| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1959 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1982 | Mansfield (assistant) |
| 1983 | Dickinson (assistant) |
| 1984–2000 | William & Mary (assistant) |
| 2001–2016 | Christopher Newport |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 109–61 |
| Tournaments | 3–10 (NCAA D-III playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 10 Dixie/USAC (2001–2004, 2006, 2008, 2010–2012, 2014) | |
| Awards | |
| 7× Dixie/USAC Coach of the Year (2001–2002, 2006, 2008, 2010–2011, 2014) | |
Matt Kelchner (born March 5, 1959) is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia from 2001 to 2016. Kelchner was hired as Christopher Newport's first head coach on May 9, 2000.[1]
In 16 seasons at Christopher Newport, Kelchner compiled an overall record of 109–61. He won nearly 80% of his conference games, 78 of those wins coming in the Dixie Conference, later termed the USA South Athletic Conference, and 32% of non-conference games.
He guided the Captains to the NCAA Division III playoffs ten times, posting a 3–10 record. He was named Dixie Conference/USA South Conference Coach of the Year seven times. Under Kelcher's direction, CNU was nationally ranked four times in his 16 seasons.
After missing the NCAA playoffs three times in four seasons and not matching his earlier success in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, Kelchner relinquished his role in 2016 as the longest-reigning head coach of the Christopher Newport program at the age of 57, and moved into an administration role in the university's athletic department.[2]
Kelchner spent his entire collegiate coaching career at the NCAA Division III, II and FCS levels. He was an assistant coach at NCAA The College of William & Mary (I-AA/FCS) from 1984 to 2000 with one year stints previously at Mansfield (NCAA Division II) and Dickinson (NCAA Division III).