Wartburg coach leaves
Eric Koehler is out and Rick Willis is back in as Wartburg head coach after Koehler resigned to take the offensive coordinator position at Division II Grand Valley State, it was announced Sunday evening. Willis relinquished coaching duties in 2005 after compiling a 79-17 record and gaining four NCAA playoff berths to become athletics director. He takes over from Koehler, who led the Knights to a 16-4 record in two seasons. Grand Valley State is a traditional Division II powerhouse and won national championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Koehler is the second Division III head coach to be hired by the Lakers ths offseason, following North Carolina Wesleyan's Jack Ginn. "I'm excited about returning to the head football position," Willis said. "I feel good about the transition due to our outstanding staff and a veteran team that returns. I am very familiar with many of the players, especially the senior class which was recruited while I was previously the head coach." Wartburg president William Hamm said, "While the timing of this coaching change could have created a very worrisome situation, we're extremely fortunate to have Rick Willis lead the football program again. Rick has been one of the nation's leading Division III football coaches. We expect that this will be a seamless transition, given that Rick laid the foundation for the recent success of the football program, which Eric Koehler had inherited from him." Willis led Wartburg to its first set of three consecutive Iowa Conference championships and also had an undefeated and league championship team in 1999. He guided the program to NCAA Division III national playoff berths in 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004. | ||
| Permalink | Jul 27, 2008 | ||
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