Holy Cross Athletics

Recruiting Areas: Connecticut, New Jersey (Southern)

Matt Schell enters his third season with the Holy Cross football staff in 2026. He was elevated to the role of offensive coordinator in 2026, after serving as the program’s tight ends coach, pass game coordinator, and recruiting coordinator for the previous two seasons. 

Through his direct mentorship and gameplanning, Schell was able to elevate tight end Jacob Petersen, who became the first Holy Cross tight end to earn first team All-Patriot League accolades since 2010. Petersen hauled in 34 receptions for 502 yards and six touchdowns, the third-most receiving yards of any FCS tight end in 2024.

In his first season with the Crusaders, Schell helped Holy Cross earn a share of its sixth consecutive Patriot League Championship, with the team posting a 5-1 record in conference play.

Prior to arriving at Holy Cross, Schell spent time at both Merrimack and Pitt, where he played a crucial role in developing 2023 NEC Offensive Player of the Year Donovan Wadley, and in formulating Pitt’s elite, 41.4 point per game offense, which produced Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett and Biletnikoff-winning NFL wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Schell spent the previous two seasons as Merrimack's wide receivers coach. He helped lead the Warriors to consecutive appearances in the Northeast Conference championship game in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 team also tied the school single-season record with eight victories, while posting a seven-game winning streak and receiving votes in the top 25 for four consecutive weeks in just the program’s third full season at the Division I level.

Prior to joining the Merrimack staff, Schell was an offensive quality control coach at Pittsburgh. During the 2021 ACC championship campaign, the Panthers averaged a school-record 41.4 points and 486.6 yards per game. Pitt ranked third nationally in scoring and eighth in total offense. 

Prior to his Pittsburgh arrival, Schell was a defensive graduate assistant at Arkansas State during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. During his tenure, the Red Wolves captured the 2019 Camellia Bowl with a 34-26 victory over FIU.

Schell spent three years (2016-18) in diverse roles for the football program at Massachusetts, serving as a defensive graduate assistant, defensive analyst and director of football operations.

His additional experience includes time as a video assistant with the New England Patriots. 

Schell is a 2015 graduate of UMass with a dual degree in finance and sport management.

SCHELL’S COACHING CAREER
2026 - | Holy Cross (Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach)
2024-25 | Holy Cross (Recruiting Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach)
2022-23 | Merrimack (Wide Receivers Coach) 
2021 | Pittsburgh (Offensive Quality Control) 
2019-20 | Arkansas State (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2016-18 | Massachusetts (Defensive Graduate Assistant / Defensive Analyst / Director of Football Operations)