Illinois Wesleyan University Men's Football

Jared Williamson was named Illinois Wesleyan's head football coach Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 after a 15-year tenure leading the programs at Robert Morris University (Ill.) and Roosevelt University. The 2025 season will mark the first season with Williamson at the helm of the Titans. No stranger to Titan football, Williamson served on staff at Illinois Wesleyan under legendary head coach Norm Eash from 2006 until 2010. After two years as a graduate assistant coach, Williamson was IWU’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for his final two seasons. During that time, he helped guide the Titans to the 2007 and 2009 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship. The 2009 season was a special one for the Green and White, as Illinois Wesleyan posted 10 wins and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoff before finishing the year ranked ninth nationally. Williamson was hired in June 2010 and was tasked with building the Robert Morris University (Illinois) football program from the ground up, serving as the only coach the NAIA program ever knew, before transitioning the program to Division II as part of the institution's merger with Roosevelt University in 2020. For the past five seasons, Williamson has led the Lakers as a member of one of Division II’s premier conferences, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, after leaving the NAIA level ranked 10th in wins amongst active head coaches at the time. Over the course of his 15-year tenure in the Windy City, Williamson compiled a career record of 73-68. Through building a program from scratch and then seeing it through a transition, Williamson guided his teams to two league championships and garnered top-25 rankings in nine out of their 13 seasons at the NAIA level. Williamson's teams posted 15 wins against NAIA and NCAA top-25 opponents and three victories over top-five programs. On the field, his players have accumulated a number of postseason accolades, including more than 152 All-League selections, eight All-American honorees, six NAIA National Player of the Week awards, 47 Mid-States Football Association Conference Player of the Week awards, and two MSFA Conference Player of the Year selections. Williamson has been named Conference Coach of the Year twice (2012 & 2016). Away from on-field competition, Williamson’s teams have excelled in the classroom. He has coached more than 150 academic all-conference selections, 71 NAIA Scholar-Athlete honorees, and 11 Academic All-America award recipients. In 2013, Williamson coached running back Lamont Wims to Capital One College Division Academic All-America of the Year honors. Two years later, his 2015 squad was recognized as an NAIA Scholar Team after posting a team cumulative grade point average of 3.04. Williamson earned his undergraduate degree in secondary education as a double major in social science and physical education from Mayville State University in North Dakota. A three-time captain of the Comets football team from 2001 to 2006, Williamson set the single-season passing records for total yards, completions, and touchdowns. As a three-year starter for MSU, he was a two-time All-Dakota Athletic Conference quarterback. He later earned his master’s degree from Illinois State University in 2007. A native of Dallas, Texas, Williamson is the son of a United States Air Force veteran which resulted in several moves throughout his childhood. He and his family lived all over the world including Germany, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Alaska, where he lived in Eagle River and graduated from Chugiak High School.  Williamson and his wife Kelsey have five children, Abigail, Gloria, Isaiah, Samuel, and Evelyn.  

Eash Year-by-Year Record In 29 seasons (1987-2015) as Illinois Wesleyan University head football coach, Norm Eash has built the Titans into one of the country's highly-regarded and respected NCAA Division III programs.   In the more than two decades he has coached seven College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship teams; five NCAA Division III playoff teams; 10 first team Division III All-Americans (including punter Matt Kussmann in 2014); eight Academic All-Americans; and one winner of the Gagliardi Trophy honoring the nation's top Division III player (Lon Erickson in 1996). Eash's current career mark at his alma mater is 184-99-1 (.650). The "dean" of league coaches, Eash has been CCIW "Coach of the Year" five times (2009, 2007, 2001, 1996 and 1992). His career CCIW mark is 129-78-1 (.623), making him second all-time in victories in the league, behind only Larson (142-89-6 in 33 years from 1954-86).   On October 12, 2013, the Titans downed North Park 52-21 and the win was Eashs 169th career victory, the most in IWU history and besting the mark of 168 set by Eashs own college coach, Don Larson, from 1954-68. An article about Eash eclipsing the Larson mark appeared in the Winter 2013-14 and may be read here . Prior to 2015, Eash is No. 8 among Division III active coaches in total victories.   Eash's record in NCAA Division III play is 3-5. The 2013 team was 9-2 and lost at home in the first round to Wartburg while the 2010 team was also 9-2 and lost a first round NCAA home game in three overtimes to Monmouth.   The 2009 Titans were 10-2 overall, earned a share of the CCIW championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs before losing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater.   The Illinois Wesleyan 1996 and 1992 teams were both 10-1, captured CCIW outright championships, and both advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Division III playoffs, losing each time to Mount Union (1996 champions).   Eash's 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2007 teams shared the CCIW title.   Prior to 1992, only three other IWU teams (1965, 1951, and 1888) had gone through the regular season with a perfect record and the 1992 team was the first Titan team to claim an outright, undefeated CCIW championship since 1965.   In the decade of the 1990s, Eash's teams were 72-21-1 (.771) and were consistently rated in national publications among the top Division III teams.   In 2011, Eash was elected as an honorary member of the American Football Coaches Association for his devotion, dedication and disatinguished service to the game of football.   A native of Chenoa, Ill., Eash captained his high school football and basketball teams and was a Little All-State football selection in 1970. A 1975 IWU graduate, Eash was a starting defensive lineman as a sophomore and a starting offensive tackle his last two seasons, playing on an 8-1 team in 1974 that tied for the CCIW title. Eash taught physical education and was an assistant coach in football, basketball, and track at Streator High School from 1975 to 1982, then was head football coach and athletic director at Dwight High School. His Dwight teams were 34-15, qualified for the Illinois High School playoffs three times, and reached the Class 2A quarterfinals in 1983, when Eash was Kankakee Area Coach of the Year.   Eash and his wife, Cheryl, have one son (Kyle) and four daughters (Kendra, Kelsey, Kaylyn and Karley).   In addition to his duties as football coach, Eash is an associate athletic director and chair of the physical education department at Illinois Wesleyan, and he has led Titan teams to victories in international exhibition games in Germany (1996), Italy (2001), France (2005), Austria (2009) and Finland (2013). His IWU team will host an international game in September 2016, playing Monterrey Tech-Mexico.         Norm Eash Head Football Coach/Department Chair, Physical Ed/Associate A.D. Norm Eash Year-by-Year Record In 29 seasons (1987-2015) as Illinois Wesleyan University head football coach, Norm Eash has built the Titans into one of the country's highly-regarded and respected NCAA Division III programs.   In the more than two decades he has coached seven College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship teams; five NCAA Division III playoff teams; 10 first team Division III All-Americans (including punter Matt Kussmann in 2014); eight Academic All-Americans; and one winner of the Gagliardi Trophy honoring the nation's top Division III player (Lon Erickson in 1996). Eash's current career mark at his alma mater is 184-99-1 (.650). The "dean" of league coaches, Eash has been CCIW "Coach of the Year" five times (2009, 2007, 2001, 1996 and 1992). His career CCIW mark is 129-78-1 (.623), making him second all-time in victories in the league, behind only Larson (142-89-6 in 33 years from 1954-86).   On October 12, 2013, the Titans downed North Park 52-21 and the win was Eashs 169th career victory, the most in IWU history and besting the mark of 168 set by Eashs own college coach, Don Larson, from 1954-68. An article about Eash eclipsing the Larson mark appeared in the Winter 2013-14 and may be read here . Prior to 2015, Eash is No. 8 among Division III active coaches in total victories.   Eash's record in NCAA Division III play is 3-5. The 2013 team was 9-2 and lost at home in the first round to Wartburg while the 2010 team was also 9-2 and lost a first round NCAA home game in three overtimes to Monmouth.   The 2009 Titans were 10-2 overall, earned a share of the CCIW championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs before losing to eventual national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater.   The Illinois Wesleyan 1996 and 1992 teams were both 10-1, captured CCIW outright championships, and both advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Division III playoffs, losing each time to Mount Union (1996 champions).   Eash's 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2007 teams shared the CCIW title.   Prior to 1992, only three other IWU teams (1965, 1951, and 1888) had gone through the regular season with a perfect record and the 1992 team was the first Titan team to claim an outright, undefeated CCIW championship since 1965.   In the decade of the 1990s, Eash's teams were 72-21-1 (.771) and were consistently rated in national publications among the top Division III teams.   In 2011, Eash was elected as an honorary member of the American Football Coaches Association for his devotion, dedication and disatinguished service to the game of football.   A native of Chenoa, Ill., Eash captained his high school football and basketball teams and was a Little All-State football selection in 1970. A 1975 IWU graduate, Eash was a starting defensive lineman as a sophomore and a starting offensive tackle his last two seasons, playing on an 8-1 team in 1974 that tied for the CCIW title. Eash taught physical education and was an assistant coach in football, basketball, and track at Streator High School from 1975 to 1982, then was head football coach and athletic director at Dwight High School. His Dwight teams were 34-15, qualified for the Illinois High School playoffs three times, and reached the Class 2A quarterfinals in 1983, when Eash was Kankakee Area Coach of the Year.   Eash and his wife, Cheryl, have one son (Kyle) and four daughters (Kendra, Kelsey, Kaylyn and Karley).   In addition to his duties as football coach, Eash is an associate athletic director and chair of the physical education department at Illinois Wesleyan, and he has led Titan teams to victories in international exhibition games in Germany (1996), Italy (2001), France (2005), Austria (2009) and Finland (2013). His IWU team will host an international game in September 2016, playing Monterrey Tech-Mexico.        

Mike Murray, a 1984 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan, was named the program's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in January of 2025.  Murray has more than 40 years of coaching experience, including head coaching stops at Elmhurst University, University of Dubuque, and Benedictine University (Ill.). Prior to joining Williamson's staff, he spent two seasons at College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe Elmhurst, where he reinvigorated the Bluejay football program. Inheriting a program that had won just two games over a 30-game span, Murray guided Elmhurst to its most wins since 2016 this past fall.  With his return to IWU, Murray rejoined forces with Williamson for the third time as the two previously worked together at Illinois Wesleyan and Robert Morris/Roosevelt. Williamson was a graduate assistant at IWU during Murray’s stint as offensive coordinator in the mid-2000s. Murray later joined Williamson’s staff in Chicago as the defensive coordinator. In his most recent tenure coaching alongside Williamson, Murray helped lead the Lakes to a 7-3 overall record and a No. 15 national ranking in the NAIA Coaches Poll. His defense finished the season ranked 20th in the NAIA in points per game, allowing just 17.2 per contest, while nine defensive student-athletes were named all-conference. Prior to coaching at Roosevelt/Robert Morris, Murray served as the defensive coordinator at North Central College for five seasons. There, Murray helped the Cardinals to a 49-9 overall record and CCIW Championships in 2013, 2016, and 2017. Murray coached two D3 Football All-Americans in his time at North Central, and led his players to 16 First Team All-CCIW selections, including the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. Murray got his start in coaching at his alma mater, serving as the Titans’ defensive coordinator for 10 seasons, from 1987-96. His players garnered 66 All-CCIW selections and he coached the league’s co-defensive player of the year in 1987. He also earned his first three CCIW Championships with the Titans in 1992, 1994, and 1996. Murray is a 1984 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, where he lettered all four years in both football and baseball, earning All-CCIW Honorable Mention honors in football in 1983 and all-conference honors in baseball in both 1983 and 1984.  He and his wife, Anne, are both 1984 Illinois Wesleyan graduates, while two of their four children also attended IWU. Murray and his wife have four children - Laura (class of 2009), Amanda (class of 2012), David, and Bryan, and five grandchildren.  

Kyle Koelblinger begins his first year on staff with the Titans in 2025. He works with IWU's defensive backs. A 2024 graduate of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, he previously served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater during the most recent spring season. A three-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection at defensive back, Koelblinger was voted the WIAC’s Newcomer of the Year in 2021. That same season, he helped lead the Warhawks to a national runner-up finish. A team captain in his final season, he graduated with a degree in marketing in 2024 and is currently pursuing his graduate degree in business administration.  

Jacob Viccari enters his first season with the Titan football program in 2025. Viccari, who will work with IWU’s wide receivers, comes to Bloomington as he returns to the coaching ranks. He most recently coached at the Sewanee: University of the South from 2021 until 2022. There, he worked with running backs while also serving as a volunteer firefighter. A wide receiver and punt returner during his playing days, he graduated from Sewanee in 2022. A native of Roswell, Ga., Viccari earned his degree in economics and later went on to work in the financial and real estate industries.  

Andres Mestre completed his first season on staff at Illinois Wesleyan in 2024. He serves as the Titans running backs coach. Mestre came to IWU by way of Lake Forest College, where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Foresters. There, he was a multiple time Academic All-Midwest Conference selection. As a junior, Mestre was named Second Team All-MWC, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma. He was later recognized as a member of the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society as a senior.  

Tom Flood joined Jared Williamson's staff in January of 2025 and will enter his first season with the Green and White. Flood follows Williamson to Bloomington after beginning his tenure on his staff at Roosevelt in the spring of 2024. He coached the Lakers defensive line, leading Dale Dambek to Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition at the end of the 2024 season. Prior to joining the Roosevelt staff, Flood was an assistant defensive line coach at Northeastern State University and a strength and conditioning intern at his alma mater, Morehead State University. At MSU, he was a four-year starter from 2019 until 2022. A two-time captain for the Eagles, he was named Second Team All-Pioneer Football League. A native of Lombard, Ill., Flood is no stranger to Titan football as his older brother, Keely Flood, played for Illinois Wesleyan from 2006 to 2010. Keely Flood’s time in Bloomington, where he was a member of the offensive line, overlapped with Williamson’s first tenure at IWU when he served as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

Tyler Holte joined Jared Williamson's staff in January of 2025 and will enter his first season with the Green and White. Holte, a former standout Division III student-athlete, comes to Bloomington after two years on Williamson’s staff at Roosevelt. There, Holte served as the wide receivers coach and mentored Keonta Nixon to First Team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference honors. He started his coaching career at his alma mater, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, as an assistant wide receivers coach. As a player, Holte was a three-time All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection. He earned the honor twice as a receiver, with the other designation coming for his prowess as a return specialist. A member of four WIAC Championship teams, UWW posted a 47-7 record during Holte’s playing days. He finished his career with 137 receptions for 1940 yards and 22 touchdowns.   

Eli Kosanovich joined Jared Williamson's staff in February 2025 and enters his first season with the Titans. He serves as the program's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Coming from RPI, where he served as the Engineers’ Director of Operations and Offensive Line Coach, Kosanovich is no stranger to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. He joined RPI prior to the 2021 season and spent the 2020 campaign on staff at Division II University of Indianapolis.  “Eli has been part of successful college football programs both as a player and a coach, bringing extensive recruiting experience at the Division III level,” Williamson said. “His deep ties to high school programs in the state, combined with his familiarity with the CCIW, make him a perfect fit for our staff. We’re excited to welcome him home to Illinois.” A native of Elmhurst, Ill., he spent one year at Muskingum after getting his coaching career started with a two-year run at Elmhurst. Kosanovich worked with the Bluejays’ offensive line and tight ends during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.  A graduate of North Central College, he was an offensive lineman on the Cardinals’ 2016 CCIW Championship squad. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from NCC.