Football Coaches

Head Coach Matt Land

Matt Land begins his second season as head coach of the TSU football program. Coach Land brought competitiveness and excitement to the 2006 TSU football team. The Thunder finished the season 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA.

In 2005, Coach Land was named Coach of the Year—twice. He led perennial powerhouse South Side High School (Fort Wayne, Ind. to an 11-3 record, a berth in the state's final four, and was recognized as the Summit Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. During his four years at South Side, Coach Land compiled a 29-19 record, leading his team twice into the Indiana 4A sweet 16 and once to the state semifinals.

Coach Land earned his second Coach of the Year award at the helm of the United Indoor Football (UIF) League's Fort Wayne Freedom. In his first year with the Freedom, the team averaged 267 yards per game—third best in the league—and finished with a franchise-best 14-3 record to go along with a playoff berth. The UIF rewarded him with the honor of Coach of the Year.

Coach Land received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Ball State University. He is currently working on his master’s degree in education, curriculum, and design from Walden University.

Assistant Coach Dan Pifer

Dan Pifer enters his second season as the TSU offensive coordinator. Coach Pifer received his undergraduate degree in political science from California University of Pennsylvania where he was a four year letter winner in football. In his junior season, he was selected as the MVP in the NCAA Division II Chamber of Commerce Bowl. 

In Feb. of 2006, Pifer was named the head coach for the Fort Wayne Freedom of the United Indoor Football Association. Pifer most recently served as the offensive coordinator at Bellmont High School in Decatur, Ind. and as an assistant coach with the Freedom. Prior to Bellmont, Pifer had served as the offensive coordinator at Hillsdale College from 2001-2002 and the University of Saint Francis from 1997-1998. At Saint Francis, Pifer’s offense was ranked nationally in the top 10 in passing offense and total offense while qualifying for the 1999 NAIA playoffs in the team’s second year of existence.

Assistant Coach Troy Abbs

Troy Abbs begins his second season with the TSU coaching staff and his first season as defensive coordinator. Most recently, Coach Abbs worked with the Fort Wayne Freedom as the defensive line coach. Prior to joining the Freedom, Coach Abbs coached for six years in several different roles at Carroll High School. Abbs is also a sixth grade teacher at Maple Creek Middle School.

Coach Abbs was a member of both the baseball and football teams while working on his bachelor degree at Hanover College and earned a Scholar Athlete Award in 1998. In 2006, Abbs earned his Masters of Science in educational leadership from Indiana University.

Assistant Coach Jacob Kinsey

Jacob Kinsey will be an assistant coach to both the baseball and football programs. Coach Kinsey will be in charge of the outside backs.

Kinsey earned his undergraduate degree from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill. He received a Bachelor of Arts in sport management with minors in business administration and psychology in 2004.  While at MacMurray, Kinsey lettered in football receiving First Team All-Conference. He was also a member of two conference championship teams. 

After graduation from MacMurray, Kinsey was a graduate assistant at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. His primary duty was coaching the linebackers. Kinsey received his master’s degree in sports administration in July of 2005.

Assistant Coach Dan Musielewicz

Dan Musielewicz enters his second season as a member of the TSU football coaching staff. Musielewicz received his bachelor degree in physical education and integrated science from Hillsdale College, where he was a four year member of the football team. Coach Musielewicz will be coaching the wide receivers and tight ends.

Coach Musielewicz arrives at TSU after spending the last two seasons playing professional football for the Peoria Rough Riders and the Fort Wayne Freedom of the United Indoor Football League. He has also served as the assistant varsity football and basketball coach at Tecumseh High School in Tecumseh, Mich.

Assistant Coach David Gater

David Gater begins his second season as a member of the TSU football coaching staff, in charge of the defensive backs. Coach Gater will bring the experience he gained while being a four-year letter winner at Ball State University as a defensive back. Gater graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and a minor in criminal justice and physical education.

Assistant Coach Dan Simrell

The Tri-State University football staff brings collegiate coaching experience to the team with the addition of new quarterback coach Dan Simrell. Coach Simrell arrives at TSU after serving as head football coach at NCAA Division II University of Findlay from 2000-2006. In 2002 he was named the Region 3 Division II Coach of the Year.

Prior to coaching at Findlay, Simrell served as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at West Virginia. In his eight seasons at West Virginia, the Mountaineers made it to five bowl games and were the 1993 Big East Champions.

Coach Simrell spent seven seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division I University of Toledo. The team earned a Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship under his leadership, and he was once named Ohio Coach of the Year and MAC Coach of the Year. In 1996, Toledo honored Simrell with an induction into the University of Toledo Hall of Fame.

As a football player at Toledo, Simrell was named team captain and most valuable player in his senior season. After college he was taken in the National Football League draft by the Cleveland Browns.

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Toledo.

Assistant Coach Mike Lazusky

Mike Lazusky returns in 2007 for his third stint as a member of the TSU football staff. Lazusky previously served as an assistant football coach at TSU in 1996-1997 and 2002.

From 2004-2006, he served as the head football coach at Hiram College. He made other stops in his coaching career at Defiance College, Shippensburg University, and Bremen (Ind.) High School.

Coach Lazusky received his bachelor’s degree in business education and his master’s degree in education from Shippensburg University.