New Central Michigan Head Football Coach Matt Drinkall has officially announced the addition of a new strength and conditioning coach, two new assistant coaches, and two recruiting staff members.
Drinkall has hired Brandon Johnson-Farrell as the Chippewas' new Wide Receivers Coach, Tesfa Smith as Defensive Line Coach, Jacob Riedel as Director of Strength and Conditioning, Jacob Sakk as Senior Director of Player Personnel, and Abigayl Cox as Director of Football Recruiting.
Central Michigan will continue to announce additional coaching staff and support staff members in the coming days.
A nine-year coaching veteran, Johnson-Farrell joins the Central Michigan coaching staff as Wide Receivers coach, serving one season as the receivers coach at Lindenwood. Previously, he worked with CMU Offensive Coordinator Jim Chapin and Offensive Line Coach Hayden Mace at various stops including both Eastern Washington (2023) and various roles at Sioux Falls (2016-21). He also coached at Valdosta State (2022) and played in the Indoor Football League, where he was named the IFL United Bowl Most Valuable Player. A native of Odenton, Md., Johnson-Farrell graduated from Rhode Island in 2012 and earned an MBA from Sioux Falls in 2017. He is one of the top wide receivers to ever play at Rhode Island. Read more about Johnson-Farrell at this link.
"I am incredibly excited to have Coach Brandon Johnson-Farrell joining our staff," Drinkall said. "He has a strong history with our offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, and his ability to build relationships and teach the game at a high level is second to none. He's a true family man who brings great energy and passion every day, and he's already hit the ground running. It's easy to see why he's had success at every stop in his career. Coach Johnson-Farrell is a tremendous asset to our program, and we're lucky to have him here. He is perfectly aligned with our vision for the future, and we are so glad he is here."
As its Defensive Line Coach, Smith moves to the Central Michigan coaching staff with 25 years of collegiate coaching experience and the previous 10 years as the defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach at nearby Ferris State. During his tenure at Ferris State under head coach Tony Annese, Smith helped guide the Bulldogs to the top of NCAA Division II football. In the last 10 years, Smith and the Bulldogs won three NCAA Division II national championships (2021, 2022, and 2024), six Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, with five unbeaten regular seasons, six regional titles, six national quarterfinal appearances, and a 122-14 overall record. Ferris State is one of only four teams in college football at any level to win at least 11 games in each of the last eight seasons. A Sunrise, Fla. native, Smith has also served in coaching roles during two tenures at Saginaw Valley State (2007-13 and 1999-04) and MacMurray (2005-06). Read more about Smith at this link.
"I am truly honored to welcome Coach Tesfa Smith to Central Michigan as our new defensive line coach," Drinkall said. "Coach Smith is a proven winner, having helped lead Ferris State to multiple national championships and he has one of the most impressive reputations in all of college football—both as a coach and recruiter. More importantly, he is a tremendous family man and mentor who is deeply committed to developing young men on and off the field. His experience and relationships throughout the state will be an enormous boost for our program, and I couldn't be more excited for our student-athletes to work with Coach Smith."
Riedel begins his first year at Central Michigan as its Director of Strength and Conditioning after working the last three years at Army with Drinkall. He has the unique distinction of having won a conference championship at every school that he has coached at including Army (2022-24), LSU (2015-21) and Cincinnati (2013-14), and most notably, a football national championship at LSU in 2019. During his career, Riedel's teams have advanced to 10 bowl games, two conference championship games, and the national semifinal and FBS national championship game. At Army, he was responsible for the skill and mid-skill groups that saw marked improvement over the years and helped guide the Army program to a 12-2 overall record, American Athletic Conference title and bowl berth in the previous 2024 season. A South Milwaukee, Wis., Riedel spent seven combined years at LSU, where he held the title of Senior Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning for one season (2021) and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (2015-20). Read more about Riedel at this link.
"I've had the privilege of working alongside Coach Riedel for the past three years at Army West Point, and I've personally witnessed the impact he makes on a program," Drinkall said. "Coach Riedel learned from one of the best mentors in the profession while at West Point, won a national championship at LSU, and helped elevate Army Football to unprecedented heights. Beyond the accomplishments, what sets Coach Riedel apart is his sincere ability to connect with people and his relentless drive to build a winning culture. Coach Riedel is an incredibly gifted professional, and I couldn't be more excited to have him here at Central Michigan. His leadership and expertise will make an immediate impact on our team."
Sakk is the Chippewas' new Senior Director of Player Personnel after spending the previous five years with the Duquesne University football program in a variety of roles including player personnel, offensive quality control coach, and video assistant. The Baltimore, Md. native has also worked as a recruiting analyst at both Michigan and Pittsburgh and is a 2024 graduate of Duquesne. Read more about Sakk at this link.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Jacob Sakk joining our program as the Director of Player Personnel," Drinkall said. "He is young, dynamic, and has already orchestrated a major personnel turnaround at the NCAA Division I level. His ability to evaluate talent, build relationships, and implement innovative strategies sets him apart as one of the brightest up-and-coming minds in the profession. Jacob is cutting-edge in his approach to personnel and recruiting and he will make an immediate impact on Central Michigan Football. We're excited to have Jacob on board."
An Austin, Texas native, Cox begins her new role at Central Michigan as its Director of Football Recruiting. She arrives in Mount Pleasant after spending the 2024 season as the Senior Recruiting Assistant at Texas. She has also worked as a recruiting assistant at Arkansas and her alma mater Southeastern Louisiana. She is a 2024 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana. Read more about Cox at this link.
"I am so excited to announce the hiring of Abigayl Cox as the program's new Director of On-Campus Recruiting. Ms. Cox is an incredibly energetic and talented professional who will be a valuable asset to our team. She brings a level of expertise that will enhance our recruiting efforts and help us continue to build a first-class program at Central Michigan. Her ability to manage logistics, foster relationships, and create an engaging atmosphere will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Central Michigan Football. She gained valuable experience at the University of Texas, where she developed a reputation for her relentless work ethic. Ms. Cox is an excellent addition to our staff."
