MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College announced the promotion of Tom Hinkle to head football coach Monday (Dec. 15) afternoon. After serving as the Pioneers' associate head coach this fall, Hinkle becomes the 31st head coach in program history. 
 
Hinkle comes to the role with the full support and backing of campus leadership, President Kathleen Dougherty stated. 
 
"I am thrilled that Tom has accepted our offer to be Marietta College's head football coach," she said. "Tom comes to this role with a long history of dedication to this institution, this program, and our students. He shares our institutional commitment to assuring that our players develop both athletically and academically. We couldn't ask for a better role model and a more dedicated leader."
 
Hinkle takes over for Tom Kaufman who stepped down to take the head coaching position at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. Hinkle has been on the Pioneer staff for nine seasons and served as interim head coach before Kaufman was hired.
 
"I would like to thank Dr. Dougherty and Athletic Director Larry Hiser for giving me the opportunity to become the next head football coach at Marietta College," Hinkle said. "When I first stepped foot onto campus 13 years ago as a student, I knew Marietta was a special place. This has been a dream job of mine since I first joined the coaching staff," Hinkle added. 
 
As the defensive line coach for eight seasons under Andy Waddle, Hinkle produced some of the best defensive lines in MC football history and the country. During that time Marietta's defense led NCAA Division III in third down defense in 2024 and was second in D3 sacks in 2022. In three of the last five seasons, Marietta's defense has had a player ranked in the top-10 NCAA Division III in sacks. Hinkle has coached several All-Americans including Drake Neuberger, Kyle Gallagher and Chance  Knight.

"The excitement level for the future of Marietta Football is at an all-time high and I am excited to continue on the path that was so excellently laid out by Andy Waddle and Tom Kaufman before me," Hinkle said. "Fans can expect a team next fall that plays the game with extreme passion and tenacity," he promised. "Our players are very hungry, and our coaching staff has been working tirelessly to make Marietta College the ultimate experience for our student-athletes." 
 
That experience includes more than just the game, according to Hinkle. "We will remain humble in both victory and defeat," he said, "because at the end of the day, we are in the business of developing outstanding young men." He added, "We have a lot of work to do but the best is yet to come for Marietta Football."
 
Larry Hiser, Director of Athletics, believes Hinkle is the right person at the right time to lead Pioneer football to greater heights.
 
"I am truly excited to promote Tom to the head football coach position," Hiser said. "He has been a key component of the program for nearly a decade and has helped us climb from the bottom to becoming a perennially potent OAC team," Hiser added. "While he has been developing his coaching skills, he has consistently been a man with strong ethics and deep sense of belonging and loyalty. He is a builder and a unifier who helps people commit to a cause larger than themselves. Now is the perfect time for him to use what he's learned and take full command of our program."
 
Hinkle, a three-year varsity letterman for Marietta, joined the coaching staff after a successful playing career in the Navy Blue and White. Hinkle played a variety of positions during his career before settling into a starting role on the defensive line. As a freshman he started one game at quarterback, passing for 195 yards and one touchdown. In his final two seasons he played every game, tallying 53 tackles his senior year, including 1.5 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss. He also served as the Pioneer punter in 2014, averaging 33.4 yards per punt to be one of the conference leaders in that year. Hinkle graduated from Marietta College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sport Management.
 
"MC football is in the hands of a Marietta College alum for the first time since the 1940's and I could not be happier," Hiser stated.
 
As a player and an assistant coach, Hinkle has devoted countless hours helping to develop Marietta College Football into a well-respected program in the OAC.  He is a CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer and resides in Marietta with his wife Lauren, their son, J.T., and daughter, Charlie, whom he thanks for "standing by me through this entire journey. They are my rock and without their support none of this would be possible."
 
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.