls had 166 tackles, earned First-Team All-MAC honors and became Toledo’s first Academic All-American in eight years.
Matukewicz completed his undergraduate work at Fort Hays State. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1997 and then earned his master’s degree in administration at Pittsburg State.
Matukewicz coached at Fort Hays State (1996-97), Pittsburg State (1997-99), Coffeyville Community College (1999-2000) and Emporia State (2000-01) prior to his NCAA Division I football tenure.
He and his wife, Lenna, have two daughters, Georgia and Shelby.
