Matt Wheeler is entering his 16th season as the program’s offensive coordinator in 2025 and his fifth year as the assistant head coach.
Wheeler has mentored three Gagliardi Trophy semifinalists, including Matt Sacia, who was a finalist in 2017. D3football.com All-American and Iowa Conference MVP Logan Schrader set five career records under his guidance. In 2014, Brandon Domeyer became the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Knights since 2006.
Wheeler previously served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach as part of a six-year stint at North Carolina Wesleyan. He was the offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2009 and the assistant head coach in 2008 and 2009. Behind his offense, Wesleyan outscored its opponents 1,064-676 while the Bishops won two conference championships and earned playoff appearances in 2007 and 2009.
Wheeler also coached three years at St. Cloud (Minnesota) State University and was part of a North Central Conference championship in 2002. At Wartburg, he was the Iowa Conference’s Most Valuable Player in 1999, helping lead the Knights to a conference title and NCAA Division III playoff appearance.
Wheeler was inducted into the Wartburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Wheeler, his wife, Emily Bailey ’99, and their two children, Elijah and Madeline, reside in Waverly.
