Matt Kalb enters his third year as Rhodes College’s offensive coordinator, joining the staff in 2021.
Kalb, who has been coaching collegiate football for the last 29 years, has experience as offensive coordinator for 20 of those years. He previously worked with Duncan at D-III institutions Loras College and Aurora University.
"I am extremely pleased to complete our staff by adding Matt Kalb as the Offensive Coordinator," said Duncan. "I have worked with Matt at two previous stops, and he is a tremendous football coach. Matt is very organized, creative, and an outstanding tactician. He has developed some of the very best QB's that I have had the pleasure to coach. I have the utmost confidence that he will do an exceptional job developing our offense."
In his first three seasons at Rhodes, Kalb’s offense has steadily climbed the SAA statistical rankings. In 2023, the Lynx finished third in Scoring and Passing Offense, and fourth in Total and Rushing Offense. Prior to arriving in Memphis, Kalb spent the previous four years as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Friends University in Kansas. Kalb helped rebuild the squad from 35 players to 115 where the Falcons held five top-20 NAIA rankings this past spring including 14th in rushing yards in game, 18th in third-down conversions and 20th in rushing offense. Prior to Friends, Kalb spent three seasons at McMurry University in Texas. As the offensive coordinator, the War Hawks transitioned from D-II to D-III and the offense improved scoring points per game each season. During his first season, Jeret Smith broke the program's career receiving record. He later signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to rejoin Coach Duncan's staff at Rhodes College," said Kalb. "Having worked with Rich for almost 10 years, I wholeheartedly believe in his vision for Rhodes Football. Additionally, I was introduced to Rhodes through my daughter's recruitment and we fell in love with the campus and academic opportunities. In the end, joining the Rhodes community was one I could not pass up."
Kalb also served as offensive coordinator during his time at both Aurora and Loras. At Aurora, the Spartans were crowned 2008 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Champions with a 7-0 record (9-1 overall) and advanced to the NCAA Playoffs. In 2013, the program set Aurora's total offense and total points records, ranking 26th and 34th respectively among 242 D-III institutions. Kalb also helped develop 2013 All-American tight end Ryan Mizgate for the Spartans.
For the latter three years of Kalb's eight-year tenure at Loras, he was the offensive coordinator where he primary dealt with quarterbacks and wide receivers. With the Duhawks, he recruited Loras' last two All-Americans in Ross Dillavou and Alex McGrew.
Kalb got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant before he earned his first head coaching stint at Joliet Junior College. There he specialized in strength and conditioning, special teams and defensive backs.
"As good as Coach Kalb is as a coach, he is a better man," said Duncan. "I have known his wife Amy, and children Vivian and James for a long time and he is a terrific husband, father, and mentor. I know that we align in the belief that player development is a core tenet in building a successful football program. I've watched Matt's work in developing players who enter our program into all-conference players, excellent students, and finally into terrific husbands, fathers, and men. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Matt once again."
Kalb graduated from the University of Kentucky before he attained his Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Valparaiso University. He began his playing career as a walk-on at the University of Alabama where he was a wide receiver for two years. During his two years at Kentucky, Kalb played wide receiver, defensive back and was on the special teams unit.
