/notables/2026/01/janus-departs-for-northern-michigan

Janus departs for Northern Michigan

More news about: UW-La Crosse
Photo by Wade Gardner, d3photography.com
 

Northern Michigan, an NCAA Division II program, has named Matt Janus as its next head football coach, the school announced Monday.

Janus completed his sixth season as UW-La Crosse's coach in 2025. Named the 14th head football coach in school history on February 5, 2020, Janus went 45-14 (.763) overall and 29-6 (.829) in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in five seasons of competition at UW-La Crosse.

UW-La Crosse will conduct a national search for the next head coach as soon as possible.

With a minimum of five years as head coach, Janus' .763 winning percentage ranks second in school history behind Roger Harring's record of .771 (261-75-7 in 31 seasons).

UW-La Crosse's 45 overall victories over the last five seasons are the most since winning 56 games from 1992-96. The Eagles' 29 league wins are the most in a five-year span since 2002-06 (27).

A native of Lake Zurich, Illinois, Janus led UW-La Crosse to the NCAA Division III Championships in each of his five seasons of competition. The Eagles went 5-5 in the national playoffs under Janus, advancing to the second round in 2021 and 2024, the third round in 2025 and national quarterfinals in 2023.

The Eagles finished in the top-two in the WIAC standings in each of Janus' five seasons, winning two (2022, 2023) league titles and finishing third three seasons (2021, 2024, 2025).

Jan. 4: All times Eastern
Final
UW-River Falls 24, at North Central (Ill.) 14
@ Canton, Ohio
Video Box Score Photos
Dec. 20: All times Eastern
Final
at North Central (Ill.) 41, John Carroll 21
Box Score Recap
Final
at UW-River Falls 48, Johns Hopkins 41
Video Box Score Recap Recap Photos
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