La Crosse, Wis. - UW-La Crosse Intercollegiate Athletics is giving fans an opportunity to get to know its 16 head coaches during the 2019-20 season. We thank all 16 of the Eagles' head coaches for participating. Our head coach being recognized today is football's Matt Janus. 

Janus was named UWL's 14th head coach in school history on February 5, 2020 after serving as interim head coach since 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) in 2019, 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) this season while also finishing fourth in scoring defense (22.1 points per game), total defense (365.3 yards) and passing defense efficiency (113.9). 

Janus worked as an assistant coach at UW-Platteville from 2014-16, serving as co-defensive coordinator for the 2016 season.  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 letters for the Pioneers, serving as team captain in 2009.

Matt Janus

Your hometown?  Lake Zurich, Illinois.  

Favorite food?  Pizza.   

Favorite hobby?  Spending time with my family.

Favorite inspirational quote?  Quotes aren't really something that inspire me, instead I like the ones that make me laugh. Anything said by Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute from The Office.

The thing you most like about the Coulee Region?  So much to do, whether it's on the river, in the bluffs, or downtown.

Your favorite coaching memory?  Walk-off wins that we've had here over the last two years!

Your favorite memory as a student-athlete?  My teammates.

Your sports role model?  No role model, but Jay Cutler was my favorite Chicago Bear.

Favorite book?  Harry Potter series without a doubt.

Favorite emoji?  

Favorite vacation spot?  Southern California.

Favorite band?  Blink-182.