Chris Oliver has resigned as Lindsey Wilson College football coach, LWC athletics director Willis Pooler announced today.
Oliver departs after 12 seasons and a 105-34 record. He helped lead the Blue Raiders to five divisional titles, seven playoff appearances, and the 2020 national championship after becoming Lindsey Wilson’s first head coach in 2010.
“Coach Oliver did a fantastic job during his tenure here,” Pooler said. “To build a football program from scratch and win a national championship in 11 short years is a remarkable accomplishment.
“Although the winning is great, I mostly appreciate the countless successes he had helping our student-athletes blossom into well-prepared and equipped adults,” Pooler added. “We will forever be grateful for his contribution to our athletics department and institution. He leaves us with the premier NAIA football program in the country and we are excited about the future.”
The Blue Raiders reached the NAIA Football Championship Series National Semifinals for a third straight year this season, finishing the season with a 12-1 record.
Phil Kleckler has been named head coach of the Lindsey Wilson College football program, LWC Athletics Director Willis Pooler announced on Tuesday. Kleckler becomes the second head coach in Lindsey Wilson football history.
He takes over for Chris Oliver who announced his resignation Monday to become the head coach at Georgetown College.
Kleckler takes over as head coach after five seasons as the Blue Raiders’ defensive coordinator. He led the Lindsey Wilson defense to its best season in 2021 — leading the NAIA in scoring defense (11.2) and takeaways (36). Lindsey Wilson also ranked second in the NAIA in total defense (220.5 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (60.5 yards), and interceptions (24).
“Coach Kleckler has been an outstanding football coach for us for the past five seasons and when the opportunity presented itself to name him head football coach, I jumped on it immediately,” Pooler said. “It is no coincidence that our rise to becoming the best football program in the NAIA included his leadership on the defensive side of the football. Besides his quality as a football coach, he is a good man. He understands and lives our mission, and his goals and expectations for our football program align with the administration.”
Kleckler was named the 2020 FootballScoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year following Lindsey Wilson’s national championship run in 2020. The Blue Raiders posted an 11-0 record during the season while holding their opponents to 14.4 points per game and producing 33-1/2 sacks — tying a program record set in 2014.
