CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri Head Football Coach Tom Matukewicz received a two-year contract extension through the 2020 season, Director of Athletics Brady Barke announced Monday.
 
Southeast led the Ohio Valley Conference and ranked sixth in the Football Championship Subdivision with 37 sacks in 2017, Matukewicz's fourth year at the helm.
 
The Redhawks also ranked among the top four teams in the OVC in scoring defense (21.8 ppg allowed), rushing offense (4^th, 137.7 ypg), kickoff returns (3^rd, 22.8 ypr), punt return average (3^rd, 10.1 ypr), sacks allowed (3^rd, 14), fourth-down conversions (3^rd, 50 percent), turnover margin (t2nd, +3) and red zone defense (4^th, 75 pct.).
 
"Tom Matukewicz is the right person to lead our football program into the future," said Barke. "While the win/loss record has not yet met expectations, the culture within the program has greatly improved and we have become more competitive within the OVC. Changes will occur within the program to ensure we continue to progress and we will continue to invest, but I'm confident the program is in the right hands."
 
Individually, Southeast had the OVC's leading rusher in Marquis Terry who ran for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season as a Redhawk. Terry averaged a league-best 97.8 yards per game with four 100 yard performances. He was both a First-Team All-OVC and All-Newcomer selection.
 
Three others, including outside linebacker Kendall Donnerson, inside linebacker Zach Hall and offensive tackle Drew Forbes joined Terry on the All-OVC unit. Donnerson, a First-Team pick, finished third on the team with 53 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.
 
Hall, a Second-Team honoree, led Southeast with 79 stops, 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He completed his sophomore season ranked 21^st in the FCS in sacks.
 
Forbes, also a Second-Team pick, started all 11 games at left tackle and led an offensive line that gave up 14 sacks.
 
"I am proud of how far this program has come on and off the field in our first four years," said Matukewicz. "Obviously, we have progress to make on our win/loss column. Believe me, no one wants that more than I do. We are on the verge of pushing over that hump. We must make a few more key adjustments and investments in our program that will take us to the next level. I am so grateful I have the confidence and support of our Administration. I am proud to lead this program to the heights we all know we can reach."
 
Matukewicz's new contract ends Jan. 31, 2021.