Lee Mateer, a 1999 Taylorville High School graduate, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach and a player. While in high school, Mateer lettered 3 years in football and wrestling and 2 years in track and one year in baseball. He began his coaching career as an assistant football coach in 2004 and an assistant wrestling coach in 2006, and eventually became the Defensive Coordinator in football and head coach of the wrestling program. As an offensive tackle on the Tornadoes football team, Mateer helped guide both the 1997 and 1998 teams to the IHSA state play-offs, advancing to the second round both years and picking up a Central State 8 Conference Co-Championship in 1997. Individually, Mateer was a CS8 All-Conference selection in 1998, was selected to play in the Eastern Star High School All-Star game and was a 4A Academic All-State selection. As a wrestler, Mateer wrestled as a heavyweight and was chosen team captain in 1998/99 and earned CS8 First Team All-Conference in 1999. Following High School, Meteer attended and played football for the Millikin Big Blue from 1999 through 2002, where he was a four year starter at offensive tackle and earned CCIW All-Conference honors in both 2001 and 2002. Also in 2001 and 2002, he was named to the NCAA Football Gazetter All Regional Team. Following his senior season in 2002, Mateer was selected as a Hewlett Packard NCAA All-American. He was chosen team captain in 2002. Following his senior season, Mateer was invited to participate in the 2003 NFL combine, which earned him an opportunity to participate in invitational workouts with the St Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears. In 2013 Mateer was inducted into the Millikin University Athletic Hall of Fame in.
Mateer first became a member of the THS football coaching staff as an assistant coach under Hall of Fame Coach Scott Alberssen in 2004. In 2006 he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator and has been the architect of the Tornadoes highly touted “Darkside Defense” which has been one of the best defensive units statistically in Illinois football the past three years. While a member of the football staff, Taylorville has made six playoff appearances, won two conference championships, twice advanced to the IHSA Quarterfinals and produced two 10 plus win seasons.
Mateer served as assistance varsity wrestling coach from 2006 through 2010 during which time the Tornadoes won its first ever Conference Championship and advance their first individual in over 40 years as an IHSA State Qualifier in Will Peabody. But it was Mateer’s influence as head coach of the THS wrestling team beginning in 2011 that provided the program the CS8 Conference Championship in 2013, and back to back to back IHSA Regional championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 including a first ever team appearance in the IHSA Team Championships in 2013. He has also produced 5 state qualifiers and one state place winner in heavyweight, Blake Hooper in 2014. Mateer’s wrestling head coaching record currently stands at 82 wins against 12 losses.