Cris Reisert has resigned as Head Football Coach at Tiffin University and will become the new Head Football Coach at Division I Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.
A national search for a new Head Coach will begin immediately.
Reisert recently completed his fifth season and leaves Tiffin as the winningest coach in Tiffin football history. He also recently led the Dragons to the best football season in Tiffin history. An AFCA 35 under 35 member, Reisert has a career mark of 40-11 over five seasons, with one being shortened due to COVID-19. During his tenure, Reisert has been named the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times, and claimed three G-MAC titles ('19, '20, '23), which marks these championships as just the 1st, 2nd & 3rd time in school history in the Division II era.
The 2023 season boasted multiple school, conference, and national records including Top 10 national rankings in 16 different statistical categories, an 11-1 record, a Conference Championship, and a trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Dragons' 3rd Conference Championship in just 5 years is a feat no other team in the G-MAC has come close to accomplishing; no other school has claimed it more than once.
The NCAA National Division II playoffs marked a return to the postseason for the 2nd time in Reisert's tenure (2nd time in school history, 2019) receiving a #1 seed and first-round bye. The Dragons finished the regular season ranked #9 in all of Division II, the highest ranking in school history.
In 2023, Tiffin's offense was among the best in the country, ranking fourth in DII in Total Offense (482.9 ypg) and sixth in Scoring Offense (43.7 ppg). The rushing attack was fifth nationally at 255 ypg while also setting the school record for rushing yards in a season using 4 different backs.
In 2023, Tiffin's defense was also nationally dominant, ranking twelfth in DII in Scoring Defense at 16.25 ppg, and first nationally in Turnovers gained. As a team, Tiffin was second nationally in Division II in Turnover Margin with 20.
Throughout Reisert's 5 seasons, there have been numerous standout players garnering accolades at the conference and national level including 88 All G-MAC selections, 15 Conference Players of the Year, 12 All-Region Picks, 3 All-Americans, and the G-MAC Athlete of the Year.
"It has been a true honor to serve as the Head Football Coach at Tiffin University over the last five seasons," said Reisert. "Thank you to our players and coaches. They wholeheartedly bought into and invested in our program. Their effort, commitment and "No Flinch" mentality is something I'll be forever grateful for. I am forever indebted to President Schumacher, Kelly Daniel and Lonny Allen for the opportunity to serve the Tiffin community. The future of Tiffin University and the football program is bright, and I'm proud to have played a small part in it."
"We are so excited for Coach Reisert and his family and this opportunity at Gardner-Webb," said Tiffin University President Dr. Lillian Schumacher. "We are extremely proud of the progress we made under his direction at Tiffin University, not only as a coach but as an exemplary athletic leader. We wish him continued success and nothing but the absolute best. Tiffin University will do its due diligence to find the next leader for our football program and have no doubt our football success will continue. Congratulations!"
"We would like to thank Cris for building on our football tradition and making Dragon Nation a better place," said Athletic Director Kelly Daniel. "Cris is a great coach and even better human which solidifies his greatness in all avenues of life. His ability to inspire and empower others made us all better! For that we are thankful and, as Cris would say, back to work! We wish Cris and his family all the best on this next journey."
