Staff Spotlight

Thunder Football Coach Matt Land

Matt Land′s Thunder football team has notched an impressive 29-1 regular season win–loss record for the past three years. That′s because he′s doing what he′s always wanted to do – coach football.

"I like a lot of things about working at Trine, but I guess topping the list is that I get to coach college football as my job, which I always wanted to do, and Trine gave me the opportunity," said the Thunder head coach, now in his fifth season with Trine.

His job also taps a second passion — teaching – and his previous experience brings other impressive records with it. "I loved my teaching experience at Fort Wayne South Side High School, and I get to continue that as Trine football coach. I hope the guys leave better people than when they arrived here," he said. As South Side teacher and coach, he took the Archers to three football sectional finals, one regional final and one appearance in the final four in four years.

Land was also the head coach for the United Indoor Football League’s Fort Wayne Freedom from 2003–2005 and 2008–2009.

A graduate of Fort Wayne Northrop High School, he earned his degree at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and lives in Fremont with his wife, Julie, daughter Emily, 8, and son Jake, 5. He enjoys his kids′ athletic endeavors, and coaches gymnastics for Emily and T–ball for Jake.

An avid reader, he′s finished 35 books so far this year, with "River of Doubt" by Candace Millard and "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell his favorites for 2010.