Nate Hinkle enters his fifth season with Eastern Football serving as the Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Quarterbacks Coach after helping guide the Eagles through the most successful season in program history.
In 2025, Hinkle helped lead Eastern to a 10-2 overall record and an 8-1 mark in conference play, capturing the program's first MAC Championship and earning the Eagles their first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Eastern's offense continued to establish itself as one of the conference's premier units, averaging 26.6 points and 348.3 yards per game while leading the MAC in rushing with 2,805 yards (233.8 per game) and 29 rushing touchdowns. The Eagles also set new program records for wins, points scored, rushing yards, and total offense.
Under Hinkle's direction, quarterback Brett McNabb was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, while the Eagles produced multiple All-MAC and All-Region selections. Head Coach Billy Crocker was recognized as the MAC Coach of the Year, a reflection of the staff's role in building one of the fastest-rising programs in Division III football.
Hinkle joined the Eastern University football staff as its first offensive coordinator in 2022 after a two-year stint as the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Widener University.
The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native played collegiately at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where he started 22 consecutive games at defensive tackle, recording 46 tackles, two interceptions, and two sacks.
Hinkle began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving in a variety of roles including running backs coach, tight ends coach, and Head of Football Operations. He later served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at King's College in 2018, helping lead the second-ranked rushing offense in the MAC.
During his time at Widener, Hinkle coached eight All-MAC Conference players, one All-American, and one All-Region selection while helping lead the nation's top-ranked offense in total offense, touchdowns scored, and fewest sacks allowed in 2019.
One of Head Coach Billy Crocker's original hires, Hinkle has played an integral role in building Eastern Football from a startup program into a conference champion and NCAA playoff team, while establishing a culture centered on player development, competitive excellence, and servant leadership.
