La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has named two finalists to be interviewed for the head football coach position, according to the search and screen committee.  The two finalists are Matt Janus, interim head coach at UW-La Crosse and Joe Schaefer, defensive coordinator at John Carroll University (Ohio).

Janus was named UWL's interim head coach on December 12. He completed his third year as the Eagles' defensive coordinator in 2019.  UWL finished in the top-four in eight defensive categories in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) this year, including second in turnover margin (+8), opponents' third-down conversions (34.0%) and red-zone defense (65.0%).  The team was third in the league in rushing defense (107.7 yards per game) and quarterback sacks (40) while also finishing fourth in scoring defense (22.1 points per game), total defense (365.3 yards) and passing defense efficiency (113.9).  
 
A total of 15 All-WIAC honors have been earned in Janus' three seasons as defensive coordinator.  
 
The Eagles finished in the top-four in six defensive categories in the WIAC in 2018, including second in quarterback sacks (36) and opponents' third-down conversions (36.4%).  UWL was also third in scoring defense (23.3) in 2018 while finishing fourth in rushing defense (130.0 yards per game), turnover margin (+3) and red-zone defense (68.6%).  The team forced 17 turnovers overall, including eight interceptions and nine fumbles. 
 
Opponents scored 151 points (15.1 average) in 2017 versus UWL, the fewest points for an opponent since 2000.  The Eagles allowed eight passing touchdowns in 2017, the fewest since 2000.  UWL also allowed 3,311 yards of offense, the fewest for an opponent since 2007.  The team ranked in the top-three in eight defensive categories in the WIAC in 2017, including leading the league in pass defense (164.6 yards per game), pass defense efficiency (99.5), turnover margin (+11) and opponents' fourth-down conversions (17.6%, three-of-17).  The Eagles were second in scoring defense (15.1), quarterback sacks (30) and red-zone defense (60.0%) while finishing third in opponents' third-down conversions (30.4%, 42-of-138).  The team was fourth in total defense (333.1).  
 
Janus worked as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from 2014-16, serving as co-defensive coordinator for the 2016 season.  He was UW-Platteville's Athletics Department Recruiting Coordinator for Iowa from June 2014–March 2016 while also serving as the Pioneers' defensive line coach. A total of nine defensive players earned all-conference honors under Janus at UW-Platteville.
 
Prior to arriving at UW-Platteville, Janus was the defensive coordinator at Sheboygan Falls (Wis.) High School from June 2011–June 2014.   He was a graduate assistant coach at UW-Platteville from May 2010– June 2011, working with the outside linebackers.  

Janus earned his bachelor's (2010) degree in social science and master's (2016) in adult education from UW-Platteville.  He earned three football letters for the Pioneers, serving as team captain in 2009.

An open forum will be held Wednesday, January 29 at 1 p.m. in 260 Graff Main Hall.
 
Schaefer completed his second season as the defensive coordinator/secondary coach at John Carroll (Ohio) in 2019 as the Blue Streaks finished 9-1 overall and 8-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). His defense led the conference and ranked 14th in NCAA Division III in quarterback sacks (35) last season while also finishing second in the league in scoring defense (11.5), total defense (242.8), rushing defense (94.7) and passing defense (148.1). John Carroll (Ohio) was fourth in the country in scoring defense in 2019 while finishing eighth in total and passing defense and ninth in third-down defense (26.9%).
 
John Carroll (Ohio) went 9-2 overall and 8-1 in the OAC in Schaefer's first season as defensive coordinator in 2018 while advancing to the first round of the NCAA Division III Championships. The Blue Streaks led the conference in rushing defense (69.0) while finishing second in scoring defense (15.4), total defense (267.8), passing defense (198.8) and quarterback sacks (57). Schaefer's defense led the nation in quarterback sacks while finishing 10th in rushing defense, 24th in total defense and 29th in scoring defense.
 
A total of 14 All-OAC selections have been earned in Schaefer's first two seasons at John Carroll (Ohio).
 
Prior to arriving at John Carroll (Ohio), Schaefer was the Director of Scouting for Iowa State University Football in 2016 and 2017. He served as a defensive quality control assistant at the University of Maryland from February-July 2016.
 
Schaefer was head football coach at Cleveland (Ohio) Benedictine High School for three years, leading the Bengals to the 2014 Division IV State Championship with a 14-1 record. Cleveland Benedictine also reached the 2013 and 2015 state quarterfinals in Division III under Schaefer as he compiled an overall record of 35-6. He was selected the 2014 AP All-Ohio Division IV Coach of the Year and named the 2013, 2014 and 2015 North Coast League Coach of the Year. Prior to being named Bengals' head coach, Schaefer was the team's defensive coordinator in 2011-12.
 
He coached defensive ends at the University of Findlay (Ohio) in 2009 and at the University of Toledo (Ohio) in 2010-11.
 
Schaefer was a three-year football letter winner and two-year starter at Bowling Green State University (Ohio). He earned his bachelor's degree from BGSU in 2009 in education. 

An open forum will be held Thursday, January 30 at 1 p.m. in 260 Graff Main Hall.