2× Heart South Division Coach of the Year (2017–2018) 2× KCAC Coach of the Year (2023, 2025) AFCA NAIA Region 3 Coach of the Year (2023)
Chuck Hepola is an American college football coach and athletic director. He has served as athletic director at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, since January 2025 and as the school's head football coach since 2016. Hepola is the winningest head football coach in Evangel history, compiling a 75–39 record through October 2026. He has guided the Evangel Valor to three conference or division championships and two appearances in the NAIA football playoffs.
On October 26, 2026, Hepola announced that he would step down as head football coach following the conclusion of the 2026 season while remaining Evangel's athletic director.
Early life and education
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hepola attended Evangel University, where he played baseball for the Crusaders. He earned three varsity letters and served as team captain during his senior season. He graduated in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in education.
Hepola later earned a master's degree in education from Drury University in 2002.
Coaching career
Hepola began his coaching career in southwest Missouri, spending nine years as an assistant football coach and teacher at Willard High School. He also coached at Hillcrest High School and served as head football coach at Logan-Rogersville High School in 2000.
Hepola later joined the Tulsa football program, serving two seasons as an assistant coach. He subsequently worked as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at East Central University, where he also taught and received recognition for exceptional merit in teaching.
In 2010, Hepola served as director of football operations at Louisiana–Monroe. He subsequently joined Nicholls State, where he spent five seasons as an assistant coach. His responsibilities included special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and running backs coach. After two seasons, he was promoted to associate head coach.
During his tenure at Nicholls State, Hepola was twice named a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award. He coached six All-Southland Conference players and helped develop the conference's top-ranked punt return unit.
Evangel
Hepola returned to his alma mater in 2015, joining the Evangel coaching staff as special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and quarterbacks coach.
On March 2, 2016, Hepola was appointed interim head football coach following the departure of Brenton Illum. He was officially named Evangel's seventh head football coach on March 22, 2016, succeeding Illum, who had led the program for six seasons.
Announced departure
On October 26, 2026, Hepola announced that he would step down as Evangel's head football coach at the conclusion of the season while remaining the university's athletic director. At the time of the announcement, he held a 75–39 career record over 11 seasons, including a 32–18 record in divisional play.
Hepola's final scheduled regular-season game was November 14 against Bethany College. Evangel announced that a national search for his successor would begin.
Hepola cited his transition to full-time athletic administration as an opportunity to serve the university's athletic programs more broadly. The announcement concluded a coaching career spanning approximately 35 years, including 11 seasons as Evangel's head football coach.
Administrative career
Hepola was appointed athletic director at Evangel University in January 2025 while retaining his responsibilities as head football coach.
In October 2026, Hepola announced plans to transition exclusively into his athletic director role following the conclusion of the football season.
Personal life
Hepola is married to Kirstin, and the couple has two children, Chance and Courtney. Both attended Evangel University, where Chance played football and Courtney played soccer. Chance is married to Jordan (Poppen), a former Evangel head cheer coach, and they have a daughter, Parker.
