Northwestern College announced Thursday that Matt McCarty will take over as the head coach of the football program.
McCarty will be just the fifth head coach in the program’s history (since 1960), moving into the role after serving the last 11 years as the team’s defensive coordinator. He also was the team’s assistant head coach since 2012.
“I am excited to announce the appointment of Matt McCarty as Red Raider football’s new head football coach,” commented Northwestern Athletic Director Earl Woudstra. “Matt has proven an exceptional ability to recruit, motivate and coach young men as our defensive coordinator. We believe Matt is equipped to provide the vision and direction for the Red Raider football program that strives to reflect Northwestern College’s mission to be a distinctively Christian college that faithfully and courageously pursues God’s redeeming work in the world.
Red Raider defense has flourished into one of the NAIA’s best under McCarty’s direction, ranking in the nation’s top 15 in scoring defense all but one season. McCarty’s defense was tops in the NAIA in both scoring and total yards in 2014 and the unit was second in scoring in 2008, giving up 11 points per game. Noted for getting pressure on the quarterback, Northwestern has ranked in the top five in sacks six times during McCarty’s tenure, and his 2012 defense set the GPAC record with 44 sacks.
