After two seasons as defensive coordinator at Lakeland University (Wis.), Mitch Shepherd has been named defensive coordinator for Central College's defending American Rivers champion football team.

            Shepherd replaces Nick Mulder, who is leaving the program after a successful 10-year run on the Dutch staff and an additional four years as a player.

            A D3football.com All-West Region linebacker at the University of Redlands (Calif.), Shepherd was the 2016 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive player of the year. He was a four-time all-conference selection and a three-time first-team honoree. Also a team captain, Shepherd was named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Society for academic performance.

            Shepherd served as a graduate assistant defensive line coach at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2018 before joining the staff at Lakeland as linebackers coach in 2019. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2020 and received a master's degree at Lakeland that year as well while also serving as the school's strength and conditioning coordinator.

            Lakeland's 8-2 record last fall was its best since 2003. The Lakeland defense that ranked third in Division III in pass sacks, eighth in interceptions and defensive touchdowns and 10th in turnovers gained.

            "We went through an extensive process to find a new defensive coordinator for our staff," Dutch coach Jeff McMartin said. "We talked to a lot of really highly qualified candidates and we're excited to have Coach Shepherd in our program. He brings a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of energy and some new perspectives, but also the ability to work well within the context of what we do defensively. And those are some of the traits we were looking for in this position."

            Mulder, a 2007 Central grad and Pella native, was a two-time second-team all-conference defensive lineman and a member of three NCAA Division III playoff squads. He returned to Central as defensive line coach in 2012 and became defensive coordinator in 2016, also working with linebackers the past three seasons.

            "Coach Mulder leaves a tremendous legacy here," McMartin said. "He's gone from being a Central ball boy when he was growing up to becoming an outstanding player, then an assistant coach and rising to defensive coordinator. He's excelled at every stage. We're going to miss Coach Mulder and what he's brought to this program but we're excited for the next stage in his life and we value the time we had with him at Central."

            Central has won or shared the past two conference titles, posting a 10-0 regular season mark last fall and advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals. The Dutch finished with a 12-1 mark. McMartin was named the AFCA Division III Coach of the Year.

            The NCAA's fifth-winningest team in the past 60 years, Central has not had a losing season since 1960.