Bio

For Manny Matsakis, the fall 2021 season is his fourth as head coach and offensive coordinator at Defiance College. He also coaches the quarterbacks.

Matsakis came to Defiance in 2018 with an extensive football background ranging from high school to NAIA, NCAA Division III, Division II, the Football Championship Subdivision, Football Bowl Subdivision and the Canadian Football League. 

Before taking over the Yellow Jackets, Matsakis spent three years at Division III Widener University as the offensive coordinator and director of academics. The 2017 season culminated with a 7-4 overall record and berth in the Centennial MAC Bowl Championship.

Matsakis, an Ohio native, served as offensive coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, working closely with Mike Kelly and the offense. He spent three seasons at Texas Tech University as the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator under current Mississippi State University head coach Mike Leach. While spearheading the Red Raider special teams, Matsakis coached Wes Welker to national prominence as a punt returner. Matsakis then transitioned to Texas State University as the head coach, where his offense was rated at the top of the Southland Conference. In 2003, his offense ranked first in the conference and seventh in the nation, averaging 443.4 yards and 26.2 points per game. The Bobcats' offense went on to set 17 school records.

Matsakis' collegiate coaching experience also includes stints at the University of Wyoming, Emporia State University, Kansas State University and Hofstra University. While at Kansas State, Manny worked closely with Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder, who steered the program to the greatest turnaround in college football history. 

He also found success outside of coaching serving as the founder and CEO of American Football Monthly, a trade journal that was created to help coaches improve in the profession.

Matsakis attended Capital University where he was a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference performer. He went on to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1984 and was awarded the Young Alumni Honor by Capital in 2001. He graduated from Capital in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in biology and holds a Master of Science from Kansas State.

Matsakis and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in Defiance with their son, Eli. Matsakis has two older children, Meredith and Michael. Meredith earned a degree from High Point University and lives in New York City while Michael, a Duquesne University graduate, is working on his master's at New York University.

[Follow Coach Matsakis on Twitter]
[Follow Coach Matsakis on Instagram]