Texas Lutheran coach Carl Gustafson is retiring from coaching after three years with the program and 35 years overall. TLU will internally promote defensive coordinator Ricky Matt to the head position. 

"My heart is full because of the guys on the team these past three seasons," said Gustafson. "I have been truly privileged to call myself their head coach. Football teams are always measured by wins and losses, and this team has made us proud in that regard, but I am most proud and most rewarded by how these young men handle themselves off the field and in the classroom. I will miss the players dearly."

Gustafson served as the 21st head coach in program history and led an almost immediate turnaround in Seguin. He took over a program that went 2-8 in 2016 and flipped it to 6-4 just a season later. Texas Lutheran beat No. 6 Hardin-Simmons in 2019 to finish 8-2 and just outside of the NCAA playoff picture. 

Texas Lutheran finished with a combined 21-9 record in Gustafson’s three seasons and was twice named American Southwest Conference coach of the year. 

Gustafson’s entire collegiate coaching career took place at Texas Lutheran. He took over as offensive line coach in 2014 and helped develop Kendall Wilkerson into an All-American guard. After two years as O-Line coach and director and football operations, Gustafson earned the head job in 2017. 

In addition, Gustafson has a long career in the Texas high school coaching ranks. He was head coach at San Antonio Christian, Churchill and New Braunfels Canyon. His father, Marvin, is in the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. The Northside ISD football facilities are called C. Marvin Gustafson Stadium. His uncle, Cliff, is a former baseball coach at Texas.

Matt takes over the program after three seasons on the staff. He is a 1979 alumnus who played on the 1975 NAIA-II National Championship team. He has coached at Texas Lutheran, Central Arkansas, Texas State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and ULM, among others. 

“Our goals will always be to win the conference championship and make the playoffs,” Matt said in a statement. “At TLU, we want to dream big. We believe we can accomplish anything if we have faith, course and enthusiasm.” 

TLU plays in the American Southwest Conference with Mary Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons, East Texas Baptist and several other competitive programs. Texas Lutheran is just the fourth program to make a coaching change in 2019.