Matt Middleton has been the head football coach at Kansas Wesleyan since December 2024.
Before KWU, Middleton spent two seasons at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, which was currently ranked fourth in NCAA Division II and was the 2023 national champion. Harding is 27-1 with Middleton on the coaching staff — 12-1 this season following a 44-26 win over Grand Valley State to advance in the playoffs.
Harding led Division II in rushing yards per game entering the postseason (421) and averaged more than 51 points per game during the regular season.
The Bisons were 15-0 in 2023.
During his career, Matt has held coaching positions in a variety of schools, including NCAA FBS Louisiana Tech University, where he served as an Undergraduate/Graduate Assistant Coach, NCAA Division II University of Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas University, and NCAA Division I FCS University of Central Arkansas. He has worked as an offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and assistant head coach.
In addition to his extensive experience, Matt brings an exceptional record of achievement to Harding University. He was the Head Coach and Athletic Director at Cedar Creek School in Ruston, Louisiana, where he led the team to the 2022 D-IV Quarterfinals, and in 2021, they advanced to the D-IV Louisiana Regional Playoffs. Matt was awarded the 2021 2-1A District Coach of the Year, 2021 Lincoln Parish Journal All-Parish Coach of the Year, and the 2021 Ruston Daily Leader All-Ruston Gridiron Team Coach of the Year.
Before his tenure at Cedar Creek, Matt was the Head Coach at West Ouachita High School in West Monroe, Louisiana, where he led the team in the largest classification in the state of Louisiana. In 2020, they won the Louisiana Army National Guard Soldiers Bowl, recording the first back-to-back Class 5-A postseasons and winning seasons in the school's history. In 2019, West Ouachita's team made its first Class 5-AAAAA playoff appearance in school history.
Prior to his time at West Ouachita High School, Matt served as the Head Coach at Prairie View Academy in Bastrop, Louisiana, where he led the team to its first back-to-back district championships, its first back-to-back quarterfinal playoff appearances in school history, and its first winning season and playoff berth since 2007. Prairie View Academy also saw its best record and winning percentage in a season in its 47-year history.
Matt's coaching prowess at the University of Arkansas-Monticello resulted in impressive conference and national rankings. In 2013, the team ranked first in the red zone scoring, passing efficiency, and fewest fumbles lost. In the same year, they ranked sixth in the national rankings for red zone scoring.
Middleton is a 2002 graduate of Louisiana Tech with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Social Studies. He played wide receiver at Mississippi College in 1997, helping the Choctaws win the American Southwest Conference championship.
Middleton is married to Kayla and has four sons, Luke, Caden, Kash and Kross.
