Coaching Staff

Head Coach Matt Franzen took over the Doane Football program in December 2006. Franzen also serves as the offensive coordinator for the Tigers.

A native of Gothenburg, Franzen graduated from Doane College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. He also holds a Masters Degree from Hastings College in Teaching/Physical Education. He earned First Team NAIA All-America honors in 1993 as an offensive lineman. Franzen has been an assistant coach at Hastings College since 1996. In 2005, he was named assistant head coach for the Broncos.

Franzen started coaching in 1996 as a graduate assistant at Hastings College. In 1997, he was named offensive line and tight ends coach, a position he held until 2000. In 2000, Franzen took over the junior varsity program and was named offensive coordinator in 2001 for the Broncos.

E-mail: mfranzen@doane.edu

Phone: (402) 826-8201

Assistant Coach Chris Bessler joined the Tiger staff in February 2007 and serves as the defensive coordinator. Bessler graduated from Doane in 1995. He was a three-sport athlete, participating in football, track and baseball. He was named NIAC all-conference as a linebacker. Bessler spent the past four years at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School in Missouri. He served as defensive line coach while helping the Rams win three league championships and one state title. Prior to working at MICDS, Bessler was defensive line coach at Augustana College (Ill.) and a graduate assistant at Northern State University (S.D.) while earning his Master’s Degree in Education. Bessler got his start in coaching as a student coach at Doane. After graduation, he was named head coach at Cozad High School and stayed there until 2000, when he moved on to Northern State University.

E-mail: chris.bessler@doane.edu	Phone: (402) 826-6706

Assistant Coach BJ James joined the Doane College staff in 2003 and serves as a defensive line coach for the Tigers. He played at Dodge City Community College before graduating from Fort Hays State University with a double major in Business Management and Computer Information Systems. He recently received a Masters of Arts in Management from Doane College-Lincoln. He lives in Lincoln.

E-mail: bj.james@doane.edu	Phone: (402) 826-6764

Assistant Coach Grant Mollring joined the Doane staff in January 2010 and serves as the Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Mollring came to Doane after serving as the wide receivers coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney from 2008-09. He was a graduate assistant for the Lopers program in 2007 and worked with the running backs. Mollring's previous football coaching stint was four years as an assistant at Kearney High School. He served as head basketball coach and assistant track coach at Eustis-Farnam High School while working as a physical education teach at EFHS.

Mollring is a graduate of Nebraska-Kearney ('03) and earned a degree in physical education and western civilizations. In 2009, he earned his Master's Degree in physical education.

Mollring is a native of Cambridge, Neb., and has a strong family connection with Doane as his father is a Doane graduate.

E-mail: grant.mollring@doane.edu

Phone: (402) 826-8204

Assistant Coach Raymonn Adams joined the Doane staff in 2005 and serves as the running backs coach. Adams is a Doane College (‘01) graduate and played for the Tigers from 1997-2000 and was a three-time NAIA All-American. Raymonn set the school record for yards in a game with 290 against Hastings College in 2000. After graduation, Raymonn went on to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Renegades and Calgary Stampede, NFL Europe for the Amsterdam Admirals, and the NFL for the New York Jets. Along with coaching football, Raymonn also works in web design. He lives in Lincoln with his wife, Tiffany (Ferguson/’02), and their daughter, Prayse.

Assistant Coach Mike Dixon joined the Doane College staff in 2007. He serves as the Tiger’s wide receivers coach. Dixon’s most recent coaching experience came as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach at Lincoln Northeast High School. He also served as the head coach for the Lincoln Capitals from 2004-05 and as an intern of football operations in 2006. Dixon is a graduate of Greenville College. Mike works on the Campus Safey Administration team at Doane and splits time living in Crete and Lincoln with his wife, Amy.

E-mail: michael.dixon@doane.edu

Assistant Coach Eric Hand joined the Tiger staff in 2007 and helps with the Tiger defense. He joins the staff after coaching at Lincoln Southwest last year. He has also had coaching stops at Augsburg College, Lakeland College, University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Iowa Central CC. Hand is finishing up his Master's Degree at Doane College-Lincoln. He resides in Lincoln.
E-mail: eric.hand@doane.edu	Phone: (402) 826-8204

Assistant Coach Kyle McMurray joined the Tiger staff in 2008. McMurray is a member of the Doane Admission staff, joining in August 2008. His previous coaching experience was as an undergrad assistant at the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1995-99. He lives in Hickman with his wife, Darci, and three kids.

Assistant Coach Mark Newmyer joined the Tiger staff in 2008. Doane is his first stop in coaching after being a member of the Tiger football program and graduating in May 2008.