S. Illinois hires DeBoer to run offense
February 5, 2010
One of the most successful coaches in NAIA football the past decade ismoving on to a Division I program.
University of Sioux Falls head coach Kalen DeBoer said Friday that he hasaccepted the offensive coordinator position at Southern Illinois, a FootballChampionship Subdivision school, after a five-year stint in which his teams hadas many national titles as games lost (3).
“What I saw there, with their coaching staff and players at SIU, was kindof the same thing I see here,” DeBoer said. “A group of people who are all onthe same page, excited about working together, reaching a common goal—andthat’s winning a championship.”
DeBoer’s Cougars compiled a 67-3 record in his five years at the helm andwon the NAIA championship in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He was named NAIA coach of theyear by the American Football Coaches Association in each of those years.
The Baptist-affiliated, 1,600-student South Dakota school is moving up toDivision II next season.
Southern Illinois last year advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCSplayoffs, closing the season at 11-2. DeBoer said he was not actively seeking adifferent job but the opportunity at Southern Illinois was too good to pass up.
He talked with his players Friday and said that while the meeting was “atough time,” they were excited for him. He also said he has talked with mostincoming recruits and believes they will keep their commitments to the school.
“This program has been built up to where it’s bigger than me,” DeBoersaid.
The Cougars have won 29 straight, have a 50-game home win streak and havewon 82 of their last 83 conference games.
DeBoer said he knew Southern Illinois head coach Dale Lennon through coachesconventions and through Lennon’s work when he was head coach at North Dakota.Lennon’s Fighting Sioux team won the NCAA Division II national championship in2001.
DeBoer, a native of Milbank, S.D., has played a role in all of USF’snational title game appearances. He won as a player in 1996 and was an assistantcoach on the national runner-up team in 2001. The Cougars also were runners-upin 2007 under DeBoer.
DeBoer said Cougars assistant Ryan Grubb has been named interim head coachand is a finalist to succeed him.
DeBoer will replace Phil Longo on the Salukis staff. Longo resigned lastmonth to take an assistant’s job at Youngstown State. DeBoer begins his dutiesFeb. 15.
Comments
Got something to say?
