Football
- Title:
- Offensive Line Coach, Run Game Coordinator
- Email:
- football@kent.edu
Matt Limegrover joined the Golden Flashes and Head Coach Kenni Burns’ staff in January of 2023 as the Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach.
Limegrover comes to Kent State after spending two seasons on the staff at Arkansas State, serving as the run-game coordinator and tight ends in 2022 and the offensive line in 2021. He arrives in Kent with over 30 years of college coaching experience that has seen him coach in 13 bowl games including three New Years’ Six games (Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl). He also has won three Big 10 Championships, serving on the 2016 Penn State staff as well as the 1995 and 1996 Northwestern Wildcats.
During his time in Jonesboro, Limegrover coached Andre Harris Jr to All-Sun Belt honors. The Red Wolves’ offense was 11th in the nation in passing at over 313 yards per game and posted over 500 yards on four different occasions.
Prior to Arkansas State, Limegrover was the offensive line coach at Penn State from 2016-19. During that span the Nittany Lions’ won the 2016 Big 10 title, posted a 42-11 record and posted wins in the 2019 Cotton Bowl and 2017 Fiesta Bowl. He also served as the run-game coordinator for the 2018 season and helped the Nittany Lions’ set numerous offensive records during the 2016 season including points scored, passing offense and total offense.
Before his time in Happy Valley, Limegrover spent five seasons at Minnesota as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. He held the title of assistant head coach during his final two seasons. The Golden Gophers made three consecutive bowl games in his final three seasons, including eight-win campaigns in 2013 and 14.
Limegrover’s time in Minnesota was part of his 16 seasons working under former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill. Stops on Kill’s staff included Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and Emporia State. He served as the offensive line coach and/or the offensive coordinator for all 16 seasons.
While at Northern Illinois, Limegrover produced seven All-Mid-American Conference offensive lineman, including two first team selections in 2010. He helped the Huskies to three consecutive bowl berths and the 2010 MAC West title. The Husky line gave up only 15 sacks in 2009, when NIU also led the MAC and ranked 19th nationally in rushing with 202.4 yards per game.
Limegrover also made coaching stops at Ferris State (1997-98) as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Northwestern (1995-96) as a graduate assistant. He got his coaching start at his alma mater, the University of Chicago (1991-94) serving in a variety of roles, spanning interim head coach (1994), offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach.
As a student-athlete, Limegrover was a honorable mention all-conference player as a senior and played on the University of Chicago offensive line from 1987-1990. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1991 and a master’s from Northwestern in 2000.
Limegrover and his wife, Ann, have one daughter, Emma, and a son, TJ.
