FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University director of athletics Matt Larsen has named current NDSU defensive coordinator Matt Entz the next head coach of the Bison football program. The announcement was made Thursday, Dec. 13.
 
Entz will be the 31st head coach of the Bison. He is in his fifth season at NDSU as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under Chris Klieman, who was named the next head coach of Kansas State on Monday, Dec. 10.
 
"Having watched Matt as the defensive coordinator for the past five years," Larsen said, "I knew he possessed the qualities to be the head football coach at North Dakota State: leadership, integrity, toughness, and a sincere appreciation for the history and tradition of Bison football."
 
"I'm eager to work with Coach Entz and his staff as they continue building upon the championship tradition of Bison football," Larsen said, "and I'm excited for his wife, Brenda, and two sons, Kellen and Konner."
 
This will be the first head coaching job for Entz, a 21-year veteran assistant coach with 15 years of experience as a defensive coordinator and eight as an associate head coach in two programs. At NDSU, he's been part of five Missouri Valley Football Conference championships and three NCAA national championships with the Bison.
 
"Whether it's our student-athletes, our coaches, our university's administration or our fans, it's hard to imagine a candidate who would have the breadth of support with which I know Matt will be greeted as our new head coach," said NDSU president Dean Bresciani.
 
Entz, a three-time finalist for FCS Coordinator of the Year, has led a Bison defense that has allowed less than 14 points per game over the past five seasons and has consistently ranked in the top five of FCS in scoring defense and total defense.
 
"I am unbelievably excited to get going and start the process of becoming the next head football coach at NDSU," Entz said. "I can't thank President Bresciani and Matt Larsen enough for this opportunity."
 
"My five years with Coach Klieman have been outstanding on a professional level and a personal level as well," Entz continued. "We'll miss having that day-to-day interaction. But I don't think you'll see any big changes. NDSU has a recipe that has been successful and will continue to be successful into the future."
 
NDSU has had eight FCS All-America honorees on defense the past five seasons, including linebackers MJ Stumpf, Nick DeLuca and Jabril Cox. Two of Entz's former linebackers, DeLuca and Chris Board, are currently playing in the NFL.
 
"Great things happen to great people, and I am so happy for the Entz family," Klieman said. "Matt is the right guy for the job. I know the Bison will have unbelievable success. The program is in great hands."
 
The Missouri Valley Football Conference is familiar territory for Entz.  He came to NDSU in January 2014 after one season as the associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Western Illinois in 2013, and spent three previous years at Northern Iowa.

He was the defensive line coach in 2010 at Northern Iowa under then defensive coordinator Chris Klieman, and assumed the defensive coordinator duties at UNI in 2012.

Entz was the defensive coordinator from 2002 to 2009 at Winona State, where he was promoted to associate head coach in 2003 and was with the defensive line for three years before becoming linebackers coach in 2005.  He was named the AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008.

Prior to that, Entz was the assistant head football coach and linebackers coach at Wayne (Neb.) State from 1999 to 2001 and the defensive coordinator at Illinois College in 1998.  He holds certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach during his time at Wayne State.

Entz earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Wartburg College in 1995 and a master's degree in education and exercise science from Wayne (Neb.) State College in 1998.
 
Entz's Year-By-Year Coaching History

Year	School	Position
1998	Illinois College	Defensive Coordinator
1999	Wayne State (Neb.)	Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers
2000	Wayne State (Neb.)	Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers
2001	Wayne State (Neb.)	Asst. Head Coach/Linebackers
2002	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
2003	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
2004	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
2005	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2006	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2007	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2008	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2009	Winona State	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2010	Northern Iowa	Defensive Line Coach
2011	Northern Iowa	Defensive Line Coach
2012	Northern Iowa	Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
2013	Western Illinois	Assoc. Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
2014	North Dakota State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2015	North Dakota State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2016	North Dakota State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2017	North Dakota State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2018	North Dakota State	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach