Chad Eisele became the Knox College athletic director on May 8, 2006 and he was named the head football coach in November of 2009. Eisele, a native of Peoria, Illinois, is a 1993 graduate of Knox.
Eisele was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, baseball, and track and field. A defensive back for the football team, Eisele was an All-Midwest Conference selection three times. He tied the school record for pass interceptions in a game in September of 1989 with three against Lake Forest College.
Upon graduation, Eisele served as defensive secondary coach at Knox for one season. He was the defensive secondary coach and defensive coordinator at Wayne State University from 1994 to 1997 before moving on to become the assistant football coach at Lake Forest College from 1997 to 2000.
Eisele was the head football coach at Lake Forest from 2000 to 2005, compiling a record of 31-20. He led the Foresters to the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2002 and was named Midwest Conference Coach of the Year. Eisele was also the head coach of the Lake Forest men's tennis team and won a conference championship in 1999. He was the head football coach at Minnesota State-Moorhead for one season before returning to Knox.
Eisele serves on the NCAA Division III Football Committee. His four-year appointment began in September of 2008. The Committee is comprised of eight members with two from each football region (East, South, North, and West). Knox College, a member of the Midwest Conference, is located within the West region.
As part of the DIII football committee, Eisele is responsible for evaluating Division III football teams throughout the season, assisting in the selection of the top teams, creating the national championship bracket, and delegating officials to work the playoff games. National committee members also serve as regional committee chairs, staff selected playoff games, and attend the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
