Central Michigan Football, Drinkall Announces Six More Coaching Staff Members
7/9/2025 10:08:00 AM | Football
Director of External Operations John LeisterAssistant Director of Football Operations Ashley JetzlerDirector of Analytics Nolan JonesSenior Offensive Analyst Jack McDanielsDirector of Football Equipment Andrew LangDirector of Creative Content A.J. Isaacs
Head Coach Matt Drinkall has retained Director of External Operations John Leister, promoted Assistant Director of Football Operations Ashley Jetzer, and hired Director of Analytics Nolan Jones, Senior Offensive Analyst Jack McDaniels, Football Equipment Manager Andrew Lang, and Creative Media Director A.J. Isaacs.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—New Central Michigan Head Football Coach Matt Drinkall officially announced the addition of six staff members on Wednesday morning.
Drinkall has retained John Leister as its Director of External Operations, promoted Ashley Jetzer to Assistant Director of Football Operations, and hired Nolan Jones as Director of Analytics, Jack McDaniels as Senior Offensive Analyst, Andrew Lang as the program's Football Equipment Manager, and A.J. Isaacs as Creative Media Director.
Leister begins his seventh year working with the Central Michigan Football program. He spent the last two years as its Director of Operations, one year as Senior Director of Football Relations and Student-Athlete Engagement, and three seasons as an analyst. Leister joined the CMU staff in 2019 after working two years as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill, in 2017-18. He spent nearly 21 years at Alma College as the school's Director of Athletics (2006-14), Football Offensive Coordinator (1994-11), and Head Baseball Coach (1994-06). Leister played quarterback at Michigan State and has the unique distinction of having played in both the NFL (Pittsburgh Steelers) and MLB (Boston Red Sox). Read more about Leister at this link.
"We are excited to announce John Leister as our new Director of External Relations, a role that marks an exciting shift for him as he steps off the field and into this vital position," Drinkall said. "John brings with him an extraordinary wealth of experience and a vast network of relationships across the state of Michigan—connections he has built over years of dedication and hard work. John is one of those rare individuals who embodies kindness in everything he does; he is the kind of person who would drop everything to lend a hand, no questions asked. His genuine care for others shines through in every interaction, and that is what makes him so special. John's extensive background, paired with his heartfelt commitment to helping others, makes him an invaluable asset to Central Michigan, and I am confident he will elevate our external outreach to new heights."
Jetzer is in her sixth year working with the Central Michigan Football program. She worked the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the program's football administrative assistant where she handled operations and office responsibilities. She originally joined the program as an assistant video coordinator in 2019 and worked four years handling various video production and graphic design duties. A Grand Rapids, Mich. native, Jetzer earned her bachelor's degree in BAA, Communication and Media Studies from CMU in 2023. Read more about Jetzer at this link.
"We are excited to welcome Ashley Jetzer as our new Assistant Director of Football Operations," Drinkall said. "Born and raised in Michigan, Ashley is also a Central Michigan graduate. She carries a deep understanding of this state, the institution, the football program, and the conference—insights that are incredibly valuable. Her energy and her ability to juggle multiple projects at once demonstrate her wide variety of professional skills. We are so glad to have Ms. Jetzer as part of our family."
Jones is in his first year as Director of Analytics after serving as an assistant football coach at Kansas Wesleyan for the last two years (2022-24). He worked as the Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, and Defensive Line Coach. He also served as Strength and Speed Coach for the athletic department. A 2021 graduate of Kansas Wesleyan, Jones also was a running backs coach/equipment manager at Highland Community College and strength and conditioning intern at Northwest Missouri University. Read more about Jones at this link.
"I am beyond excited to welcome Nolan Jones as our director of analytics and video," Drinkall said. "Nolan is the perfect fit for this critical position. He was a presidential scholar as an undergraduate student, and he was a member of my staff at Kansas Wesleyan University. He is an incredibly dynamic intellectual, who has made a huge impact on the program already. I cannot express how excited I am that he and wife Courtney are joining us."
McDaniels joins the Central Michigan coaching staff as Senior Offensive Analyst after working the last three years at Georgetown as Pass Game Coordinator, Quarterbacks and Tight Ends coach. McDaniels has also served as a high school coach at South County High School (Va.) for five years. McDaniels played quarterback at his alma mater West Alabama, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2020. He served as a graduate assistant at West Alabama from 2021-22.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jack McDaniels to the Central Michigan football family," Drinkall said. "His understanding of offensive football and exceptional teaching ability make him an invaluable addition. Jack's proven track record as a dynamic coach and teacher will make an immediate impact."
Lang joins the Central Michigan football program after working the last three years as an equipment manager at Army West Point (2022-25). He has also served two equipment internships with the Cleveland Browns (2021-22 and 2020) and an internship at Georgia Tech (2020-21) and worked as a student equipment manager at the University of Miami (Fla.). Lang is a 2018 Miami graduate who earned a bachelor's degree in sport and fitness administration. Read more about Lang this link.
"I'm honored to welcome Andrew Lang as the new director of equipment," Drinkall said. "Andrew is joining us from Army West Point. He is very familiar with Central Michigan Football as his father is a graduate. He is a first-class professional with several areas of expertise, and we are so excited to work with him."
Isaacs joins the Central Michigan staff as Creative Media Director after working the last two years at Toledo as its Video and Graphics Graduate Assistant. He was self-employed for five years as a content specialist and played four years of football at Temple, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business in 2022.
"We are so fortunate to have AJ as part of our creative team," Drinkall said. "He's an incredibly bright and energetic professional that has new ideas and is constantly trying to find new ways to promote and feature our student-athletes. He will be a tremendous addition to the operations side of the program."
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Drinkall has retained John Leister as its Director of External Operations, promoted Ashley Jetzer to Assistant Director of Football Operations, and hired Nolan Jones as Director of Analytics, Jack McDaniels as Senior Offensive Analyst, Andrew Lang as the program's Football Equipment Manager, and A.J. Isaacs as Creative Media Director.
Leister begins his seventh year working with the Central Michigan Football program. He spent the last two years as its Director of Operations, one year as Senior Director of Football Relations and Student-Athlete Engagement, and three seasons as an analyst. Leister joined the CMU staff in 2019 after working two years as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill, in 2017-18. He spent nearly 21 years at Alma College as the school's Director of Athletics (2006-14), Football Offensive Coordinator (1994-11), and Head Baseball Coach (1994-06). Leister played quarterback at Michigan State and has the unique distinction of having played in both the NFL (Pittsburgh Steelers) and MLB (Boston Red Sox). Read more about Leister at this link.
"We are excited to announce John Leister as our new Director of External Relations, a role that marks an exciting shift for him as he steps off the field and into this vital position," Drinkall said. "John brings with him an extraordinary wealth of experience and a vast network of relationships across the state of Michigan—connections he has built over years of dedication and hard work. John is one of those rare individuals who embodies kindness in everything he does; he is the kind of person who would drop everything to lend a hand, no questions asked. His genuine care for others shines through in every interaction, and that is what makes him so special. John's extensive background, paired with his heartfelt commitment to helping others, makes him an invaluable asset to Central Michigan, and I am confident he will elevate our external outreach to new heights."
Jetzer is in her sixth year working with the Central Michigan Football program. She worked the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the program's football administrative assistant where she handled operations and office responsibilities. She originally joined the program as an assistant video coordinator in 2019 and worked four years handling various video production and graphic design duties. A Grand Rapids, Mich. native, Jetzer earned her bachelor's degree in BAA, Communication and Media Studies from CMU in 2023. Read more about Jetzer at this link.
"We are excited to welcome Ashley Jetzer as our new Assistant Director of Football Operations," Drinkall said. "Born and raised in Michigan, Ashley is also a Central Michigan graduate. She carries a deep understanding of this state, the institution, the football program, and the conference—insights that are incredibly valuable. Her energy and her ability to juggle multiple projects at once demonstrate her wide variety of professional skills. We are so glad to have Ms. Jetzer as part of our family."
Jones is in his first year as Director of Analytics after serving as an assistant football coach at Kansas Wesleyan for the last two years (2022-24). He worked as the Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, and Defensive Line Coach. He also served as Strength and Speed Coach for the athletic department. A 2021 graduate of Kansas Wesleyan, Jones also was a running backs coach/equipment manager at Highland Community College and strength and conditioning intern at Northwest Missouri University. Read more about Jones at this link.
"I am beyond excited to welcome Nolan Jones as our director of analytics and video," Drinkall said. "Nolan is the perfect fit for this critical position. He was a presidential scholar as an undergraduate student, and he was a member of my staff at Kansas Wesleyan University. He is an incredibly dynamic intellectual, who has made a huge impact on the program already. I cannot express how excited I am that he and wife Courtney are joining us."
McDaniels joins the Central Michigan coaching staff as Senior Offensive Analyst after working the last three years at Georgetown as Pass Game Coordinator, Quarterbacks and Tight Ends coach. McDaniels has also served as a high school coach at South County High School (Va.) for five years. McDaniels played quarterback at his alma mater West Alabama, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2020. He served as a graduate assistant at West Alabama from 2021-22.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jack McDaniels to the Central Michigan football family," Drinkall said. "His understanding of offensive football and exceptional teaching ability make him an invaluable addition. Jack's proven track record as a dynamic coach and teacher will make an immediate impact."
Lang joins the Central Michigan football program after working the last three years as an equipment manager at Army West Point (2022-25). He has also served two equipment internships with the Cleveland Browns (2021-22 and 2020) and an internship at Georgia Tech (2020-21) and worked as a student equipment manager at the University of Miami (Fla.). Lang is a 2018 Miami graduate who earned a bachelor's degree in sport and fitness administration. Read more about Lang this link.
"I'm honored to welcome Andrew Lang as the new director of equipment," Drinkall said. "Andrew is joining us from Army West Point. He is very familiar with Central Michigan Football as his father is a graduate. He is a first-class professional with several areas of expertise, and we are so excited to work with him."
Isaacs joins the Central Michigan staff as Creative Media Director after working the last two years at Toledo as its Video and Graphics Graduate Assistant. He was self-employed for five years as a content specialist and played four years of football at Temple, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business in 2022.
"We are so fortunate to have AJ as part of our creative team," Drinkall said. "He's an incredibly bright and energetic professional that has new ideas and is constantly trying to find new ways to promote and feature our student-athletes. He will be a tremendous addition to the operations side of the program."
Follow Central Michigan Football: TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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