Email:
kappascw@mountunion.edu
Chris Kappas '08 was named the defensive coordinator for the 2026 season, bringing a proven track record of success both as a player and a coach.
Most recently, from 2023 to 2025, Kappas brought his extensive experience to the high school level, serving as the head football coach and assistant athletic director at Louisville H.S., including leading the Leopards to the OHSAA football playoffs in 2025.
As a player from 2005 to 2007, Kappas was a safety and starter for Mount Union in 2007, winning national championships in 2005 and 2006 before graduating in 2008 with a degree in physical education, health, and education. He immediately transitioned to coaching, serving as the cornerbacks coach in 2008 and 2009—earning his first coaching national championship in 2008—followed by coaching the defensive line in 2010.
He then spent 2011 and 2012 as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I Bowling Green, where he earned a master's in sport administration.
Returning to Mount Union in 2013, Kappas coached wide receivers and served as the special teams coordinator, before taking on the role of defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016 (earning OAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2014, a national championship in 2015, FootballScoop D3 Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015, and OAC Assistant Coach of the Year again in 2017). He then switched sides of the ball to serve as offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018—capturing another national championship in 2017—before returning to his role as defensive coordinator in 2019.
Expanding his collegiate coaching career, he joined NCAA Division I Austin Peay State from 2020 to 2022 as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, helping secure the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship in 2022 and earning the prestigious AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year award that same year.
A 2008 Mount Union graduate, Kappas was a three-year letterwinner at safety and earned Academic All-OAC and Academic All-District honors while being a member of the 2005 and 2006 National Championship teams.
Kappas and his wife, Krista (a 2011 UMU graduate), are proud parents to their three children, Coby, Lily, and Shepard.
