DECATUR, Illinois—Despite the recent holiday break, new Millikin University Head Football Coach Billy Riebock has been hard at work reshaping the Big Blue football program starting with the hiring of two new coordinators. Former NFL player Gunnard Twyner will lead the offense and experienced College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) defensive coordinator Matt Williamson will head up the Big Blue defense.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Millikin University administration for providing the resources and support to bring Gun Twyner on as our Offensive Coordinator and Matt Williamson as our Defensive Coordinator,” said Riebock. “Their success in the National Football League and CCIW, leadership, and vision are exactly what we need to take our program to the next level, and we are incredibly excited about the future of Big Blue football with them leading the way. Go Big Blue!”
Twyner joins Riebock in making the return home to Illinois after spending the last two seasons as the wide receivers coach with Riebock at Midwestern University in Texas.
Twyner is a native of the Quad Cities. He is a graduate and former assistant coach at Western Illinois University and spent the 2022 season as the tight ends coach at Eastern Illinois University. During his playing time at Western Illinios, Twyner was an All-American Honorable Mention selection in 1994 and ranks in the top 10 in four receiving categories in Western Illinois football history.
Twyner played wide receiver in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars from 1996-2000. He played two years in the Arena Football League setting the record for touchdown receptions by a rookie (15) in 2001 with the Tampa Bay Storm.
Twyner started his coaching career at John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Springs, Maryland earning the Maryland Coach of the Year honor in 2006 after leading his team to a 10-2 record and the second round of the 3A playoffs.
Twyner participated in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Internship in 2009. He coached at Western Illinois from 2010-13 coaching the wide receivers and helping the offensive staff create the weekly game plan. Western went to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2010. Twyner made coaching stops at Dodge City Community College (2013-15) and Lafayette College (2017-18).
While at Dodge City, the Conquistadors were 19-11 after compiling a 6-54 record in the six seasons proceeding his arrival. During his three-year run, Twyner coached and recruited nine wide receivers that tallied a total of 15 Division I offers.
Twyner worked as an offensive quality control coach, working with wide receivers for the Indianapolis Colts before becoming the tight ends coach on Chris Wilkerson’s staff at Eastern Illinois in 2022.
Twyner is the proud father of two daughters -- Kelise and Maleah.
Williamson comes to Millikin after spending the last four seasons as the Defensive Coordinator\Linebackers Coach at Illinois Wesleyan University. Williamson also served as the Titans Special Team Coordinator and Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. In 2024, Williamson’s defense led the CCIW in sacks and was third in Red Zone Defense and Rushing Defense. He coached two All-Conference First Team defensive lineman, two All-Conference Second Team defensive players and a Second Team kick returner. Three of those players also received D3football.com All-Region honors. His defense was in the top three in the conference in sacks in the last three seasons and recorded 102 tackles-for-a loss in 2022.
Williamson graduated from Mount Union with a degree in Sport Business. As a player for the Purple Raiders, he was a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion and part of a team that went 58-2. He was a two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference selection and twice named to the D3football.com’s All-American teams. He was a First Team All-American linebacker as a senior and later named to the D3football.com All-Decade Team. After graduation, Williamson joined the Mount Union coaching staff coaching the defensive line and special teams. He helped guide the Purple Raiders to a 43-2 record including three straight Ohio Athletic Conference Championships and three trips to the NCAA Division III Championship game including winning the title in 2012.
Williamson spent two seasons coaching linebackers and the special teams at Gannon University (20-21). He spent four years (17-20) as Co-Defensive Coordinator at Urbana University and four seasons as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach at Seton Hall.
Overall, Williamson has made seven NCAA Division III National Championship appearances, four as a player and three as a coach, and won three national titles. He has coached 19 All-Conference selections, three All-American and two College Sports Information of Directors of America Academic All-Americans.
