Carthage College Athletics

Matt Sinclair joined the Carthage College coaching staff in the fall of 2020 as the special teams coordinator, defensive backs coach, and strength and conditioning coordinator.

Prior to joining the Firebirds, Sinclair served as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for North Central College in 2018 and 2019, where he helped the program win its first-ever Stagg Bowl National Championship in 2019, as well as the 2018 CCIW championship.  
 
Sinclair served as the linebackers coach at Washington University in St. Louis in 2017. He spent 2015 and 2016 as the defensive coordinator at Monticello (IL) High School, which culminated in a state semifinal appearance. Prior to Monticello, Sinclair spent four years on the staff at Wheaton Warrenville South (IL) High School as co-defensive coordinator, linebackers, and special teams coach. He helped lead Wheaton Warrenville South to three straight IHSA Class 7A state championship game appearances, including back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010 (USA Today National Top 10 team) and a runner-up finish in 2011.

As an undrafted rookie linebacker, he spent five years playing professionally in the NFL, including stints with the Baltimore Ravens (2005), the Miami Dolphins (2006), and the Washington Redskins (2007-2009). Additionally, he spent the 2006 and 2007 offseasons playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, where he served as team captain for the 2006 World Bowl Champions and the 2007 World Bowl runners-up. He was voted first-team All-NFL Europe following the 2007 season. During his professional career, Sinclair played for the likes of Joe Gibbs, Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Rex Ryan, and Brian Billick.

As a true freshman, Sinclair was a contributor on the 2001 Big Ten Championship and Sugar Bowl team at the University of Illinois, before becoming a full-time starter for the Fighting Illini in his final three seasons. As a junior in 2003, he led the Big Ten in tackles during conference play and was selected as an All-Big Ten performer. He switched to the outside as senior in 2004 and was again selected as an All-Big Ten player. He served as team captain in his final two seasons.

Sinclair earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Illinois in 2005 and his master’s degree in the psychology of leadership from Penn State in 2019. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in performance at Grand Canyon University.

Sinclair and his wife, Jacqueline, currently reside in Kenosha with their daughter, Charlotte, and son, Sean.