Matt Limegrover

Last updated

Matt Limegrover
Current position
TitleRun game coordinator & offensive line coach
Team Kent State
Conference MAC
Biographical details
Born (1968-11-26) November 26, 1968 (age 55)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1987–1990 Chicago
Position(s) Offensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1991–1993 Chicago (OC/OL/TE)
1994Chicago (interim HC)
1995–1996 Northwestern (GA)
1997–1998 Ferris State (OL)
1999–2000 Emporia State (OL)
2001–2007 Southern Illinois (OC/OL)
2008–2010 Northern Illinois (OC/OL)
2011–2015 Minnesota (AHC/OC/OL)
2016–2019 Penn State (RGC/OL)
2020 Michigan (analyst)
2021 Arkansas State (OL)
2022Arkansas State (TE)
2023 Kent State (co-OC/OL)
2024–presentKent State (RGC/OL)

Matt Limegrover (born November 26, 1968) is an American college football coach. He is the run game coordinator and offensive line coach for Kent State University, positions he has held since 2024. He previously served as the offensive line coach at Arkansas State, offensive coordinator at Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Chicago.

Contents

Early life

Limegrover, a Pittsburgh native, began playing football in the fourth grade for the father of former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. [1] He attended Central Catholic High School and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1991 and holds a master's degree from Northwestern University. [2] Limegrover interned with the Major League Baseball team Chicago White Sox with classmate Kim Ng a high ranking MLB executive. [3]

College playing career

Limegrover was a 6–2, 265-pound lineman for the Chicago Maroons, an NCAA Division III team, from 1987 to 1990 and was Honorable Mention All-University Athletic Association (UAA) in 1990. [2] [4] [5]

Coaching career

From 1991 to 1994, Limegrover spent his first four years of his coaching career at his alma mater, Chicago, serving in a variety of roles that included interim head coach, offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach. [6] The following two seasons Limegrover served as a graduate assistant for the Northwestern Wildcats and head coach Gary Barnett who won back-to-back Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996. [7]

From there Limegrover served as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach for Ferris State in 1997 and 1998. [6] The next two seasons Limegrover serve das the offensive line coach for Emporia State and head coach Jerry Kill who he would work under for the next 17 seasons. [8]

As offensive coordinator from 2001 to 2007l Limegrover guided Southern Illinois to six consecutive seasons finishing in the top ten in scoring, nationally. [6] From there serving as the offensive coordinator for FBS Northern Illinois, Limegrover helped the Huskies to three consecutive bowl appearances and the 2010 MAC West title. [6]

After coach Jerry Kill retired because of epilepsy with five games remaining in the 2015 season, defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys was named as Minnesota's head coach. One day after the conclusion of the 2015 season coach Claeys fired offensive coordinator Limegrover and quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski to make a change that better fit his offensive philosophy. [9]

On January 13, 2016, he was hired as the offensive line coach for Penn State and head coach James Franklin. [9] [10] Limegrover spent four seasons at Penn State during which time he saw his offensive line unit help the Nittany Lions capture the 2016 Big Ten title. [11] Limegrover and the Nittany Lions team would experience more success in the 2017 season, going 11-2 and finishing with a Fiesta Bowl victory. [12] In 2018, Penn State saw its best rushing production in 10 years, averaging 204.9 yards per game. That was good enough to finish 29th nationally, and fifth in the Big Ten. [13] That season the offensive line was led by center Connor McGovern, who was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL draft, and tackle Ryan Bates. [14] Despite an 11-2 record and Penn State putting up nearly 400 rushing yards in a victory over Memphis in the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Nittany Lions did not renew Limegrover's contract at the conclusion of the 2019 season. [15] [16]

After spending a year as an analyst on Jim Harbaugh's Michigan staff, Limegrover joined Butch Jones' inaugural Arkansas State staff as the offensive line coach for the 2021 season. [17]

In 2023 he joined Kenni Burns' coaching staff at Kent State as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn State Nittany Lions football</span> American football team

The Penn State Nittany Lions team represents the Pennsylvania State University in college football. The Nittany Lions compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference, which they joined in 1993 after playing as an Independent from 1892 to 1992.

John Coleman Hufnagel is an American special advisor for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has previously served as the Stampeders' President, General Manager, Head Coach, and Offensive Coordinator. He played quarterback for fifteen professional seasons in the CFL and National Football League (NFL). Prior to his hiring to the Stampeders on December 3, 2007, he was the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Gattis</span> American football player and coach (born 1984)

Josh Gattis is an American football coach and former defensive back who is the offensive coordinator at the University of Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill O'Brien (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1969)

William James O'Brien, nicknamed "the Teapot", is an American football coach who is currently the head coach at Boston College. Previously, he was the head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014 to 2020, and at Penn State from 2012 to 2013. Prior to Boston College, O'Brien was the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama and for the New England Patriots. After the Patriots parted ways with longtime head coach Bill Belichick at the end of the 2023 season, O'Brien was not retained by the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles London</span> American football player and coach (born 1975)

Charles London is an American football coach and former running back who is the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Kill</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Jerry R. Kill is an American football coach. He was most recently the head coach at New Mexico State University. He played college football at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, from 1979 to 1982. Kill served as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University, Emporia State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Northern Illinois University and the University of Minnesota, as well as serving as the interim head coach for the final four games of the 2021 season at TCU.

Teryl Austin is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2014 to 2017 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Franklin (American football coach)</span> American football player and coach (born 1972)

James Geoffrey Franklin is an American football coach and former player. Franklin has served as the head football coach at Penn State University since 2014 and served in the same position at Vanderbilt University from 2011 to 2013.

The 2013 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill O'Brien and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the Big Ten Conference and its Leaders Division. Penn State was ineligible to play in a bowl game for the 2013 season, the second season of a four-year ban, due to NCAA sanctions imposed in the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 TaxSlayer Bowl (January)</span> College football game

The 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game played on January 2, 2016, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The 71st edition of the Gator Bowl featured the Penn State Nittany Lions of the Big Ten Conference against the Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference. It began at noon EST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2015–16 bowl games that concluded the 2015 FBS football season. The game's naming rights sponsor was tax preparation software company TaxSlayer.com, and for sponsorship reasons was officially known as the TaxSlayer Bowl.

The 2018 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference.

Terry M. Smith is an American college football coach and former player. He is the associate head coach and cornerbacks coach for Pennsylvania State University, a position he has held since 2021. He played college football for Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Pry</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Brenton James Pry is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Virginia Tech. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State from 2016 to 2021. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls.

Ricky Rahne is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Old Dominion University. He played college football at Cornell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Spencer (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Sean Spencer, nicknamed "Coach Chaos", is an American football coach and former player. He is the Defensive Line coach at Texas A&M, a position he has held since December of 2023. Spencer was the defensive line coach and run-game coordinator for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 2020 to 2021. He played college football as a safety at Clarion University of Pennsylvania—now known as PennWest Clarion.

Tim Banks, is an American college football coach and former player. He is the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the University of Tennessee, a position he has held since 2021. He played college football for Central Michigan.

The 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by sixth-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Ty Howle is an American football coach who is the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Penn State University.

The 2021 Illinois vs. Penn State football game was a regular-season college football game played on October 23, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The Big Ten Conference matchup featured the Illinois Fighting Illini and the seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, and took place during week eight of the 2021 FBS football season. The game was scheduled as a 12:00 p.m. EDT kickoff, and broadcast by ABC. Illinois defeated Penn State, 20–18, to win the contest after a record nine overtimes.

Will Windham is an American football coach and former player who is currently the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the South Alabama Jaguars.

References

  1. ↑ Han, Giana."Penn State football coaches Joe Moorhead and Matt Limegrover share more than a love for offense ", The Daily Collegian , April 15, 2016, retrieved February 6, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Gross, Mike."Surgery gave Penn State OL coach control of weight, life ", LancasterOnline.com , April 9, 2016, retrieved February 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ Miller, Phil."New boss of offense to analyze, organize", Star Tribune , January 29, 2011, retrieved February 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ Christensen, Joe."Gophers football assistant Limegrover: From 403 pounds to 'a totally different person'", Star Tribune , May 12, 2013, retrieved February 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ Penn State Profile, gopsusports.com, retrieved February 6, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Kill Announces Hiring of Claeys, Limegrover", gophersorts.com, retrieved February 6, 2018.
  7. ↑ Poorman, Mike.Lone Nittany Lion Repeat Visitor: Matt Limegrover's First Trip to the Rose Bowl, StateCollege.com, December 30, 2016, retrieved February 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ Levarse, Derek."Penn State hires ex-Minnesota coordinator Matt Limegrover to coach offensive line ", Times Leader , January 13, 2016, retrieved February 6, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Greder, Andy."Penn State hires former Gophers assistant Matt Limegrover", St. Paul Pioneer Press , January 12, 2016, retrieved February 6, 2018.
  10. ↑ Moyer, Josh."Matt Limegrover 'revitalized and re-energized' as Penn State assistant", ESPN, March 29, 2016, retrieved February 9,2019.
  11. ↑ Lungaro, Vincent."Penn State football wins Big Ten Championship with second-half surge", Daily Collegian , December 3, 2016, retrieved January 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ Rubin, Andrew."How Penn State football avoided a repeat of last year's Rose Bowl to bury Washington in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl", Daily Collegian , December 30, 2017, retrieved January 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ DiPaola, Jerry."Penn State fires offensive line coach Matt Limegrover", TribLive , December 31, 2019, retrieved January 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ Ferree, Benjamin."Penn State football's Connor McGovern drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round", Daily Collegian ,April 26, 2019, retrieved January 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ Wilfinger, Caleb."“Everybody eats”: How Penn State football’s mantra in the running back room came full circle in victory over Memphis", Daily Collegian , December 28, 2019, retrieved January 8, 2020
  16. ↑ RLR Staff (December 31, 2019). "Report: Matt Limegrover Out As Penn State Offensive Line Coach". www.roarlionsroar.com. 2019 Roar Lions Roar LLC. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ Howe, Matt (January 6, 2021). "Arkansas State to hire Matt Limegrover as new OL coach". 247sports.com. 247sports. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  18. ↑ Brice, John (December 18, 2022). "Sources: Veteran OL coach Limegrover leaving Arkansas State for Kenni Burns' Kent State staff". footballscoop.com. footballscoop. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.