Matt Finnin enters his first season with the Elizabeth City State University Football program as Offensive Coordinator. Finnin comes to Elizabeth City after a year as the Offensive Line Coach for the Chowan University Hawks.
The Hawks 2021 season was the most successful in the program’s history, where they posted the best record in school history (7-3) and were nationally ranked in the top 15 of different offensive categories such as Points Per Game, First Downs per game, and Total Offense.
Prior to Chowan, Coach Finnin was the Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Judson University, a startup NAIA program in Chicago, IL. Judson’s 2020 season was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Prior to his stint with Judson, Finnin was the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach at Independence Community College. Independence is nationally known for their series on Netflix award winning show “Last Chance U”. During his time with ICC, the Pirates went 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference on their way to a KJCCC Conference Championship. The Pirates ranked in the top-10 in the country in yards per game (426.4) and points per game (38.1), while helping 16 offensive players to Division I scholarships.
Before moving to Independence CC, Finnin was the Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line & Tight Ends coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Northland Community and Technical College, a non-scholarship Junior College in Minnesota. While at NCTC, Finnin helped lead the program to top-10 rankings in the NJCAA in six categories including Points Per Game (36.7) yards per game (432.7), Passing yards (3055), and Passing Touchdowns (36). Finnin was named GridironRR.com NJCAA Offensive Coordinator of the Year after the Pioneers went 8-3 overall and 4-0 in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. Finnin’s efforts led the Pioneers to a MCAC Championship, Region XIII championship and a berth to the Red Grange Bowl. Finnin’s offense produced two NJCAA First Team All-Americans in Devonaire Clarington (TE) and Craig Wells (QB).
Finnin spent a season at Midland University and Dodge City Community College after his collegiate playing career.
The Crete, Ill. native started his collegiate career at Western Michigan before family issues forced Finnin to play closer to home. Finnin transferred to Eastern Illinois before finding a home at College of Dupage, where he was named NJCAA All-American in 2013. Finnin would receive more than 35 Division I offers including Ohio State, Florida State, and Oklahoma. Finnin finished his collegiate career at the University of Nebraska, where he would graduate with a Bachelors in History in 2015.
Coach Finnin’s inspiring collegiate journey can be found here.
https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/recruiting/2013-football-recruits/finnin-put-family-first-on-long-journey-to-nebraska/article_c6830cda-be76-5ff4-b919-4d8f2a3b6219.html
