McKendree University Athletics

Matt Rahl joined the McKendree University football staff as an assistant coach in the spring of 2014. Rahl calls the signals as the Bearcats' offensive coordinator and also coaches the offensive line. In the summer of 2017, Rahl became the associate head coach for McKendree. In addition, Rahl heads up operations for the McKendree summer football camps.

In 2016, Rahl helped guide the McKendree offense through some early-season injuries to a unit that found its footing over the last half of the season. During the Bearcats' season-ending five-game win streak, the McKendree offense put up more than 38 points per game and topped the 40-point mark three times during that stretch. The Bearcats finished fifth in the league in total offense while overcoming injuries at the quarterback position. Four different players earned a start as McKendree's signel-caller in 2016. 

Although the passing game could not find its footing during the 2016 season, the team saw an emergence in the rushing attack, which finished second in the GLVC. Shayeen Edwards had a breakthrough season, rushing for 771 yards and four touchdowns on his way to first-team All-GLVC honors. Edwards established a new program record with 212 carries in 2016. 

The offensive numbers escalated at a record pace for the McKendree football team in 2015. Under Rahl's guidance, the Bearcats set a new team standard for total offense for a second straight year. The 2015 team amassed 4,873 yards in just 10 games on its way to leading the GLVC in total offense. McKendree was eighth among all NCAA Division II programs in total offense with its 487.3 yard per game average. The Bearcats also topped another team record with 388 points scored, and the 38.8 PPG standard was good for 18th in NCAA Division II. 

Isaac Fisher put the finishing touches on the most prolific career ever at McKendree on his way to becoming the first offensive player in school history to garner GLVC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Fisher -- who threw for a school-record six touchdowns in the 2015 season opener at West Liberty University -- led the conference by averaging 359.5 yards per game in total offense, was second in passing offense at 279.2 YPG and finished third in the league in rushing offense with 808 yards on the ground. He accounted for 30 total touchdowns (21 passing, nine rushing) in his final season in a McKendree uniform while placing in the top 10 in NCAA Division II in total offense, completion percentage (.688) and completions per game (24.3). Fisher closed his Bearcats' career in eight different statistical categories, including 10,257 yards of total offense, 8,508 passing yards and 64 TD passes. 

Along with Fisher's GLVC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-GLVC honors, four more Bearcats were recognized with conference post-season honors -- offensive linement Derrik Starrett and Clint Ratermann, wide receiver Cameron James and wide receiver Sean Dowling. 

For his efforts in helpiing the McKendree offense record its eye-popping numbers in 2015, Rahl was a finalist for the FootballScoop.com Division II National Coordinator of the Year award. 

In Rahl's first season at McKendree in 2014, the Bearcats' spread offense evolved into one of the most prolific offensive units in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. McKendree set new program records in nearly every passing category, with quarterbacks combining for 276 completions on 446 attempts for 2,749 yards through the air. The Bearcats also tied a team record with 19 touchdown passes. As a team, McKendree finished in the top third of the GLVC in total offense (428.4 YPG), passing offense (249.9 YPG) and scoring offense (30.1 PPG). 

Under Rahl's leadership, McKendree also set new game records for most plays (93 at Southwest Baptist) as well as pass attempts and completions (34-for-58 versus Saint Joseph's). The Bearcats' offense was extremely efficient during the team's season-ending, five-game win streak. McKendree averaged 41 points and just over 512 yards per contest during that final five-game span in 2014. The Bearcats topped the 500-yard mark in total offense in three of the five games. 

The 2014 season also saw the emergence of Isaac Fisher as a dual threat in the Bearcats' backfield. Fisher set school records with 270 pass completions in 434 attempts for 2,722 yards at quarterback. He also accounted for a school-record 3,486 yards of total offense. Fisher not only starred with his right arm, but his legs also put up some solid numbers. He became the first McKendree quarterback to lead the team in rushing for a season, gaining 764 yards on the ground with a team-high nine rushing touchdowns. 

McKendree's receiving corps also was a part of the record-setting fun in 2014. There were 11 receivers that caught at least 10 passes during the season, which set a new mark for the Bearcats. Cameron James led the group with a career-high 61 receptions for 516 yards and five TDs. Wide receiver Dewayne Gatti, who put up a school-record 64 receptions as a junior in 2013, closed out his McKendree career with 40 catches while playing through injuries as a senior. Wide receiver Tyler Brewer eclipsed the Bearcats' single-game record for pass receptions (set a week earlier by Gatti) with 13 catches in a home contest against Saint Joseph's. 

At the conclusion of the 2014 campaign, five players coached by Rahl garnered All-GLVC honors. Junior offensive lineman Derrik Starrett was a first-team selection, while James and junior offensive lineman Ben Harrington picked up second-team mention. Fisher and sophomore offensive lineman Casey Krohne were named as honorable mention All-GLVC picks. 
 
Rahl joined the McKendree program after spending five years at the University of Wyoming. He served the Cowboys’ staff in a variety of capacities. In 2013, Rahl was the program’s director of recruiting, where he was responsible for all facets of the role including budgeting and the implementation of a year-round recruiting program. Under Rahl’s guidance, Wyoming boasted the highest-rated recruiting class in the program’s history.
 
Prior to that, Rahl was the Cowboys’ defensive line coach from 2011-12 and also served as the recruiting coordinator. He guided a group that helped Wyoming rank second in the NCAA in forced turnovers and ninth in turnover margin. He also assisted with Wyoming’s special teams unit, which twice ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA in punt return average. In the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Rahl served as the Cowboys' first-ever director of recruiting, in which Wyoming saw unprecedented success in its recruiting efforts. 
 
During the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Rahl served as a graduate assistant the University of Missouri. Rahl helped coach the Tigers’ offensive line. In Rahl’s two seasons at Missouri, the team ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense, scoring offense and passing offense.
 
From 2003 through the 2006 season, Rahl coached at Winona State University in Minnesota. He began his experience with the Warriors as a graduate assistant in 2003-04, where he tutored the team’s tight ends and helped with film exchange, breakdown and scouting. For his last two seasons at Winona State, Rahl served as the Warriors’ offensive line coach and special teams coordinator while working for the University as an admissions counselor.
 
Rahl began his coaching day as a student assistant at his alma mater, Missouri Southern State University. Rahl helped coach the Lions’ tight ends and offensive line during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
 
A native of Union, Mo., Rahl graduated from Missouri Southern State in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He went on to earn his master’s degree in educational leadership from Winona State in 2005. Rahl and his wife Carrie have three children: Hattie, Maggie and Locke.