Matt Kriesky resigns as Blackman football coach after three seasons

5 days ago 1

Blackman football coach Matt Kriesky has resigned, citing a desire to spend more time with family, principal Justin Smith said on Jan. 8.

Kriesky, whose twin brother, Will, is Riverdale's football coach, guided the Blaze for three seasons after being hired in February 2023. His teams went 22-14 and reached the playoffs twice.

His 2025 team was one of the most successful in Blaze history, going 12-2 and reaching the Class 6A state semifinals before falling to eventual champ Oakland.

"We could not have been more pleased by the impact that he and his staff have had on our football program, our school, and the entire Blackman community," Smith said. "In three years, he has led our program to its winningest season in school history and to a state semifinal appearance.

"More importantly, the way in which he invested deeply into caring for all students, including our student-athletes, has been exceptional. We will begin our search immediately to find the next head coach to lead our program and to continue to build upon this solid foundation of character, culture, and success − both in the classroom and on the field."

This is a developing story and will be updated.