Eric Koehler - Football Coach - University of Minnesota Athletics

Eric Koehler

Title:
Tight Ends

Eric Koehler joined the Minnesota football staff in February 2023 as a senior offensive analyst. He was named tight ends coach prior to the 2024 season.

Koehler adds nearly 30 years of coaching experience to the Minnesota staff, which includes more than 20 years as a head coach or offensive coordinator. Koehler has worked at Miami University (2014-22), Illinois State (2013), Grand Valley State (2008-12), Wartburg (2002-07), Rose-Hulman (2001), Wisconsin-Platteville (1999-00), Worcester Polytech Institute (1998) and his alma mater Hanover, which is where he started as an assistant coach in 1997 after his playing career ended.

Koehler spent the last nine years at Miami (Ohio), the first seven of which were as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He then assumed the title of assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. The RedHawks won their division twice with Koehler on staff and were Mid-American Conference champions in 2019. They also played in four bowl games, including a win in the 2021 Frisco Football Classic.

Under Koehler's leadership, Miami starting quarterbacks saw plenty of success and earned Mid-American Conference accolades. In 2014 Andrew Hendrix earned third team All-MAC honors, throwing for 3,280 yards and 23 touchdowns in his lone year at Miami. Gus Ragland, who was a three-year starter from 2016-18, earned All-MAC honors in 2018 and finished his career with 6,306 passing yards and 56 touchdowns, while adding 882 yards and 14 scores on the ground. In 2019 Brett Gabbert was named MAC Freshman of the Year, becoming only the third RedHawk in school history to receive that honor. Gabbert threw for 2,411 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to leading Miami to a MAC Championship win against Central Michigan. Gabbert played in 31 games with Koehler as his coach and he completed 450 passes for 6,259 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Koehler spent the 2013 season at Illinois State where he coached the quarterbacks. In his one season with the Redbirds, Koehler helped coach Blake Winkler to the Missouri Valley All-Newcomer Team, while helping Illinois State average 24.7 points per game and finish fourth in the conference in passing efficiency.

Prior to Illinois State, he spent five seasons (2008-12) as the offensive coordinator at NCAA Division II Grand Valley State. Koehler also coached quarterbacks from 2009-2012 and running backs in 2008. Koehler’s offense led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference and ranked No. 6 in the country in scoring offense in 2012, as the Lakers averaged 41.9 points per game. Grand Valley State also ranked second in the conference and No. 13 in the country in total offense (474.5), and quarterback Isiah Grimes led the country with a pass efficiency rating of 178.1.

In 2011, Grand Valley State led the conference in rushing (226.4), total offense (467.5) and scoring (42.3), while also ranking sixth nationally in scoring. Quarterback Heath Parling led the nation in passing efficiency that season and was a DII Quarterback of the Year Finalist. The three-year captain would finish his standout career with 89 touchdown passes and more than 7,000 passing yards.

The 2010 season saw Koehler's offense average 216.3 rushing yards per game and 221.3 passing yards per game. In 2009, Grand Valley State ranked ninth nationally in rushing (237.3), No. 11 in total offense (455.1) and No. 12 in scoring (36.8).

Before arriving at Grand Valley State, Koehler spent six years at Wartburg College in Iowa, including the final two years (2006-07) as head coach. Koehler led Wartburg to a 16-4 record in his two seasons, which included a 13-3 record in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Wartburg was 8-2 in 2007 and ranked as high as No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association DIII poll during the season. Wartburg also finished 8-2 under Koehler in 2006.

Including his tenure as an assistant, Wartburg was 52-13 overall with three NCAA DIII playoff appearances. Wartburg ranked among the leaders in every offensive category with Koehler directing the offense. The 2003 team set five school records and ranked at the top of the league in total offense and scoring offense. They finished the season ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation in total offense (24th), scoring offense (19th) and passing efficiency (third). His 2002 offense led the conference in total offense and scoring offense.

Koehler graduated from Hanover College in Indiana in 1997 with a degree in political science. He played four seasons with the Panthers and was a wide receiver. He earned his master's in education from Wisconsin-Platteville in 2000.

Koehler's father, father-in-law and brother have all coached or are currently coaching football.

Koehler is married to his wife, Heidi.

KOEHLER AT A GLANCE

Coaching Experience
2024-present: Minnesota - Tight Ends
2023: Minnesota - Senior Offensive Analyst
2021-22: Miami: Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks / Assistant Head Coach
2014-21: Miami University - Co-Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
2013: Illinois State - Quarterbacks
2009-12: Grand Valley State - Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
2008: Grand Valley State - Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs
2006-07: Wartburg - Head Coach
2002-05: Wartburg - Offensive Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach
2001: Rose-Hulman - Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
1999-00: Wisconsin-Platteville - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers
1998: Worcester Polytech Institute - Wide Receivers
1997: Hanover - Wide Receivers

Bowls Coached
2023 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2022 Bahamas Bowl (Miami)
2021 Frisco Football Classic (Miami)
2020 LendingTree Bowl (Miami)
2016 St. Petersburg Bowl (Miami)

Playing Experience: Hanover College (wide receiver), 1993-96

Hometown: Fowler, Ind.
High School: Benton Central, 1993
Alma Mater: Hanover College, 1997 (Political Science); Wisconsin-Plateville, 2000 (Master's in Education)

Wife: Heidi