In case you wanted to be brought up to speed on the new coaches in the WIAC
The longest tenured head coach in the conference, John Miech, unexpectedly stepped down at the end of last season. In June, following a winter of interviewing, Stevens Point Athletic Director, Daron Montgomery, selected interim coach Tom Journell as head coach. Journell served as defensive coordinator under Miech the past four seasons, and was named Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008. Other head coach candidates that were considered included Allen Curtiss of Ferris State University, and former Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach Mike Kelly (whose last stop was with the Canadian Football League). Prior to Stevens Point, Journell spent four seasons as the head coach at Elmhurst College and 15 seasons at River Falls, serving primarily as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Taking Journell's position as the Defensive Coordinator is Aaron Vlcko.The 1994 Coe College graduate previously served as UWSP's offensive coordinator in 2010. Vlcko began his coaching career as the running backs coach at Lindenwood College from 1994-96. He then spent eight seasons at Bemidji State from 1996-2003 as the quarterbacks coach before becoming the offensive coordinator in 1998. In 2003 Vlcko returned to his alma mater, where he was the quarterbacks, running backs and special teams coach. Following Coe, he spent four seasons at Truman State (DII) from 2005-08 as offensive coordinator before being named interim head coach in 2009.
Drew Vanderlin will be making his coaching debut as the Pointers' Defensive Line and Strength & Conditioning coach. Vanderlin is fresh off a successful career at Michigan Tech University (DII), where he was a four-time letterwinner and earned four all-conference awards as a defensive lineman. In his final season, the team captain was a D2football.com Honorable Mention All-American, a D2/D3 Scouting Combine Second Team All-American and a Don Hansen Football Gazette Second Team Super Region Three honoree. Vanderlin additionally received an invite to the Green Bay Packers Rookie Orientation camp during the summer of 2012 as a defensive end.
As a graduate assistant the past two seasons, Drew Burton will now be the fulltime Offensive Line coach as well as Recruiting Coordinator this year under Journell. The Mosco, Idaho native was a three-year letter winner at Grand Valley State (DII) where he helped the Lakers win three national championships. Burton then continued his playing career for the Muskegon Thunder (Indoor Football Leauge) for two seasons.
Other Stevens Point assistant coaches include: Kody Morgan, T.J. Martin, Curtis Krump and Scott Rice (Offense).
Shane Konop will serve in a dual role as Defensive Line coach and Strength & Conditioning coach. Konop comes to the Blue Devils after six seasons as an assistant football coach at Stevens Point, his alma mater, where he worked with the linebackers and was the strength & conditioning coach. Konop was a standout defensive tackle for the Pointers from 1993-97, earning first team all-conference honors in 1996 and 1997. Konop also served as a team captain. Following his days as a Pointer, he went on to play professionally in an arena football league from 1998-2000.
Other coaches new to the program: Chase Gruening (Running Backs), Aaron Kobes (Tight Ends) and Ryan Pearcy (Linebackers)
Beginning his first season as the Pioneers' Outside Linebacker coach is Matt Tschetter. The Milford, Iowa native had four-year career playing linebacker for Wartburg College. In his senior year he was named to D3football.com's All-Region (West) team, and was first team All-IIAC for both his junior and senior season. In 2011 he was selected as Wartburg's Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
Ryan McGranahan returns to his alma mater for his first season on Platteville's coaching staff where he'll serve as the Safeties coach. Previously, McGranahan was the offensive coordinator at both Cuba City High School (2006-2011), and Black Hawk High School (2002-2005). Last season he was named SWAL Assistant Coach of the Year for Cuba City.
Other new assistant coaches include: Micah Schwantes (H-backs and Offensive Line) and Zak Brinkman (Kickers and Punters).
Coaches new to UWRF's staff: B.J. Letourneau (Offensive Assistant), J.D. Flynn (H-Backs coach), Joel Yogerst (Offensive Assistant), Ben Porten (Offensive Assistant), and Kyle Stelter (Special Teams/Long Snapper coach).
Derek Swanigan will be joining Greg Glaser's staff as the Defensive Line coach. Over the last two seasons Swanigan was an assistant coach at Eau Claire Memorial High School. Before that, he served as assistant coach at Thorton Township High School. The Chicago native had his playing days at Eastern Michigan University (2000-03) and William Penn University (2004-06). Apart from being named to numerous all-conference teams, Swanigan was also the Mid-American Conference Lineman of the Year.
Other coaches new to the Blugold's staff: Chris O'Connell (Running Backs), Code Baethke (Linebackers), Chris Olson (Linebackers), David Goodman (Quarterbacks), Abe Ward (Offensive Line), Luke Hoyord (Defensive Backs), and Kramer Cook (Kicker/Punters).
Six months after leaving Stevens Point it was announced that John Miech accepted an assistant coaching position at Whitewater. Miech will be accepting responsibility as the Wide Receivers coach this fall. A similar experience occurred last season in the WIAC when John O'Grady, the long-time head coach of River Falls, stepped down only to take an assistant coaching role at Oshkosh months later. Miech brings 24 years of WIAC experience to Whitewater's coaching staff, and is the fourth winningest coach in conference history. Miech was the last WIAC coach to beat Whitewater (2008).*
Whitewater also hired H.T. Kinney (no, not a law firm) as its new Quarterbacks coach and Recruiting Coordinator. Kinney replaces Josh Gehring, who got the head coaching job at Midland University (NAIA) following last season. Kinney was the run game coordinator as well as the tight ends and fullbacks coach at Liberty University. Prior to that he coached at Nichols State University as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He also gained coaching experience from Hofstra University, Wagner College, Tolentino Orange Blades (Italy), and Monmouth College. Kinney has roots in Illinois, so Whitewater will look to benefit on his recruiting down there.
WARNING: Conspiracy Theory
Coincidentally enough, Miech's wife, Sheila, also recently stepped down at Stevens Point as head coach for the women's soccer team after 25 years. I'm curious if this decision was made to support her husband continuing his coaching career as it shifted to Whitewater? I only suggest that because of the timing of the situation, as both John and Sheila's stories broke the same day. Or maybe, quite simply, they just were looking for retire together. Anyways, on paper it appears Miech would be far over qualified for an assistant coaching position, especially at the DIII level. Most Whitewater fans find it inevitable that coach Leipold will eventually move on to bigger and better opportunities...it's just a matter of when. Which leads me to speculate that Miech might be groomed (or brought in) as Leipold's possible replacement, if and when Leipold moves on. Then again not much grooming would be required, Miech's resume at Point speaks for itself. Of course it's impossible to say what was said (if anything was said at all) to Miech behind closed doors by coach Leipold, and Whitewater Athletic Director Paul Plinske regarding what role Miech will play in the future of the football program. Then again, I'm just speculating here....time will tell.
Or, quite possibly, Miech and the Pointers' new athletic director, Daron Montgomery, didn't see eye to eye on the future of the program. So Miech decided to look for other coaching opportunities while contemplating retirement.
Just as a side note, I didn't forget about La Crosse and Oshkosh. From what I researched, I didn't find any coaches new to their staff this season.
Just FYI, I have it from someone familiar with the situation that Miech got forced out and was not happy about it. I would have to imagine it would be hard for his wife to work for the same organization that fired her husband. As for his role at UWW, your guess is as good as mine but my source suspects Miech is pretty much trying to get back at UWSP for letting him go. Good job and keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI've basically heard the same thing. That's too bad for UWSP, he's a good coach.
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