Lindsey Wilson University

Phil Kleckler begins his fourth season as the Lindsey Wilson football head coach in 2025. He became the second head coach in Lindsey Wilson football history on December 14, 2021. He had previously spent five years as the Blue Raiders’ defensive coordinator, helping the team to an impressive 53-6 record.

In his first three seasons, Kleckler has coached four all-Americans, 31 All Mid-South Conference performers, and a conference defensive player of the year. 

Last season, the Blue Raiders went 5-4 with a pair of victories over Top 25 teams, defeating Campbellsville (Ky.) 16-10 and Cumberland 20-17. In 2023, the Blue Raiders just missed the NAIA Football Championships Series following a 7-3 campaign. All three Lindsey Wilson losses came to top-10 teams.

During his first season at the helm of the program in 2022, Kleckler led Lindsey Wilson to its seventh consecutive appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series quarterfinals with an overall record of 10-2.

Under Klecker’s leadership, the Blue Raider defense led the NAIA and set program records for points per game (10.3), fewest points allowed (123), fewest total yards allowed (2,586), fewest rushing yards allowed (373), fewest rushing yards per game (31.1), and sacks (52).

Kleckler was named the 2020 FootballScoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year following Lindsey Wilson’s national championship run in 2020. The Blue Raiders posted an 11-0 record during the season while holding their opponents to 14.4 points per game and producing 33-1/2 sacks -- tying a program record set in 2014.

In 2018, Kleckler was named the American Football Coaches Association NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year for his work on and off the field. The annual honor is awarded to those who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success, and AFCA professional organization involvement.

The  Lindsey Wilson defense has rewritten the program record for points allowed. In 2018 the Blue Raiders surrendered 181 points, in 2020 Lindsey Wilson gave up 158 points, and allowed just 146 in 2022 before limiting opponents to 123 total points in 2023.

While serving as defensive coordinator for Lindsey Wilson, Kleckler coached four NAIA defensive All-Americans, a pair of Mid-South Conference Defensive Players of the Year, and 27 defensive All-Mid-South Conference performers.

Kleckler came to Lindsey Wilson after six seasons at Benedictine (Ill.), where he served as the defensive and recruiting coordinator. He also boasts coaching stints at Occidental (Calif.) and Averett (Va.).

Kleckler led a Benedictine defense that led the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference in scoring defense and rushing defense in 2015 and 2016. During his tenure at Benedictine, Kleckler coached 12 linebackers to All Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference honors while producing a 38-22 regular-season record, two NACC titles, and two NCAA playoff appearances.

As defensive coordinator, the Benedictine defense led the conference in multiple statistical categories while producing 10 all-conference selections and one AFCA-NCAA Division III All-American.

Kleckler is a 2006 graduate of Monmouth (Ill.). As a student-athlete, Kleckler was a two-time all-conference selection. He led his teams to a 39-12 overall record while helping Monmouth to a Midwest Conference championship and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.

He resides in Columbia with his wife Randi and son Rory.

Collegiate Coaching Career

2007-08: Averett University (Va.) - Assistant Coach

2009-10: Occidental College (Calif.) - Assistant Coach

2011-16: Benedictine College (Kan.) - Defensive Coordinator

2017-21: Lindsey Wilson University - Defensive Coordinator

2022-present: Lindsey Wilson University - Head Coach


Contact Information

Office: Athletics Football Offices

Phone: 270-384-8217

Fax: 270-384-8078

Mail: 210 Lindsey Wilson Street, Columbia, KY 42728

Email: klecklerp@lindsey.edu


Coaching Accolades

2018 American Football Coaches Association NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year

2020 FootballScoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year