From player to assistant to head coach: Matt Rees picked to lead Dover football


MATT REES
DOVER – Longtime Crimson Tornado Football Coach Dan Ifft’s “right-hand man” is the team’s new head coach.
The Dover Board of Education Monday unanimously approved Dover High School teacher and coach Matt Rees as the new head coach for the Crimson Tornado football team out of 27 applicants. An assistant coach under Hall of Fame Tornado Coach Dan Ifft for 10 years, Rees is Dover’s first new head football coach in 30 years.
“I’m excited. I guess that’s the best way to describe it,” Rees said. “I’m just looking forward to taking what I’ve learned from many mentors that I’ve had throughout my career and building on what Coach Ifft brought to this program.”
Ifft retired following the 2024-25 season after compiling a 247-93 record over three decades. Ifft was inducted into the Ohio Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
“Big shoes to fill, but I’m fortunate that I had the time to learn from him as a player and as a coach,” Rees said. “Taking the skills and the values that I learned from him and implementing them and continuing to use those and grow those within the program is something that I think is the best way to start moving forward.”
Rees is a 2004 Dover grad who played running back and linebacker at Dover and on two national champion teams at Mount Union. His first career was in accounting, but volunteering in youth football led him to a new career path – teaching and coaching.
“Coaching student athletes is one thing but working with them in the classroom to help them understand different concepts as it relates to their potential futures – that’s something that I value extremely because it’s something that was given to me as a student here, and I’m excited that I give that back to our students.”
He counts Ifft and the winningest coach in college football history, Mount Union’s Larry Kehres, as his mentors.
“From a learning and mentoring standpoint, I had the opportunity to learn from some great coaches,” Rees said. “Keith Wakefield was my position coach one year. Obviously, Larry Kehres and his coaching tree and what he has done for that program and where he is today – those values are things that still resonate with me and things I want to bring to this program as well.”
Rees says the football team will have a good mix of seniors and underclassmen returning coming off a season where the Tornadoes won nine games, including two playoff games against higher seeds to advance to the Division III sweet sixteen. He says they are already working hard in the weight room.
What Dan Ifft says
“Matt has been an integral part of every facet of our program for the past ten years and is extremely qualified to assume this position,” said Ifft, who at times referred to Rees as his right-hand man. “He is intelligent, dedicated, and caring, and always has the best interest of his players at heart.”
What AD Tim McCrate says
“We are excited to support Matt Rees as our next Head Football Coach,” said Tim McCrate, DHS Athletic Director. “Matt has been a dedicated part of the Dover football family for years. His loyalty, combined with his coaching and playing experience, make him an ideal candidate to lead our team. Matt’s commitment to developing young student-athletes on and off the field has impressed us. He cares about winning games on Friday night and, equally, about their success beyond the gridiron.
“We had a number of qualified candidates express interest in this position. However, based on our experience with Matt, his unwavering dedication to the Crimson Tornadoes, and the excellent vision for the future of the program he presented during the interview process, he distinguished himself from the other candidates.”