Valparaiso University

Evan Matthes joined the Valpo coaching staff prior to the 2024 season, handling special teams quality control and playing a key role in instructing the team’s specialists. Prior to the 2025 season, he became the team's running backs and specialists coach. 
 
With help from Matthes’ guidance, punter Sam Johnson led the Pioneer Football League and ranked third nationally in punting average at 47.1 in 2024. That broke the previous program and PFL record of 43.68 that had stood since it was set by Greg Wood in 2010. Johnson was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week four times during the 2024 campaign, and his impressive body of work led to numerous postseason accolades including FCS National Punter of the Year Semifinalist, All-PFL First Team and PFL Special Teams Player of the Year. Most notably, Johnson was tabbed to the Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team, becoming Valpo’s first All-American since 2003.
 
Matthes also played a role in the success of kicker Ryan Hawk, who garnered All-PFL Honorable Mention status in 2024. Hawk sent 11 field goals through the uprights, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history. He drilled a 51 yarder vs. Roosevelt, the longest by a Valpo player since 2003. Also against Roosevelt, Hawk became the first Valpo player with three made field goals in a game since 2019.
 
Matthes punted for Valpo in 2022 and 2023 after beginning his collegiate playing career at West Virginia from 2018-2021. He was named to the 2023 FCS Bowl, was an FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist and was a member of the All-PFL First Team after ranking third in program history with a single-season punting average of 43.2, which led the PFL.
 
Matthes earned his master’s in sports administration from Valpo after graduating from West Virginia with a degree in sport and exercise psychology.