Eastern Michigan University Football

Toughness. Pride. Resilience. These key words have come to describe EMU football as Chris Creighton enters his 12th season as the head man at Eastern Michiga...

Antreal Allen enters the 2026 season as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University, working with the cornerbacks. He most recently served as the cornerbacks coach at the University of West Georgia during the 2025 season, where he helped guide one of the most productive defenses in the country. West Georgia, amid its transition to NCAA Division I and ineligible for official statistical rankings, posted numbers that would have ranked among the nation’s best. The Wolves allowed only 332.2 total yards per game, a figure that would have placed them 21st nationally. They surrendered 21.2 points per contest, a mark tied for 21st in the NCAA. Opponents averaged only 209.3 passing yards per game, and the defense recorded 10 interceptions over the course of the season. Before his time at West Georgia, Allen spent three seasons from 2022-24 at his alma mater, Georgia State University. Working first with the safeties and then with the cornerbacks, he contributed to a defensive unit that allowed just 239.9 passing yards per game across that three-year span while collecting 33 interceptions. In 2022, Georgia State forced 25 turnovers, which ranked 11th in the nation. That total included 13 interceptions. In his final season coaching the cornerbacks in Atlanta, the Panthers limited opponents to 203.3 passing yards per game. During his full-time tenure, three of his defensive backs earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Allen began his coaching career at Georgia State in 2018 as a def

Entering his third year at EMU is Chris Chestnut, who came to Ypsilanti after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Western Michigan University. Chestnut will serve as EMU’s tight ends coach, as well as the team's Offensive Run Game Coordinator. Most recently, in the 2024 season, Creighton guided Eastern Michigan to continued success in developing key offensive weapons, including standout tight ends Max Reese and Jere Getzinger. Reese appeared in all 12 games and hauled in 27 receptions for 232 yards and two touchdowns, while also contributing on special teams. Getzinger, who played in 11 games with eight starts, added 13 receptions for 91 yards and two scores, earning a spot in the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society as well as Academic All-MAC and CSC Academic All-District honors. Both players were recognized on All-MAC teams, with Reese and Getzinger showcasing the program’s ability to produce well-rounded, high-performing student-athletes on and off the field. Chestnut oversaw the wide receivers in the 2023 season, mainly highlighted by Tanner Knue, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors, marking his second time doing so in his career. Knue paced the Eagles in every receiving stat throughout the 2023 season, totaling 50 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver's 50 receptions went down as the most in his collegiate football career, and rank as the fifth most regular-season catches in the MAC. Meanwhile, his 479 receiving ya

Entering his second year at EMU is Chris Wiesehan, who came to Ypsilanti after serving as an assistant with Temple University for three seasons. A veteran coach with more than 30 years of experience, Wiesehan serves as EMU’s offensive line coach. One of the nation’s most versatile offensive coaches, Wiesehan has 32 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. His stops include: Temple, Georgia Tech, Hawai’i, UCLA, Syracuse, James Madison, Northern Arizona, Buffalo, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Fort Hayes State, as well as stints with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wiesehan’s versatility as an offensive coach has been evident throughout his career: he has coached every offensive position except quarterback. He has had multiple players selected in the NFL Draft at each position. In his five seasons at Temple alone (2014-18), 13 of Wiesehan’s pupils went on to play in the NFL, including 2017 second-round pick Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills) and 2020 third-round pick Matt Hennessy (Atlanta Falcons). His resume includes stints with Hawai’i (running backs/offensive line – 2012-13), the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers (wide receivers – 2010-11), UCLA (tight ends – 2009), Syracuse (offensive line – 2007-08), James Madison (offensive line – 2006), the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (offensive assistant – 2005), Northern Arizona (wide receivers/offensive line – 2001-04), Buffalo (wide receivers/offensive line – 1

Donnell Kirkwood Jr . joined the Eastern Michigan football staff in 2026 after coaching stops across the FBS, FCS, and Division II levels. A former Big Ten r...

Erik “Soup” Campbell enters the 2026 season as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University, working with the wide receivers and bringing nearly four decades of coaching experience to Ypsilanti. A respected coach, recruiter, and program builder, Campbell owns one of the most extensive and accomplished resumes in college football, with success spanning the Big Ten Conference, the Mid-American Conference, and the Canadian Football League. Campbell has coached for more than 37 years, including 18 seasons in the Big Ten and two seasons in the CFL. His career reflects sustained excellence, player development at the highest level, and a consistent record of production across multiple positions and systems. He joins EMU after spending the 2025 season at Michigan as the assistant wide receivers coach, returning once again to his alma mater and continuing a long-standing relationship with the program. Across his career, Campbell has been part of 27 postseason games, including four as a student-athlete. His bowl experience includes four Rose Bowls as a coach, two Orange Bowls, an Outback Bowl championship, and a national championship at Michigan. Throughout his career, Campbell has coached dozens of players who advanced to the NFL, including Charles Woodson, Braylon Edwards, Amani Toomer, Jason Avant, Mario Manningham, and many others. Before his most recent stop in Ann Arbor, Campbell spent six seasons at Bowling Green State University from 2019-24 as the passing game coordinator

Grant Kurzner returns to the Eastern Michigan University football team in 2026 for his second stint as the team’s special teams coordinator. Kurzner, who pre...

Entering his third year at EMU is Kasey Teegardin, who came to Ypsilanti after serving as an assistant with Indiana University for 10 seasons. A veteran coach with more than 18 years of experience, Teegardin serves as EMU’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach. Once the youngest defensive coordinator in the NCAA at the age of 24, Teegardin has college coaching experience at Indiana, Valparaiso University, Northwood University (Mich.), and the University of Charleston (WVa.). Kasey Teegardin’s 2025 units delivered standout performances on both defense and special teams. On the defensive line, Carter Evans recorded 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss for 13 yards, 1.5 sacks for 6 yards, a quarterback hurry, and one forced fumble. Freshman Quincy Byas emerged as a key playmaker with 22 tackles, a team-high six tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, and five quarterback hurries. Fellow freshman Hector Gonzalez added 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, one pass breakup, and three quarterback hurries. Ronn Hardin totaled 11 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and a critical sack on the final play against Bowling Green to seal the victory. Special teams also excelled under Teegardin’s guidance. Punter Mitchell Tomasek finished his career as a three-time All-MAC honoree, averaging 46.2 yards on 49 punts in 2025, ranking 12th nationally and second in the MAC. He set program records for single-season average and career punting average, with a career total of 9,508 yards and 44.7 yards per pun

Entering his sixth year at EMU is Mike Piatkowski, who was a record-setting quarterback at Drake University. Piatkowski serves as EMU’s quarterbacks coach as well as the Offensive Coordinator. In 2024, Piatkowski oversaw an offense that featured several standout performers across multiple position groups. Wide receiver Oran Singleton emerged as a dynamic playmaker, leading the team with 639 receiving yards on 64 receptions and earning E-Gridiron Group Newcomer of the Year honors. He added two receiving touchdowns, including a 103-yard outing at Toledo, and contributed as a punt returner. Tight end Jere Getzinger was awarded the Elton J. Rynearson Scholar-Athlete honor after posting 13 receptions for 91 yards and two scores. Offensive lineman Mickey Rewolinski earned the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Award for his leadership in the trenches. Running back Jayvin Norman and wide receiver Adam Rammouni were named the team’s Scout Team Players of the Year, while tight end Blake Daniels was honored with the Team Player "Game Ball" Award for his contributions. The group’s development under Piatkowski reflected a versatile and balanced offensive unit. In 2023, Piatkowski’s offense was headlined by wide receiver Tanner Knue, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors, marking his second time doing so in his career. Knue paced the Eagles in every receiving stat throughout the 2023 season, totaling 50 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver's 50 receptions went down as

Sean Dugan enters his fourth season on the EMU football team, but his first as the linebackers coach. He spent 2025 working with the alphas after serving two...

Entering his fourth year at EMU is Tate Omli, who came to Ypsilanti after spending three seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. Omli will serve as EMU’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. Omli has college coaching experience at Hutchinson, Angelo State University, East Carolina University, and Murray State University, and previously served as a graduate assistant at EMU. As a player, Omli started his collegiate journey at Butler Community College, where he was a second-team NJCAA All-American in 2012. Omli then moved to the University of Northern Iowa. Omli’s players made significant contributions in 2025. Bryce Llewellyn became the first EMU defensive back to earn all-conference honors since 2020. He led the defense with 103 tackles, including 42 solo stops, 61 assisted tackles, two interceptions, and 5.0 tackles-for-loss. His 8.5 tackles per game ranked 36th nationally and sixth in the MAC. He recorded career-high tackles in three games: 11 against Louisiana, 12 at Central Michigan, and 13 versus Ohio, with eight solo stops against Miami. Llewellyn was the first EMU defender with 100+ tackles since 2023, added 5.0 TFLs (including a career-best 1.5 against NIU), and had two interceptions against Louisiana and NIU. Barry Manning contributed in a hybrid safety-linebacker role, totaling 73 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble. Jason Marshall finished third on the team with 64

Entering his first season at Eastern Michigan University in 2026, Zac Sias joins the Eagles staff as assistant coach for defensive tackles. He arrived in Ypsilanti after two seasons on the University of Kansas football staff, where he worked with the linebackers and supported the defensive unit. Sias joined Kansas in 2024 as an assistant linebackers coach. His work centered on player development, drill design, film breakdown, and reinforcing defensive scheme execution. He worked closely with the defensive coordinator and position coaches to build consistency across the unit. Prior to Kansas, Sias spent two seasons at Arkansas State University as a graduate assistant with the Red Wolves' defense from 2022-24. During his time in Jonesboro, he assisted with defensive line development, opponent scouting reports, film analysis, and recruiting coordination. He also served as an operations and defense intern at the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Los Angeles, gaining exposure to NFL-level practice organization and evaluation processes. Sias began his coaching career at Mississippi Delta Community College, serving from 2020-22 as a defensive line coach. He worked daily with the defensive line on technique and fundamentals, handled film breakdown using Hudl, prepared scouting materials, and assisted with recruiting throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. His responsibilities expanded to include support for equipment operations and coordination of strength and conditioning. A native of Rol