NSNLogowScriptMar2018NSNLogowScriptMar2018NSNLogowScriptMar2018NSNLogowScriptMar2018
  • Football
  • WBB
  • MBB
  • Softball
  • Baseball

Franzen named director of athletics; Bessler head football coach

Published by NSN at July 2, 2018
Categories
  • Doane
  • Football
  • NAIA
  • Top News
Tags
  • Chris Bessler
  • Doane
  • Football
  • Matt Franzen

Doane Athletics
Rick Schmuecker, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletics Communication

CRETE – Doane University (Neb.) is excited to announce that Matt Franzen has been selected to serve as the university’s next Director of Athletics. Franzen has served as the Head Football Coach at Doane since December 2006. He replaces Jill McCartney who is taking a similar position at Kenyon College in Ohio.

Franzen’s first action as Director of Athletics is to name a replacement for the football program. He has promoted Chris Bessler to Head Coach of Doane Football. Bessler is the 33rd head coach in program history and only the fourth coach since 1984. He has served as the Tigers’ Defensive Coordinator the past 11 years and will continue in that role moving forward.

Franzen earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Doane in 1994 and master’s degree in Teaching and Physical Education from Hastings College (Neb.) in 1999. He will direct the overall administrative and operational activities of intercollegiate athletics for Doane University’s 22 athletic teams.

“The Director of Athletics position allows me to make a greater impact on the overall athletics programs at Doane,” Franzen said. “I’ve been a coach that has stressed the importance of culture and I look forward to working to build a great culture throughout the entire department. I also see this as a long-term commitment to both Doane and the Crete community where my family enjoys making our home.”

Over the past 21 years, Franzen has served in athletics as a football coach, first as an assistant at Hastings from 1996-2006. He also served as Assistant to the Athletic Director at Hastings from 2001-06.

Upon returning to Doane following the 2006 season, he returned the Tiger football program back to national prominence. Within five years, he took the program from a 1-9 record prior to his arrival to an 8-2 mark with a No. 22 NAIA ranking. Franzen was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Coach of the Year in 2014 and guided the Tigers to the NAIA playoffs in 2015 and 2016.

Franzen is looking forward to the opportunity to make an impact for all student-athletes at Doane.

“My philosophy of intercollegiate athletics is that it should be co-curricular where it is a big part of the development of young people,” Franzen said. “My opportunity will be to help impact many student-athletes, first in finding great coaches, then in stressing a culture where academic success, leadership development and healthy social growth are the norm.”

Serving at the helm of the football program has allowed Franzen to take an active role on the Doane campus. Most recently, he has served on the Doane Diversity Group as well as the EMCAP (Engaging Men Campus Athletics Project) through a Title IX grant.

The transition for the football program will be relatively smooth with Bessler taking over. He joined the Tigers shortly after Franzen was appointed the head coach and has played an important part in the vast improvement in Tiger football.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to be the Head Football Coach at Doane,” Bessler said. “The chance to carry on a tradition that has been established is both exciting and humbling.”

Bessler’s defensive units have been among the best in the NAIA, especially in the last five years. The defense has been in the Top 10 statistically in fewest rushing yards allowed and sacks per game in three of the past five years. They have also ranked in the Top 30 in scoring defense in four of the last five years, which included the 4th-best squad in the NAIA in 2015 allowing 16.0 points per game.

“Chris is the obvious choice for the head coach position at this time,” Franzen said. “He has worked beside me for eleven years as the Defensive Coordinator and has been vital in every phase of building a solid and consistent program. He is a highly respected coach throughout the state and the GPAC and is one of the best teachers and role models that I’ve had the privilege of working with.”

A 1995 Doane graduate, Bessler was a member of the football, baseball, and track & field teams at Doane. During his senior campaign he teamed up with Franzen to lead the Tigers to the 1993 NAIA Playoffs. Bessler’s coaching career started the following year as a student coach for the Tigers.

Bessler took over the head coaching duties at Cozad High School in 1996 and held the position until 2000. He moved back to the college ranks for the 2000 season at Northern State University (S.D.) where he earned his master’s degree in Education and Learning. In 2001, he took over as defensive line coach at Augustana College (Ill.) and helped the team to a conference championship and NCAA Division III playoff berth. Bessler returned to high school football in 2003 and served as an assistant coach at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School where the team won one state championship and earned one runner-up honor during his tenure.

Throughout his years at Doane, he has had the opportunity to experience Doane Football as both a player and a coach. Bessler says he looks forward to expanding his role in helping guide the student-athletes on and off the field.

“For many Doane students, athletics play a significant role. Being a student-athlete hones skills that prepare students for challenges they will face in their chosen career path.”

Franzen and Bessler will take over their new positions immediately.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

countdown

countdown

Oklahoma Sports
oklahomasports.net

Alabama Sports
alabamasports.net

Arizona Sports
arizonasports.net

Arkansas Sports
arkansassports.net

Bryan County Patriot
bryancountypatriot.com

California Sports
californiasports.net

Colorado Sports
coloradosports.net

Emerald Quest Media Care
emeraldquestmedia.net

Georgia Sports
georgiasports.net

Iowa Sports
iowasports.net

Kansas Sports News
kansassports.net

Kentucky Sports
kentuckysports.net

Maryland Sports
marylandsports.net

Midwest Sports
midwestsports.net

Mississippi Sports
mississippisports.net

Missouri Sports
missourisports.net

Nebraska Sports
nebraskasports.net

New Mexico Sports
newmexicosports.net

North Carolina
northcarolinasports.net

Northeast Sports
northeastsports.net

North Dakota Sports
northdakotasports.net

Pennsylvania Sports
pennsylvaniasports.net

SE Sports
sesports.net

South Carolina Sports
southcarolinasports.net

Tennessee Sports
tennesseesports.net

Texas Sports
texassports.net

The Honey Comb Gift
thehoneycombgift.com

What’s My Story
whatsmystory.net

Wisconsin Sports
wisconsinsports.net

Digital Audio
AV News and Notes

Broken Arrow Siding
Roofing and Siding

Tulsa General Contractors
GC and Church Construction

Home Renovation
Broken Arrow Home Remodel

Oklahoma Realtor
Real Estate Agency

Crown Furniture
Tulsa Office Furniture

Tulsa Debt Collecting
Collections Lawyer

Disaster Hero
Tulsa Restoration

Tulsa Counseling
Empowered Life Counseling

Enviro Valve
Pressure Relief Valves

Lawyer Tulsa
J Miller Law Firm

Tulsa Realtor
Kristen Simon Real Estate

L&M Office Furniture
Office Furniture Tulsa

Tulsa Plumbing
Plumbers Tulsa, OK

Claremore Men’s Store
Claremore Apperal

Broken Arrow News
BA Updates

Oklahoma Fire Sprinkler
OFSA

Young Living
Essential Oils TULSA

Tulsa Family Lawyer
Attorney Tulsa, OK

PDP Proscan
Personality Profile Assessment

Sokt Plumbing
Plumbing Blog

Tulsa Metal Fabrication
Metal Design and Fabrication

Broken Arrow Insurance
Auto Insurance Quote

Tulsa Investor’s Broker
Real Estate Investor

Pryor Dentist
Dentist Pryor, OK

Tulsa Accountant
Book Keeping Tulsa, OK

Tulsa Personal Injury Lawyer
Truskett Law

Tulsa HVAC Contractor
Riverside Heat and Air Tulsa

Broken Arrow Church
Life Demonstration Church

Bible Blast
Kid’s Bible Curriculum

Stu B Que
Tulsa BBQ and Catering

On The Rock Roofing
Owasso Roofer and Roofing Contractor

Tulsa Chiropractor
Travis Chiropractic

Oklahoma Dental Office Transitions
Jaquay Enterprise

Oklahoma City Business Lawyer
Bruner Law Firm

Tulsa Commercial Construction
Lyon Construction

Tulsa Dental Crowns
Dental Studio of South Tulsa

Tulsa State Farm agent
Chris Lile

Gary W. Crews, PLLC
Probate Lawyer Tulsa

McAlester Lawyers
Wagner & Lynch Law

High Tech Salon & Spa
Staunton Hair Salon

High Tech Salon & Spa
Harrisonburg Hair Salon

Tulsa Event Center
Stokely Event Center

Staunton Website Design
Synergize Creative

Owasso Pest Control
Elite Home Services, Inc.

Tulsa Architect
Property Arts

Female Dentist Tulsa
Magnolia Family Dental Care

Tulsa Pediatric Dentist
Children’s Dental Health Center

Tulsa Biohazard Cleanup
Bio-One Tulsa

23 Minutes in Hell
Soul Choice Ministries

Tulsa Ozone Therapy
Longevity Effect

Broken Arrow Home Health Care
Bright Home Health

Huntsville Personal Injury Lawyer
The Lackey Law Firm

Broken Arrow Pest Control
Bed Bug Heat Treatment

Alabama Dentists
Dental Associates Near Me

North Alabama Dentist
Dental Associates of North Alabama

Athens Dentist
Dental Associates of Athens

Rogersville Dentist
Dental Associates of Rogersville

Madison Dentist
Dental Associates of Madison

Fyffe Dentist
Dental Associates of Fyffe

Hampton Cove Dentist
Dental Associates of Hampton Cove

Jenks Dentist
Hopper Dental

Vernon Twyman Ventures 7000

Macon Dermatologist Skin Care Physicians of Georgia

Vern Twyman Ventures 7000

Broken Arrow Roof Repair Ark Roofing & Construction

India Missions HBI Global Partners

Blackwood Real Estate
Commercial Realtor Fredericksburg

Shannon Property Management
Houston Property Management

Tulsa Surveillance Technologies
Tulsa Video Surveillance

Accel Polymers
HIPS Plastic Recycling Business

Luxa Accounting
Tulsa Payroll Services

Frost Air Services
Bixby Heat and Air Repair

Insurance Agency in Tulsa AAA Insurance Tulsa

Claremore Cocktail Bar Smoke And Tonic

Real Estate Fort Worth Matt McWilliams MCM Real Estate Advisors

Broken Arrow House Cleaning Service DomesticAide

Broken Arrow In-Home Health Care Heart for Seniors Home Health Care

Tulsa Auto Insurance Greater Tulsa Insurance

Tulsa Ozone TreatmentDr. Sara Washatka

Tulsa Move In CleaningBright Impact Cleaning

Broken Arrow AccountantHigh Tower Business Solutions

Broken Arrow PaintersLemus Painting & Remodeling

Tulsa Tax Resolution LawyerSchaffer Herring

Tulsa Bathtub ResurfacingBear & Bison Resurfacing Specialists, LLC

Oklahoma Active Shooter Prevention TrainingNikki Burgett

OKC Criminal Record ExpungementCriminal Record Eraser

Broken Arrow FaceTiteDr. Lee Bottem

Residential Dryer Vent Cleaning in Broken ArrowTwist and Turn Dryer Vent Cleaning

Tulsa DentistTulsa Sculped Smiles

Broken Arrow Screen PrintingBroken Arrow Graphics & Banners

Bixby DentistSouth Tulsa Smiles

Oswego Work Injury LawyerJeffrey & Erwin

Oklahoma Bud Trimmer788 Trim Co.

Oklahoma City Criminal Record ExpungementCriminal Record Eraser

Tulsa Record StoreGrandpa’s Records & More

Tulsa SEO
Company

Oklahoma VA Wrongful Death Lawyer
Whiting & Bruner

Tulsa Mosquito Treatment
Tulsa Mosquito Control

Huntsville Web Design
McWilliams Marketing

South Tulsa Counseling
Evolution Mental Health Services

Tulsa General Contractor
Ascend Construction Services

Tulsa IT Support
CamTech

Wholesale Alarm Monitoring
Monitoring America Alarm Co-op

Broken Arrow Accounting
Iron Tax Accounting & Financial Solutions

We Buy Houses Tulsa
YT Properties LLC

Broken Arrow Mosquito Control
Mosquito Shield of Broken Arrow

Tulsa Guaranteed Lifetime Income
Five Rings Financial – Noel Malan

Tulsa Electrician
Lyon Electric LLC

Tulsa Home Inventory List
Know-Ur-Stuff

Broken Arrow Restaurant
Shiloh’s Restaurant Broken Arrow

Downtown Tulsa Restaurant
Shiloh’s Restaurant Downtown Tulsa

Cleveland Restaurant
Shiloh’s Restaurant of Cleveland

The Lawn Experts
American Lawns

Deposition Legal Blog
Deposition Academy

Your Questions Answered
Answers for Everyone

Legal Information Blog
Legal Blaze

Pool Owners Blog
Pool Owners Academy

Discover Tulsa
Tulsa Businesses and Events

Home Tips and Info
Expert Home Report

Church Tech Blog
Church Creative Pros

Game Rules and Ideas
Game Search

Furniture Design Blog
Lion’s Den Furniture

Dental Information Blog
Modern Dental Hygiene

Coffee Blog
Square Coffee Co

Local Business Blog
First Rate Local

Decor and Design Blog
Zoe’s Decor

Landscape and Garden Blog
Petals and Gardens

Dental Product Blog
Mouth and Smile

Dental
Hine Dental

McAlester Lawyer
Criminal and Family Law

  • Football
  • WBB
  • MBB
  • Softball
  • Baseball
  • Division I
  • Division II
  • Division III
  • NAIA

Recent Posts

  • Chadron women’s wrestling picks up first-ever dual win
  • Doane places third at NWCA National Duals
  • Midland starts new year with victory over Doane
  • Prairie Wolves cruise past Tigers
  • NWU’s Lash picks up third A-R-C weekly honor
ArkansasSports.Net | KansasSports.Net | IowaSports.Net | MidwestSports.Net | NebraskaSports.Net | OklahomaSports.Net
Copyright 2018 NebraskaSports.Net, a division of Emerald Quest | Tulsa Website Design McWilliams Media