Gardner-Webb Introduces Cris Reisert As Next Head Football Coach

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – University President Dr. William M. Downs has named Cris Reisert as Gardner-Webb’s next head football coach.

“Ours was a true national search, attracting attention from strong candidates around the region and across the country,” explained Downs. “We wanted our next head football coach to be someone who would come in with successful experience as a head coach, someone who consistently fields an up-tempo high-scoring offense, and someone with the confidence to take on (and beat) anybody, anywhere, any time. In Coach Reisert, we’ve found our guy. He sees no ceiling for Gardner-Webb football. He clearly knows how to win, how to build and sustain a program, and—most importantly—how to keep the focus on the student-athletes who he is charged with leading. I’m eager to support Coach Reisert as he builds on our proud football tradition and takes it to new and impressive heights.”

CSA is grateful to have assisted Dr. Downs and Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew Goodrich on the search.

Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew Goodrich also noted that Reisert quickly rose to the top of an amazing candidate pool as the best person for GWU’s students, staff, alumni and community. “I couldn’t be prouder and more excited to welcome Cris Reisert, his wife Emily, son Hawkins, and daughter Lennox to the Gardner-Webb family,” Goodrich affirmed. “As we did our research, we found that the offensive statistics, championships won, and honors earned were surpassed only by the incredible feedback we received from the people who he has worked closest with throughout his career. In short, Cris is a champion in every respect, will teach our players to become the best that they can be, and will faithfully serve our football community.”

Prior to Tiffin, Reisert spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. In seven seasons as the primary play caller, Reisert’s teams have averaged 38 points per game and 455 yards per game.

In his stops at Ohio Dominican and Tiffin, Reisert has built a reputation for leaving an immediate impact. In 2017, his first at Ohio Dominican, the offense improved by 11.5 points and 123 yards per game, as compared to the previous season. He authored the same success in year one at Tiffin (2019), boasting a 13-point and 83-yard improvement on average.

Reisert is ready to begin work at Gardner-Webb. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the head football coach at Gardner-Webb University,” Reisert asserted. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and my family and we can’t wait to get started building upon the amazing tradition of Gardner-Webb football. Thank you to President Downs, Dr. Goodrich and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity; we are eager to join the Cleveland County community and get to work!”

In 2021, Reisert was selected to the American Football Coaches Association’s 35 Under 35 list. Other stops in his coaching career include three seasons as tight ends coach at Elon University (2014-2016), one season as an assistant offensive line coach at Ball State University (2013), and two seasons in a prior stint at Ohio Dominican as the wide receivers coach (2011-2012).

As a player, Reisert started four years at quarterback for Ohio Dominican, where he was named the 2007 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Player of the Year and a two-time All-American. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

Reisert holds a bachelor’s (2009) and master’s degree (2011) in business administration from Ohio Dominican. He and his wife Emily have two children, a son Hawkins and a daughter Lennox.

Gardner-Webb University was assisted in this search by Drew Turner and Marcy Lanoue of Collegiate Sports Associates, a Raleigh-based executive search firm for athletics.

For the full release from Gardner-Webb Athletics, click HERE.