Rhodes Football Camps

Coaching Staff

Chris DiLella
Special Teams Coordinator, ILB Coach, Recruiting Coordinator

Chris DiLella is entering his 10th season on staff and transitioned back to being the Special Teams and Recruiting Coordinator, while continuing to coach the Linebackers at the start of the 2021 fall season.  In that time he coached Wiley Henshaw ’22 to 2nd team all-conference as a punter while his Special Teams units consistently ranked in the top half of the conference

The 2018 season saw DiLella take over as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach.  In his first game he coached the first shutout on Crain Field since 2013.  The 2018 season saw massive improvements for the Rhodes Defense as 6 Rhodes defenders made all Conference, including D’On Coofer who was named to the d3football.com All-Region and All-American teams.  Rhodes also gave up 10 less points and 100 less yards per game.

The 2017 season was his third on the Rhodes College football staff. DiLella spent his first season as the running backs coach before transitioning into the defensive line coach, Special Teams Coordinator, and Recruiting Coordinator for two seasons prior to his promotion.

DiLella came to Rhodes from Gettysburg College where he served as the team’s wide receivers and wing backs coach. During his time, Gettysburg was the only team in the Centennial College to average over 30 points, 430 yards/game, and 5.6 points/play from 2008 through 2013. DiLella also served as the Punt Team Coordinator as well as the Head JV coach and Offensive Coordinator.

Prior to Gettysburg, DiLella spent two seasons as a Defensive Graduate Assistant at Castleton State College, coaching the Outside Linebackers and Defensive Line. In 2010, the Spartans achieved a winning record in only their second season as a program, going 5-4. He also served as the team’s video coordinator.

He started his career at his alma mater, King’s College, where he served as an assistant coach/Head JV Coach, coaching the wide receivers, running backs, and assisting with special teams. He was a member of the team as a quarterback and wide receiver from 2005-09.

DiLella earned his bachelor degree in History with a Secondary Education Certification in 2009 from King’s College and went on to earn his Masters in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Castleton State in 2012.  
DiLella Resides in Memphis with his Wife Belen, Son Luciano, and Daughter Eliana.

Matt Kalb
Offensive Coordinator, QB Coach

Matt Kalb enters his third year as Rhodes College’s offensive coordinator, joining the staff in 2021.

Kalb, who has been coaching collegiate football for the last 29 years, has experience as offensive coordinator for 20 of those years. He previously worked with Duncan at D-III institutions Loras College and Aurora University.
"I am extremely pleased to complete our staff by adding Matt Kalb as the Offensive Coordinator," said Duncan. "I have worked with Matt at two previous stops, and he is a tremendous football coach. Matt is very organized, creative, and an outstanding tactician. He has developed some of the very best QB's that I have had the pleasure to coach. I have the utmost confidence that he will do an exceptional job developing our offense."

In his first three seasons at Rhodes, Kalb’s offense has steadily climbed the SAA statistical rankings. In 2023, the Lynx finished third in Scoring and Passing Offense, and fourth in Total and Rushing Offense. Prior to arriving in Memphis, Kalb spent the previous four years as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Friends University in Kansas. Kalb helped rebuild the squad from 35 players to 115 where the Falcons held five top-20 NAIA rankings this past spring including 14th in rushing yards in game, 18th in third-down conversions and 20th in rushing offense. Prior to Friends, Kalb spent three seasons at McMurry University in Texas. As the offensive coordinator, the War Hawks transitioned from D-II to D-III and the offense improved scoring points per game each season. During his first season, Jeret Smith broke the program's career receiving record. He later signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to rejoin Coach Duncan's staff at Rhodes College," said Kalb. "Having worked with Rich for almost 10 years, I wholeheartedly believe in his vision for Rhodes Football. Additionally, I was introduced to Rhodes through my daughter's recruitment and we fell in love with the campus and academic opportunities. In the end, joining the Rhodes community was one I could not pass up."

Kalb also served as offensive coordinator during his time at both Aurora and Loras. At Aurora, the Spartans were crowned 2008 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Champions with a 7-0 record (9-1 overall) and advanced to the NCAA Playoffs. In 2013, the program set Aurora's total offense and total points records, ranking 26th and 34th respectively among 242 D-III institutions. Kalb also helped develop 2013 All-American tight end Ryan Mizgate for the Spartans.

For the latter three years of Kalb's eight-year tenure at Loras, he was the offensive coordinator where he primary dealt with quarterbacks and wide receivers. With the Duhawks, he recruited Loras' last two All-Americans in Ross Dillavou and Alex McGrew.

Kalb got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant before he earned his first head coaching stint at Joliet Junior College. There he specialized in strength and conditioning, special teams and defensive backs.

"As good as Coach Kalb is as a coach, he is a better man," said Duncan. "I have known his wife Amy, and children Vivian and James for a long time and he is a terrific husband, father, and mentor. I know that we align in the belief that player development is a core tenet in building a successful football program. I've watched Matt's work in developing players who enter our program into all-conference players, excellent students, and finally into terrific husbands, fathers, and men. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Matt once again."

Kalb graduated from the University of Kentucky before he attained his Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Valparaiso University. He began his playing career as a walk-on at the University of Alabama where he was a wide receiver for two years. During his two years at Kentucky, Kalb played wide receiver, defensive back and was on the special teams unit.

Andrew Chau
Defensive Coordinator, DB Coach

Head football coach, Rich Duncan’s second hire:  "I am thrilled to add Andrew Chau to our coaching staff as the defensive coordinator," said Duncan. "He has extensive experience coordinating defenses, which includes his time within our league at Millsaps. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the defenses he has coached because they are well prepared, play extremely hard, and are difficult to prepare against. What impressed me the most about Andrew in our conversations is his attention to detail and his passion to coach fundamentals."

Chau, a veteran coach of over 21 years, brings six years of defensive coordinating experience to Rhodes. In three seasons at Rhodes:

• 2023:  Five All-Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Players
• 2022:  Hansen’s Region III, Defensive Coordinator of the Year; 17th in the Nation, Scoring Defense (16.9 points per game)
• 2022:  Regional Defensive Lineman of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference, Kobe Bins and 1st Team All-Conference, Jordan McCoy (DL)
• 2022:  Six All-Southern Athletic Association (SAA)Players
• 2021:  Three All-Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Players

In the winter of 2021, he spent the abbreviated season at fellow D-III institution Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. as their defensive coordinator. The Quakers' top defender, Bryce Smith, garnered second team All-ODAC honors after making 29 tackles in four games.

During his time with the Majors (2017-19), Chau’s defenses yielded 14 All-Southern Athletic Association (SAA) players. Among those standout performers was Liam Vincifora, who was named the SAA's 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and garnered second team AFCA All-America honors. Vincifora recorded 14 sacks in a 3-4 defensive scheme that season. Millsaps led all SAA programs in least pass defense yardage in 2018 (159 yards per game) and 2019 (178 yards per game).

Chau has also held collegiate stints at Culver Stockton College (NAIA, Mo.), St. Andrews University (defensive backs, NAIA, N.C.), Monroe Junior College (defensive backs, N.Y.), Fordham University (defensive backs, D-I, N.Y.), Occidental College (cornerbacks/linebackers, D-III, Calif.) and the United States Cost Guard Academy (linebackers, D-III, Conn.)

During the 2014 season with Culver Stockton, Chau served as the defensive coordinator where his defense forced 30 turnovers. His defensive unit came through with 18 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries during that campaign. They held the opposition to less than 1,200 yards rushing for the entire season and as a result, six student-athletes were named All-Conference.

Chau coached at fellow D-III Occidental for five seasons where the Tigers earned three NCAA Playoff appearances, three SCIAC Championships, and totaled a 41-7 record. Prior to Occidental, Chau gained valuable experience coaching in San Diego high schools.

Chau played defensive back at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also obtained a master in business administration degree from the University of Florida in 1993.

Antonio Brown
Offensive Line

Rhodes College head football coach Rich Duncan announces his first addition to the Lynx coaching staff. Antonio Brown, a former Berry College Viking, will join the Lynx coaching staff as an assistant coach in charge of the offensive line.

“I am so proud to announce Antonio Brown as the first new hire to our staff," said Duncan. "I have known Antonio as both a player and as a coach. It has been my pleasure to watch his growth from a young man entering college into now becoming the offensive line coach at Rhodes. As a player, Antonio was one of the most intelligent offensive linemen I have ever coached. He was also a guy worked tirelessly at developing his skills on the field and taking care of the small details that are required to become successful."

Brown was an assistant for the Vikings last season and volunteered with the squad in the Fall before attaining his undergraduate degree in December. This past spring, Berry went 4-0, winning their fifth straight SAA Championship. The Vikings averaged 367 yards per game and 29.8 points per game.

As a student-athlete, Brown was a four-time SAA champion and two-time All-SAA selection. He garnered second team All-SAA accolades his senior season as the Vikings went 9-2 and averaged over 400 yards per game including 292 passing yards per game. His junior season, Brown earned honorable mention All-SAA honors when the team went 10-2 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Championship. That season, the team averaged 392 yards of total offense per game. He also participated in track and field for three seasons and earned SAA All-Academic honors.

"I would like to thank Rhodes College and Coach Duncan for presenting me with this amazing opportunity," said Brown. "I am excited to be a Rhodes Lynx and I look forward to building strong relationships with the players, coaching staff, administration, and every person who is connected to the Rhodes community. In addition, I would like to thank Coach K and the Berry football coaching staff for their encouragement and mentorship."

"While he was a highly decorated player, he is an even better coach," said Duncan. "Antonio is an outstanding leader and motivator. He is extremely bright, passionate, and perceptive. People respond to Antonio because he invests deeply in personal relationships. Everyone who spends time with Antonio has a profound respect for him and I am positive that he will make a great impact in our football program at Rhodes. I couldn’t be more excited to add Antonio to our staff.”

Brown officially begins his coaching duties in July.

Ben Mathias
Outside Linebackers Coach

Coach Mathias joined the Lynx program in the spring of 2023 and completed his first season as the Outside Linebackers coach this past fall.  Under his guidance, his group produced honorable mention and 2nd team all-conference recipients.

Before joining Rhodes, Coach Mathias spent three years at Carroll University, coaching linebackers and serving as the academic coordinator.  During his tenure, he coached a second-team all-conference player and was instrumental in developing the first-year athlete of the year. He is most proud of the continual improvement of his athletes' cumulative GPA and the recognition of 29 athletes as academic all-conference.

Before his time at Carroll University, Coach Mathias contributed significantly to the success of VPM High School in Madison, Wis.  There, he worked with the defensive line, linebackers, and special teams and eventually served as the defensive coordinator.  Under his leadership, VPM's defense became a cornerstone of the program, securing back-to-back conference championships, three Madison City titles, and a historic appearance in the state semi-finals—the first for a Madison City school since 1984.  Additionally, Coach Mathias mentored three players who were voted linebacker of the year.

A native of Middleton, Wis, Coach Mathias is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he excelled as a three-year letter winner in multiple positions, including running back, fullback, tight end, and defensive line.