Jim Cole '74Head Football Coach, Defensive CoordinatorEmail Coach Cole | |||
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John LeisterOffensive CoordinatorEmail Coach LeisterJohn Leister is in his 15th season guiding the potent offensive attack affectionately termed the "Scot-Gun." He has led the offense to record-breaking seasons since arriving at Alma, coaching some of the finest quarterbacks in Alma College history. During his tenure he has helped the Scots to three MIAA Championships; 1999, 2002 and 2004. Also head baseball coach for the past nine seasons, Leister led the Scots to the MIAA baseball title in 1999; its first since 1987. A three-year starter at quarterback for Michigan State University and a 1991 graduate of MSU, Leister played professional football with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and the Michigan Panthers of the USFL before pitching for the Boston Red Sox. Leister resides in St. Louis with wife Michelle Olds Leister '97 and four children; Nicole, Jarrett, Hailey and Alyssa. | |||
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John LewisRecruiting Coordinator/Defensive CoordiantorEmail Coach LewisJohn Lewis rejoined the Alma College football staff in 2006 as an assistant coach of running backs and football's recruiting coordinator. This year he has been asked to take over the reigns as the defensive coordinator. Lewis returns to Alma College - where he served as running backs coach and assistant baseball coach from August 1999-July 2003 - after a two-year stint at Defiance College as offensive coordinator and assistant baseball coach from July 2003-July 2005. His experience at both Defiance and Alma includes overall recruitment efforts, coordinating game plans and practice plans and day-to-day management of office and team details. His expertise and knowledge of the Division III student-athlete and the demands of those students and coaches at this level make him a welcome addition to the Scot Athletics staff. Lewis earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Central Michigan University and earned his Master of Arts in Education from Defiance College in May 2006. |
Brian Zimmermann - Assistant Coach, Offensive Line
Brian Zimmermann brings 26 years of football experience to Alma College, having coached at the High School and collegiate levels. In 2007, Coach Z returns for his 5th tour and 16th season on the Scots sidelines. His Scots resume includes coaching the running backs, defensive line, receivers, and offensive line. He was the offensive coordinator during the first season of the Scot-gun offense. He was also the Scots' Men's Tennis coach for three seasons.
Coach Zimmermann is a school social worker for Midland Public Schools.
He resides in Midland with his wife Kathy and daughters Elizabeth, Hannah and Molly.
Gene Hackney - Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers
Gene Hackney begins his fifth season on the Alma College sidelines as an assistant coach, working with the wide receivers.He was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998 for his 22 years of service at Shepherd High School, including 18 years as head coach. He also taught math at Shepherd for 30 years, retiring in 2000.
He was the defensive coordinator at Alma College from 1978-81 after working as a volunteer assistant coach at Central Michigan in 1977.
Hackney and his wife Natalie reside in Alma. They have two sons, Kevin and Kyle.
Matt Whetstone - Student Assistant Coach, Linebackers
Matt Whetstone returns to the sidelines for the third year. A senior at Alma College, he is working towards his teaching certification in elementary education. After playing two season for the Scots in 2003 and 2004, Whetstone has moved into the coaching ranks due to multiple injuries.Tim Johns '89 - Assistant Coach, Defensive Line
Tim
Johns returns to his alma mater as an assistant football
coach. Tim graduated from Alma in1989 with a degree in Exercise and
Health Science. After captaining the 1988 championship team, Tim began
his collegiate coaching career at Southern Connecticut State University
where he also earned his Master's Degree in Human Performance. Tim was an assistant coach at Michigan State
University during the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
The past two years Tim served as an assistant coach at Carson City
Crystal. He is currently employed with the Michigan Department of
Corrections.
He and his wife Karla have four children; Brendan (age 9), Jacob (age 8), Seth (age 6), and Kayla (age 4).
Bob Taylor - Assistant Coach, Linebackers
Bob Taylor, a seven-year veteran on the Alma coaching staff, returns to the Scots after taking a year off. Taylor has 23 years of high school coaching experience, including seven years as Hemlock's Head Coach. Taylor earned his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University and his M.A. in chemistry and physics from Saginaw Valley State University. Taylor and his wife, Marsha, reside in Hemlock. they have two grown daughters.
Bill Seeley '95 - Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs
Bill Seeley '95 returns to the sidelines for the Scots in 2007 for his third year on the coaching staff.
Seeley was a three-year letterwinner for the Scots as a defensive back after playing his first collegiate season at Bowling Green.
Prior to joining the Alma College staff, Seeley coached football at Ashley High School.
He earned his B.S. in biology from Alma College and is self-employed. Seeley resides in Alma.
Mike Doran - Assistant Coach, Linebackers
Mike Doran returns for third year with the Scots, coaching linebackers.Doran coached 31 very successful seasons at the high school level at Ithaca (Mich.) and East Lee Co. (Fla.) as a defensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In 2002, he was named the assistant coach of the year in Michigan and was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003.
A long-time mathematics teacher at Ithaca High School, Doran retired in 2005.
He and his wife Kathy reside in Ithaca. They have two daughters, Bethany '05 and Allison, currently an Alma College Scot.
Mike McCloskey - Assistant Coach, Defensive Line
Mike McCloskey enters his third stint as an assistant coach with Alma College football. He served as linebacker coach and defensive back coach in his previous time with the Scots. He spent eight years coaching in the Detroit Catholic League and served as head football coach at St. Louis High School and Manistee Catholic Central. McCloskey retired from teaching at St. Louis and coaching at Ithaca High School.McCloskey and his wife Karen have been married for 41 years and reside in Ithaca. The couple have four children - Tracy, Shannon, Shawn and Michael - and seven grandchildren.
Kelly Luplow - Assistant Coach Running Backs
Alma College is happy to welcome Coach Kelly Luplow to its coaching staff for the 2007 football season. Luplow begins his 26th year of coaching, the majority of which were spent as head coach of Clare High School where he compiled a record of 135 wins and 62 losses. This past summer he coached in his first Michigan High School Football All-Star game.
He and his wife Christine have 13 year old triplets: Reyna, Brent, and Jillian.
Drew Garno - Student Assistant Coach, Offensive Line
Drew Garno is a 3-letter winner for the Scots who has returned for a fifth year and is helping coach the Offensive Line. Garno was a member of the 2006 offensive line that only gave up 1 sack per 40+ passing attempts. Garno is working towards the completion of his Bachelor's Degree in the Organization of Communication.
Ryan Coon - Student Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers
Ryan Coon will bring his experience as a student-athlete to the sidelines for the Scots in 2007 coaching wide receivers. Coon is a three time letter winner for the Scots and is working towards his B.A. in History.
James Thrubis - Student Assistant Coach, Offensive Line
Another member of the 2006 O-line that set records for its protection of Josh Brehm, James Thrubis is returning in his fifth yeas as a student assistant coach and will be working with the offensive line. Thrubis is working towards his B.A. in History and English.
Cody Moore - Student Assistant Coach, Defensive Backs
Cody Moore has decided to join the Scots sidelines for the 2007 season as a defensive back coach. In his fifth year at Alma College, Moore is working to complete his B.S. in Mathematics.
