The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Southeast Missouri State University located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Ohio Valley Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1902. The team plays its home games at the 11,015-seat Houck Stadium. They are coached by Tom Matukewicz.

History Southeast Missouri State first competed in football in 1904.2014 media guide, p. 204. In 1912, the school joined the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), which later joined the NCAA as a Division II conference. The football team had its first known head coach, J.F. Corleux, in 1915. Corleux remained head coach until 1929.2014 media guide, p. 159.

In 1991, Southeast Missouri State joined the Ohio Valley Conference and moved up to the Division I-AA level.

Classifications 1952–1957: NAIA 1958–1972: NCAA College Division 1973–1990: NCAA Division II 1991–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships 1902–1923: Independent 1924–1990: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association 1991–present: Ohio Valley Conference

Conference championships Southeast Missouri State has won 21 conference championships, 12 outright and nine shared. 1937 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Abe Stuber 9–0 5–0 1942† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Abe Stuber 4–2–1 3–1 1946 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Abe Stuber 8–0–1 5–0 1955 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kenneth Knox 9–0 5–0 1957 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kenneth Knox 6–2–1 4–0–1 1958 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kenneth Knox 7–1–1 5–0 1959 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kenneth Knox 7–2 5–0 1962 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kenneth Knox 7–3 5–0 1967 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kenneth Knox 8–2 5–0 1968 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tom Thrower 6–4 5–0 1969† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tom Thrower 8–2 4–1 1973 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jim Lohr 6–4 5–1 1975 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jim Lohr 7–4 6–0 1976† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jim Lohr 7–3–1 4–1–1 1977† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jim Lohr 7–3–1 4–1–1 1987† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Bob Smith 6–4–1 4–0–1 1988† Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association Bill Maskill 6–4 5–1 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Tony Samuel 9–3 7–1 2019† Ohio Valley Conference Tom Matukewicz 9–3 7–1 2022† Ohio Valley Conference Tom Matukewicz 9–3 5–0 2024† Big South–OVC Football Association Tom Matukewicz 9–3 6–2 † Co-champions

Playoff appearances NCAA Division I-AA/FCS The Redhawks have made five appearances in the Division I–AA/FCS playoffs, with a combined record of 1–5.

2010 Second round Eastern Washington L 17–37 2018 First roundSecond round Stony BrookWeber State W 28–14L 23–48 2019 First Round Illinois State L 6–24 2022 First Round Montana L 24–34 2024 First Round Illinois State L 27–35

Rivalries Southeast Missouri State has an in-state rivalry with Missouri State. The two schools last played in 2008, and Missouri State leads the series 46–28.

Another rivalry is with Southern Illinois. The annual series between the schools went on hiatus after 2005 and resumed in 2010. In 2013, the two schools played in a game called the College Classic, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. In the first-ever football game held at Busch, Southern Illinois won 36–19. In 2018, the rivalry game was dubbed the "War of the Wheel". The winner of the "War of the Wheel" takes home an authentic ship's wheel. Southeast Missouri State leads the series 44–40–8 as of 2024.

Within the Ohio Valley Conference, Southeast Missouri State's rival was Murray State. Murray State left the Ohio Valley Conference to join the Missouri Valley Conference for football on July 1, 2023. The two schools last played in 2022, which was the last Ohio Valley Conference game for Murray State. Murray State leads the series 43–14–1.

Notable former players Name Years played Position Eugene Amano 2000–2003 C Dan Connolly 2001–2005 OT Kenneth Dement 1951–1955 OT/DT Kendall Donnerson 2014-2017 DE Mike Ford 2013-2017 CB Drew Forbes 2015-2019 OG Ray Goodson 2001–2004 TE Ken Iman 1958–1959 C Edgar Jones 2003–2006 LB Dimitri Patterson 2001–2004 CB Willie Ponder 1999–2002 WR Jon Robinson 1996–1998 DT Angel Rubio 1993–1997 DT Zach Hall 2016–2019 LB Marquis Walker 1992–1995 CB Kristian Wilkerson 2015–2019 WR Mike Wood 1974–1977 K

Current coaching staff

Name Position Tom Matukewicz Head coach Ricky Coon Defensive coordinator Jeromy McDowell Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Justin Drudik Wide receivers/offensive passing game coordinator Ray Smith Defensive Backs/Defensive pass game coordinator Jerone Williams Defensive line Cole Cook Tight endsTim BillingsOutside linebackers Connor Benado Inside linebackers Lucas Orchard Offensive line Isasc Reed Running backs Luke Berblinger Recruiting coordinator Lucas Orchard Graduate assistantJesse Stilley Graduate assistant Brett Blackman Director of operations/equipment manager Ryan Napoli Director of sports performance

Future non-conference opponents Announced schedules as of July 27, 2026.

at Indiana State Indiana State at Missouri at Ole Miss at Missouri at Iowa State at Kansas at Southern Illinois at North Alabama at Southern Illinois at Central Arkansas West Georgia at West Georgia Central Arkansas Southern Illinois West Florida at Eastern Kentucky

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