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Head Coach - Mike Van Diest

During his ten years as Head Football Coach at Carroll College, Mike Van Diest has led the Fighting Saints to five National Championships in the
last seven years, which has been one of the most dominating runs in college football history. The Saints have posted 117-19 record during the past ten seasons. This includes a 76-10 Frontier Conference record for an impressive 88%. The Fighting Saints have earned nine consecutive Frontier Conference Championships. This past season the Saints finished 13-1 having lost to the University of Sioux Falls in the National Championship game.

 

In 2008 the Saints defense finished number six in the nation in scoring defense giving up 14.7 points/ game. They also finished 11th in the nation in total defense giving up 263yards/game. They were the 7th ranked rushing defense giving up an average of 83 yards/game. And the Fighting Saints were 2nd in the nation registering 51.5 sacks for the season. 

In 2007 the Fighting Saints won their 5th National Championship with a 17-9 victory over the University of Sioux Falls. Carroll finished the year with a perfect 15-0 record as the only undefeated college football team for the 2007 season. This was Carroll’s 3rd time under Van Diest that the Saints had a perfect record. In 2003 the Saints were 15-0 and in 2005 they were a perfect 14-0.

In 2005, the Saints won their fourth consecutive National Championship with a convincing 27-10 victory over St. Francis University (Ind.) In 2004 the Fighting Saints were the NAIA national champions for the third year in a row with a slim 15-13 victory again over St. Francis University (Ind.) in Savannah Tennessee.

In 2003, the Saints were national champions with their first perfect season at 15-0, by defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State 41-28.

In 2002, the Saints won their first national championship with a 28-7 victory over Georgetown,KY. Van Diest and his staff have led Carroll College to a 20-2 record in the NAIA national playoffs.

During Van Diest’s tenure Carroll College has had the National NAIA Player of the Year three times. Tyler Emmert received this award in 2003 and 2005, and this past season Owen Koeppen was named Player of the Year.

In 2000 and 2001, the Saints finished with the number 3 national ranking. During this time the Saints defense has been ranked 11th in 2000, 4th in 2001, 6th in 2002, 5th in 2003, and 3rd in 2004 and number 1 2005 and 2006. In 2006 the Saints defense gave up an average of 5.8 points per contest. While at Carroll, Van Diest has coached 27 All-Conference linebackers with six being named first team All-American, Joe Horne (2001), Cory Perzinski(2002), Marcus Atkinson (2003), and Gary Cooper (2004, 2005), Seamus Molloy (2006) and Owen Koeppen (2007, 2008). Horne, Atkinson,and Cooper and Koeppen were all named Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year. During his tenure as head coach of the Fighting Saints, Van Diest has been named Frontier Conference Coach of the Year seven times. In 2003 and 2005 Van Diest was named NAIA National Coach of the Year by the American Football Association as well as the AFCA Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2007.

Van Diest is a 1970 graduate of Helena High School. His career has included stops at his alma mater, the University of Wyoming, the University of Montana, the University of Massachusetts, and Big Ten representative, Northwestern University as an assistant coach. Van Diest has won titles at Montana (Big Sky Conference Champions, 1982), Wyoming (Two Western Athletic Conference Championships and one Pacific Division Championship,1986) and now nine Frontier Conference Championships at Carroll, as well as the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 NAIA National Championships.
He and his wife Heidi have two sons, Shane and Clay. Shane is a senior football player at Carroll College.

 

Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach - Nick Howlett

Nick enters his 11th year at Carroll College. This will be his tenth directing the Saints offense. In 2004 Howlett was named the NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.Under Howlett’s guidance Saints quarterbacks have been the Frontier Conference Players of the Year five times, JD Emmert in 2000 and Tyler Emmert in 2003, 2004, and 2005 and John Barnett in 2007. Tyler was 1st Team All-Conference in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. 

 Under Howlett the Saints offense averaged 31.4 points/game good for 23rd in the country. The Saints were 21st in the country in total offense averaging 397 yards/ game. This past season was Nick’s most challenging year dealing with the loss of Gary Wagner and developing two outstanding freshmen QB’s in Broadhead and Ritter, and guiding the Saints to the National Championship game in Rome, GA.

Howlett is a former Western Montana College standout and three-time Frontier All-Conference running back. Howlett was an assistant at his alma mater for three years before coming to Carroll. Howlett was ninth in the nation in receiving his senior season at Western. He earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Western Montana College. Nick resides in Helena with his wife Sandy and daughter Brooke.

 

Offensive Line and Strength Coach - Jim Hogan

Jim begins his 11th season at Carroll College and his tenth as the offensive line coach Hogan has coached nine 1st Team All-Conference players over the past seven seasons. This past year Adam Brockway was named 1ST Team All-American and Alex Pfannansteil was named 2nd Team All-American. This past season the Saints offense was the number one ranked rushing offense in the conference. Hogan also oversees the Saints strength and conditioning program and was named Samson’s National Strength Coach of the Year for the 2005-06 season.

 Before coming to Carroll, Hogan was the head coach for football, wrestling, and track at Billings Central High School. His 1999 track team won the Class A State Championship. In addition to his eight years of coaching in Billlings, Hogan’s career has included stops in Gillette, WY and as an assistant coach for Western Montana College. Hogan is originally from Lacey, WA and graduated from the University of Montana in 1981 where he played for Coach Van Diest in 1980. He and his wife Barb have four children, Anthony is a sophomore at Carroll and a member of the Saints football team, Adam, James and Brittany.

 

 

Defensive Backs Coach-Jarrod Wirt

This will be Jarrod’s 11th season with the Fighting Saints Football program. He was a standout defensive back from 1999-2003. Jarrod started 27 games during his final two years at Carroll College. While at Carroll as a player the Saints won four Frontier Conference Championships and two NAIA National Championships. The past five years Jarrod has coached on the defensive side of the football and the Saints have won five more Frontier Conference Championships and three National Championships. This past season under Jarrod’s direction as the Saints secondary coach, Zach Richardson received 2nd Team All-American honors, and Chase Gill received 2nd Team All-Conference honors. Jarrod has coached six All-Conference players over the past three seasons. This past season the Saints defense finished 15th in the nation in pass defense efficiency . He has done a great job coaching special teams as well. Jarrod is a native of Havre, MT where he was an All-State athlete for the Blue Ponies. Jarrod graduated from Carroll in 2004.

 

Wide Receivers Coach - Tyler Emmert

This will be Tyler’s third year on the Saints coaching staff. After a brilliant career at Carroll which saw Tyler lead the Fighting Saints to four straight NAIA Championships which included three All-American selections and two National Player of the Year Awards, he will coach the WR’s this fall. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. Last season senior Travis Browne was named 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-American. Tyler is a Helena native who attended Capital H.S. Tyler and his wife Amy are the proud parents of their daughters Kathryn and Tyler, Madilyn, Amy, and Kathryn Emmert
Madilyn.

 

 

Offensive Line Coach-Nick Coulson

Nick will begin his second year on the coaching staff at Carroll. He will assist Coach Hogan with the offensive line and is responsible for editing game film. A 2007 graduate of Colorado State, Nick has coached at Rocky Mountain High School the past four seasons. He will work with Jim Hogan and the offensive line this fall. He graduated with a degree in Psychology from Colorado State.

 

 

 

 

 

Running Backs Coach - Rocky Klever

A former University of Montana All-American who played when Coach Van Diest was coaching for the Grizzlies and a former teammate of Jim Hogan will enter his first year as the running backs coach. Rocky is one of the all time great players in the University of Montana history. He played TE for seven years for the New York Jets. After his playing days Rocky was a graduate assistant at Northern Arizona University. Rocky will coach the Saints running backs and help with special teams.

 

 

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Tight Ends Coach-Kyle Moore

This will be Kyle’s second season coaching at Carroll College. Last season Kyle was responsible for the Fighting Saints TE’s. Starting TE Marshall McEwen received 1st Team All-American honors. This fall Kyle will be coaching the Saints Defensive Ends. Kyle played TE and will graduated with a degree in History. He played high school football and basketball at Central Catholic High School in Portland, OR.

 

 

 

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Assistant Offensive Coach - Travis Browne

Travis will work with Tyler Emmert this fall assisting with Carroll College’s widereceivers. Travis had an outstanding career at Carroll with over 3500 yards of total offense. He was a 1st Team All-Conference performer in 2007 and 2008, and was an All-American this past season. Travis was also an outstanding punt and kickoff returner during his career. Travis helped lead the Saints to three National Championships and four Frontier Conference Championships. Travis is majoring in Business. He is from Stevensville, MT where he played high school football.

 

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Defensive Tackles Coach - Chanler Buck

After transferring from Utah State Chanler helped lead the Saints to two Frontier Conference Championships and two National Championship appearances in 2007 and 2008. Chanler played linebacker and was an outstanding special teams player for the Fighting Saints. He will be working with the defensive tackles this fall. Chanler was a two time Academic All-Conference selection. He is from Blackfoot Idaho, and played for his dad Stan at Blackfoot High School.

 

 

 

 

Tight Ends Coach - Marshall McEwen

After an outstanding career as a four year starter at TE Marshall will be begin his first season coaching the TE. Marshall was a part of three National Championships while at Carroll College. He was a four time All-Conference selection, and this past season was named 1st Team All-American. Marshall was also an Academic All-American. He graduated with a degree in History. Marshall is from Wheatland, Wyoming where he played high school football and basketball.

 

 

 

 

 

Linebacker Coach - Brandon Day

Brandon Day will be working with the linebackers this fall after an outstanding career as a Fighting Saint. While at Carroll Brandon played in three National Championship games and helped the Saints to four Frontier Conference Titles. In 2007 and 2008 Brandon was named 1st Team All-Conference and was a 2nd Team All-American as well. Brandon is a Sports Management Business major. Brandon is from Helena and attended Helena High School.

 

 

 

Assistant Defensive Coach - Chase Gill

Chase will begin his first year coaching and helping Coach Wirt in the secondary. This past season Chase was a 2nd Team All-Conference selection at corner. He was also named to the Academic All-American Team. Chase played on 4 Conference Championship Teams and three National Championship games helping the Saints to two NAIA National Titles. Chase is a native of Helena and attended Helena High School.