Presbyterian College Football Introduces Mike Babcock as Offensive Coordinator
January 14, 2026
Newly appointed Presbyterian College head football coach Matt Rahl has made his first official staff announcement, naming Mike Babcock as the Blue Hose’s new offensive coordinator.
Babcock joins the program after spending the 2025 season as assistant head coach and offensive line coach at UT Permian Basin, where he helped guide the Falcons to one of the most successful seasons in program history. He reunites with Rahl after the two worked together for four seasons at McKendree University, where the Bearcats compiled a 28–15 record during their shared tenure.
“I’m really excited to be working with Coach Babs again,” Rahl said. “To be able to have someone with over a decade of head coaching experience is going to be very valuable to me. Mike and I had a lot of success together offensively during our time at McKendree, and I look forward to watching him lead the offense.”
Babcock brings more than 25 years of college football experience to Clinton, including a 58–52 overall record as a head coach. His career has spanned six institutions and includes stops at both the Division II level and the Power Four level.
Recent Success at UT Permian Basin
During the 2025 season, Babcock helped lead UT Permian Basin to an 11–3 record and a run to the NCAA Division II Playoff Quarterfinals. The Falcons posted wins over multiple top-five opponents, including a decisive victory over Central Oklahoma and a two-touchdown win against Angelo State.
UTPB’s offense surged late in the season, scoring 187 points over the final three regular-season games. The Falcons advanced to the playoffs and earned the first two postseason wins in program history, defeating CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado. Under Babcock’s leadership, the offense ranked among the nation’s best, including third nationally in passing yards and eighth in total offense.
Prior to his time at UT Permian Basin, Babcock served as special assistant to head coach DeShaun Foster at UCLA in 2024, contributing to a midseason stretch of three consecutive Big Ten Conference victories.
Head Coaching Tenure at McKendree
Babcock was named head coach at McKendree University in 2013 and led the Bearcats for 11 seasons. His teams recorded multiple winning campaigns and produced some of the program’s strongest defensive and offensive performances, including nationally ranked units and postseason appearances.
During his tenure, Babcock coached a D2CCA National Defensive Player of the Year, multiple All-Americans, and dozens of all-conference selections. His teams were known for disciplined play, strong defensive production, and efficient offenses.
Earlier Coaching and Playing Career
Before McKendree, Babcock spent five seasons as quarterbacks coach at Colorado State University Pueblo, where the ThunderWolves posted consecutive undefeated regular seasons and set numerous offensive records.
His earlier coaching career included stops at the University of San Diego and the University of Colorado. Babcock began his coaching journey at UCLA, his alma mater, where he also played linebacker in the late 1990s.
Babcock earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from UCLA. He and his wife, Kimberly, have two children, Tyler and Emily.
With the addition of Babcock, Rahl continues to shape his first Blue Hose staff, bringing extensive experience and a proven offensive track record to Presbyterian College as the program looks ahead to its next chapter.
