University of Northwestern Men's Football

Matt Moore is entering his 10th season as the Head Coach of the University of Northwestern Football Team in 2026. Coach Moore has had a long tenure at UNW, serving as the defensive coordinator for over a decade and running that unit under previous head coach Kirk Talley. Moore previously served on the NCAA Division III Football Championships committee, and in 2023, he was voted on and appointed the chair of the committee. In this role, he led the planning and execution of the NCAA Division III Playoffs and National Championship game. In 2024, Coach Moore was named to the NCAA Football Rules Committee, comprised of 13 members from all divisions of NCAA football, including Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart. His four-year term will end after the 2027 season. The defensive side of the football has become a staple of Northwestern’s program under Coach Moore. In 2016, Moore’s last season as defensive coordinator, the defense was a key factor in the Eagles winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and making the NCAA National tournament, finishing the season nationally ranked in a number of defensive categories. Coach Moore navigated his team through a challenging 2020-2021 season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fall season of football was canceled. However, Moore and his staff found a way to play an unprecedented two-game spring season. The highlight of the short season was a game played at Reynolds Field on April 3rd, 2021, when the Eagles defeated Minnesota-Morris in a thrilling 27-23 victory. UNW Football had a big year under Coach Moore's leadership in the fall of 2022. Moore led the Eagles to an undefeated 6-0 record in UMAC play on their way to becoming conference champions. The Eagles qualified for the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in Coach Moore's tenure. Two years later, in 2024, Northwestern once again went undefeated in the UMAC (7-0) under the direction of Moore and again made the NCAA DIII Playoffs, where they scored the most playoff points of any team in UMAC history (14). Prior to becoming Northwestern's Head Football Coach, Moore worked as a public school teacher for 13 years. During his time as a teacher, he worked as an on-set advisor for the weekly Minnesota Vikings Huddle children’s television show. In 2013, Moore was named the NFL Fuel-Up Play 60 program co-advisor of the year. In addition to his time at UNW, Moore has coached collegiately at Greenville University, East Texas Baptist University, and Bethel University. Coach Moore bleeds Northwestern purple and gold as he was an All-Conference Defensive End for the Eagles when he attended school from 1995-98. Coach Moore currently resides in Blaine with his wife, Carrie, and their two kids.

Ken Ingram is entering his 2nd year as UNW Football's Offensive Coordinator in 2026, bringing with him over a decade of coordinator experience at the Division III level.   Ingram came to UNW from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon where he wore many hats, serving as Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach since the program’s revival in 2013. In his 11 seasons at George Fox under legendary Pacific Northwest football coach Chris Casey, Ingram coached two All-Americans, two All-West Region linemen, 52 All-Conference selections and 10 Team of the Week recipients. Coach Ingram’s Bruins offenses consistently averaged over 25 points per game with him at the helm, showcasing a balanced approach and the ability to adapt to the talent strengths on the roster.   Prior to joining the George Fox staff, Ingram was the Head Coach at Hillsboro (OR) High School for four seasons beginning in 2009, where he led the Spartans to an Oregon State 5A Championship in his first season in charge. For five seasons prior to becoming the head man at Hillsboro, Coach Ingram was the Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach under Casey at Aloha (OR) High School.   Before settling in Oregon, Ingram spent some time down south in the DIII ranks. He got his professional start in 1996 as the Head Strength and Conditioning/Offensive Line Coach at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, before moving on to Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas, where he served in a variety of assistant coach and strength and conditioning roles from 1998-2002.   Ingram holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Health from Linfield College (McMinnville, OR), a Master of Education in Kinesiology from Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX), and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).  

Luke Sommerlot enters year four as the Defensive Coordinator on the University of Northwestern Football staff in 2026. Coach Sommerlot is no stranger to Eagle football; he played on the UNW defense for four seasons and is a 2015 graduate of Northwestern. Sommerlot was a dominant, disruptive force in his time as an Eagle linebacker. When his impressive career on the field finally came to an end, Sommerlot had been named an All-Conference linebacker a remarkable four times. He also received national recognition for his play as he was named an NCCAA All-American twice. Coach Sommerlot was a key piece to an Eagle team that went on an impressive four-year run from 2012-2015. When Sommerlot was on the team, the Eagles had a combined record of 30-12 and qualified for two NCCAA Victory Bowls. As a coach, Sommerlot helped guide Northwestern to an undefeated conference season (7-0) and a UMAC Championship in 2024. His defense led the conference in interceptions that season (15) and qualified for the NCAA Division III Playoffs for just the third time in program history. As a graduate and former student athlete at UNW, Coach Sommerlot understands and believes in UNW's devotion to the integration of faith and athletics. He credits an ACL injury during his sophomore year of high school as a defining moment in his faith journey. He says that the Lord worked on his heart throughout the recovery and completely changed the direction of his life by inspiring him to pour into his personal relationship with Jesus.  Following his playing career, Sommerlot immediately joined the Eagle coaching staff as a position coach for the Eagles during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He was part of the coaching staff for the 2016 Eagles team that went 9-2 and qualified for the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Before returning to the UNW coaching staff in 2023, Coach Sommerlot had been teaching and coaching football in Iowa.  

Scott Hvistendahl is entering his 23rd season as an Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers coach in 2026 for the University of Northwestern Football program.  Coach Hvistendahl has been quite successful as a coach for UNW, helping guide the Eagles to four NCCAA Victory Bowl appearances, three NCAA Division III Playoff appearances, and helped coach many All-Americans, including 2024 graduate Beau Burk, who owns a majority of Northwestern's receiving records. The Eagles have won seven conference championships during his time as well.  Hvistendahl works full-time as Northwestern's Senior Manager of Conference and Rental Services in his 17th year. He was a decorated three-time NCAA All-American wide receiver at Augsburg University and became the first player to break the NCAA all-divisions career receiving yardage record held by NFL legend Jerry Rice. He ranks first all-time in game, season, career receptions (285) and receiving yards (4,696) at Augsburg. He stands 14th in NCAA all-divisions history in career receiving yardage, sixth-best among NCAA Division III receivers all-time. Coach Hvistendahl was inducted into the Augsburg University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. He was awarded the Gagliardi Trophy (NCAA Division III National Player of the Year) in 1998. Hvistendahl currently resides in Arden Hills with his wife, Alisha, and two children.

George Palke is entering his 29th year of coaching for the University of Northwestern Football program in 2026. He currently serves as the Kickers and Punters Coach.  Coach Palke has been coaching for 61 years at the high school and collegiate levels. He he has helped guide the Eagles to nine conference championships and seven appearances in the NCCAA Victory Bowl. The Eagles have also made three appearances in the NCAA tournament in 2016, 2022 and 2024. Coach Palke has helped coached many All-Americans as well. His son, Joe, is a University of Northwestern Hall of Fame Athlete as a football player and three-time Alll-American from the years of 2000 to 2002.  Coach Palke is a former Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at Bethel University. He attended both Wheaton College and Bethel University, graduating with a history degree. He went on to earn his Master's Degree in Physical Education and Athletic Administration from Winona State University.  Coach Palke and his wife, Judy, currently reside in Roseville.