Jan. 20, 2006

By Lance Beeson, MNU Sports Information

OLATHE, Kan. - MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) announced former University of Northern Colorado defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Jed Stugart as MNU's new head football coach. Stugart replaces Mike Cochran who stepped down in December to coach at Southern Nazarene University (Okla.).

Stugart had been at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley since 1999 serving under head coach O. Kay Dalton. Prior to being named defensive coordinator Stugart was the defensive line coach from 1999-2002. While at Northern Colorado Stugart was a part of two North Central Conference championship teams, along with being a part of two post-season appearances. The Bears made a NCAA Division II quarterfinal appearance in

1999 and a NCAA Division II semi-final appearance in 2002, where they fell to eventual national champion Grand Valley State.

In 2003 during Stugart's first year as defensive coordinator, the UNC defense ranked 16th in the nation in total defense (284.5 yards/game), while allowing only 16.4 points per game to rank 13th in the country.

Stugart has coached three NCAA All-America selections. In 2002, Anthony Dunn earned NCAA Division II All-America honors as a defensive end. Dunn currently plays for the Houston Texans. In 2003, Paul Hubbard racked up

16.5 sacks, which led the NCAA, and earned him NCAA I-AA All-America honors. In 2005, Reed Doughty was named the 2005 Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA I-AA Defensive Back of the Year. It marked the second consecutive year that Doughty has earned that honor.

"Coach Stugart has an excellent coaching record, he's a strong person of character and spiritual integrity, and he has demonstrated leadership skills," said MNU President Ed Robinson. "I'm thrilled that we have a coach who wants MNU to be a 'destination assignment' and who'll lead our program for several years to come. I'm confident we've made the right choice."

A native of Greeley, Colo., Stugart played football at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif. He earned a bachelor's degree in communication from APU in 1994, and served his alma mater as a linebackers coach for two years. He also earned a master's degree in communication from the University of Northern Colorado in 2003.

Outside of football, Stugart is involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He and his wife, Angie, have a son, Gunner Lance, and a daughter, Gracie Marie.

Stugart inherits an MNU football program that finished as Heart of America Athletic Conference champions in 2002 and 2003 and has been to the NAIA playoffs 4 of the last 6 seasons. The 2005 Pioneers were 7-3 and finished 19th in the final NAIA National Rankings.

Click here to view the story on MidAmerica's Web site.