Michael Gehl is in his fourth year at Austin Peay and second as the Governors’ offensive line coach.
Gehl previously served as the Governors’ assistant offensive line coach during their 2023 United Athletic Conference Championship season.
Before joining the Governors, Gehl worked as an assistant coach at Gallatin High School in 2022, where he coached the Green Wave’s cornerbacks.
Before starting his coaching career, Gehl was a tight end at Wheaton College for five seasons and served on the Thunder’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Gehl earned his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in communication from Wheaton College in Dec. 2021.
GEHL'S CAREER SUMMARY
Austin Peay (2023-CURRENT)
2025: In his second season leading the offensive line, Michael Gehl helped Austin Peay produce an offense that averaged 451.1 yards per game and 6.7 yards per play while totaling 5,413 yards and 54 touchdowns. The Governors rushed for 2,237 yards and 27 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, while quarterback Chris Parson was sacked just 21 times for 135 yards across 12 games. Austin Peay also recorded 256 first downs and converted 70 of 155 third-down attempts, a 45 percent success rate. The Governors posted three games with at least 500 yards of total offense and topped 400 yards in seven games during the 2025 season. Offensive linemen Joshua Sales Jr. and Nick Hilliard earned All-UAC honors.
2024: Remained on Austin Peay’s football staff and joined Jeff Faris’ inaugural staff as the offensive line coach in Aug. 2024. During his first season leading the Governors’ offensive line, Austin Peay’s running game totaled 1,716 yards and 16 touchdowns, with four Governors rushing for at least 200 yards. APSU also rushed for 200 yards in four games, highlighted by a 331-yard, five-touchdown rushing performance against Alabama A&M – the program's most rushing yards and touchdowns since 2021. His offense line also helped the Govs post a top 25 redzone offense in the FCS, with APSU scoring on 87.1 percent of its trips inside the 20-yard line.
2023: Worked as the assistant offensive line coach for the 2023 United Athletic Conference Champion Governors. During its championship season, Austin Peay’s offensive line helped pave the way for one of the best offenses in the FCS, as it ranked top 15 nationally in scoring, total offense, and passing offense. The team also set program records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense.
Gallatin High School (2022)
2022: Was the cornerbacks coach at Gallatin High School for one season under head coach and former Governor, Chad Watson. The Green Wave went 4-7 during his lone season, while posting a 2-3 mark in 6A Region 5 play.
COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2017-21)
Gehl was a tight end at Wheaton College for five years, finishing his career with 64 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Thunder went 38-6 during his career.
