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 Nick Fulton joined the Doane staff in 2006 and serves as the offensive line coach. Fulton came to Doane after serving as the assistant offensive line coach at the University of Sioux Falls in 2005. Fulton also served as an admissions counselor from 2004-06. He graduated from the University of Sioux Falls in 2003 and was named all-conference by the GPAC and Honorable Mention All-American by NAIAfootball.net (now The Victory Sports Network). He played on three GPAC championship teams (2001, '02, '03) and a NAIA National Runner-up team in 2001. His 2002 and 2003 teams made it to the National Semifinals. Fulton was a co-captain his senior year and a four-time letterwinner.

E-mail: nick.fulton@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 Heath Hupp joined the Tiger staff in 2008. Hupp played his college ball at the University of the Pacific in California. He joins the staff after a coaching stint at Lincoln Southwest. He has worked several University of Nebraska-Lincoln football camps as well. He lives in Lincoln with his wife, Lisa, and two children.

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.