Phil Kleckler Named Lindsey Wilson Football Head Coach

Story by: Lindsey Wilson College Athletics

COLUMBIA, Ky. — 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.

“I am very appreciative for this opportunity,” Kleckler said. “I’ve grown so much as a person and coach since coming here five years ago, thanks to our players and my fellow coaches. I’m excited about this challenge.

“I want to first and foremost thank my wife Randi for her continued support and her influence in my development as a person and a coach,” Kleckler added. “I want to thank President (Bill) Luckey, Dr. (Dean) Adams, and Mr. Pooler for their belief in me and I want to thank all of the current and former players that I’ve had the pleasure to coach over the years. They have helped prepare me for this moment.”

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).

The Blue Raider defense set program records this season for points allowed per game, fewest points allowed (146), fewest total yards allowed (2,866), fewest rushing yards allowed (787), and most shutouts (4) while tying the program record for most games in a season (13).

While producing four of the program’s all-time seven shutouts this season, the Lindsey Wilson defense held its opponents scoreless in 32 of the team’s 52 quarters.

Over his five seasons, he has helped lead Lindsey Wilson to a 53-6 record.

“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.

“I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead our football program and am excited for our student-athletes,” Pooler added. “Our commitment to them is unwavering and as strong as it’s ever been. Promoting Coach Kleckler should send a message to current and future Blue Raiders that we believe strongly in the championship culture we’ve established in our program. I know he will continue to focus on developing them into the best version of themselves. I’m looking forward to working with him in his new role as our head coach.”

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.

In 2018, Kleckler was named the American Football Coaches Association NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year for his work on and off the field. The annual honor is awarded to those who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success, and AFCA professional organization involvement.

Over three of the last four seasons, the Lindsey Wilson defense has rewritten the program record for points allowed. In 2018 the Blue Raiders surrendered 181 points, in 2020 Lindsey Wilson gave up 158 points and allowed just 146 this past season.

While at Lindsey Wilson, Kleckler has coached four NAIA defensive All-Americans, a pair of Mid-South Conference Defensive Players of the Year, and 27 defensive All Mid-South Conference performers.

“The goals for this program are not going to change,” Kleckler said. “Our top priority is to graduate our student-athletes while winning championships and developing young men during the four-to-five years they are here for the next 40 or 50 years of their lives.”

Kleckler came to Lindsey Wilson after six seasons at Benedictine (Ill.), where he served as the defensive and recruiting coordinator. He also boasts coaching stints at Occidental (Calif.) and Averett (Va.).

Kleckler led a Benedictine defense that led the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference in scoring defense and rushing defense in 2015 and 2016. During his tenure at Benedictine, Kleckler coached 12 linebackers to All Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference honors while producing a 38-22 regular-season record, two NACC titles, and two NCAA playoff appearances.

As defensive coordinator, the Benedictine defense led the conference in multiple statistical categories while producing 10 all-conference selections and one AFCA-NCAA Division III All American.

Kleckler is a 2006 graduate of Monmouth (Ill.). As a student-athlete, Kleckler was a two-time all-conference selection. He led his teams to a 39-12 overall record while helping Monmouth to a Midwest Conference championship and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.

Kleckler takes over a Blue Raider team that has three straight Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division titles and four in five seasons. Lindsey Wilson reached the NAIA Football Championship Series National Semifinals each of the last three seasons, winning the 2020 national title.

“I believe we will positively influence young people’s lives,” Kleckler said. “We will get them to play together. We will inspire them to be better in the classroom and better on the field. We will mentor them. If we do all of that, everything else will take care of itself.”