UNI Football
Defensive Coaching Staff

Jeremiah Johnson
Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Coach

Jeremiah Johnson will begin his second season as recruiting coordinator/assistant defensive coach for UNI in 2011.

The 2011 campaign will mark the fifth year for Johnson on the Panthers' coaching staff. He served as a secondary coach in 2009 after splitting duties as a secondary coach and video coordinator in 2007 and 2008.

Johnson, a native of Lawrence, KS, spent the 2003-2006 seasons at Loras College on the Duhawk coaching staff.  Johnson assisted with the defensive backs in 2006 after helping with the wide receivers in 2005.  Johnson's first two years at Loras were spent coaching the defensive backs.  Prior to his work at Loras, Johnson was a graduate assistant/video coordinator at the University of Wyoming in 2002.

A 2000 graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in sports science, Johnson completed his master's degree in athletic administration at Loras in 2005.

Johnson and his wife, Nicki, reside in Cedar Falls with their son, Lane (2).

The Johnson File

Coaching Experience

• 2009-present UNI Secondary
  
• 2007-2008 UNI Video Coordinator
  
• 2003-2006 Loras Wide Receivers/Secondary
  
• 2002 Wyoming Graduate Assistant/Video Coordinator

Education

• Kansas (Sports Science), 2000
  
• Loras (Master's Athletic Administration), 2005

Personal

• Born:  September 30, 1977
  
• Hometown: Lawrence, KS
  
• Family:  Wife, Nicki; Son, Lane

Matt Entz
Defensive Line Coach

Matt Entz is entering his second season as the defensive line coach for the UNI Panthers.

In 2010, Entz's defensive line troops helped the Panthers rank No. 1 in the MVFC in rushing defense, sacks, and tackles-for-loss.  Leading the way was first-team all-MVFC pick Ben Boothby and honorable mention selection Darren Branch.

Entz, a native of Waterloo, IA, came to UNI after having served as the defensive coordinator at Winona State (MN) University.  Entz joined the WSU staff in 2002.  He was named the American Football Coaches Association's Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008.

He served as an assistant head coach coach and defensive line coach at Wayne State (NE) College from 1999-2002.  He also served as a graduate assistant at Wayne State from 1996-1998.  Entz was the defensive coordinator at Illinois College from 1998-1999.

Entz played college football at Wartburg College and earned his bachelor of arts in biology in 1995.  He also earned his master's degree in education/exercise science from Wayne State in 1998.

He and his wife, Brenda, have two sons, Kellen (8), and Konner (6).

Matt Harken
Defensive Line Coach

After spending four seasons working behind the scenes as the Director of Football Operations, UNI's Matt Harken will get his shot at college coaching when he takes over as an assistant defensive line coach for the Panthers in 2011.

Harken, a native of Shell Rock, IA, will get to fulfill a goal of his by coaching at the college level this fall.  Harken had a brief stint in the coaching ranks for the spring 2010 drills when he took over as tight ends coach for the Panthers.  Harken, a three-time all-Gateway Football Conference pick at tight end for the Panthers in the mid-90s, coached the Panthers tight ends led by All-America candidates Ryan Mahaffey and Schuylar Oordt.

Prior to his return to UNI, Harken served as a physical education/driver's education teacher at Urbana (IL) High School in 2006-07.  Harken was the Panthers' Director of Football Operations in the 2005 season as UNI reached the national championship game.

Prior to his work at UNI, Harken served in various football coaching capacities at Waverly-Shell Rock High School, including strength and conditioning coordinator (August '96-July '05), head sophomore coach (August '96-August '00), tight ends/wide receivers coach (August '00-August '02) and offensive coordinator (August '02-July '05).

Harken earned his bachelor's of arts degree in physical education at UNI in 1996 after a four-year career for the Panthers on the football field.  Harken was a first-team all-Gateway Football Conference player in 1993 and 1994.  He also earned honorable mention all-Gateway in 1995, while serving as co-captain for the Panthers.

He has three children:  Alex (14), Katie (12), and Madison (9).  He resides in Waverly.