The University of Minnesota Crookston football program announced the hiring of Michael Hepp as an assistant coach. Hepp will work with the defense, but the exact position group has yet to be determined. Hepp comes to the Golden Eagles after spending the last four seasons on the staff at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. The Tigers have been one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the nation, advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2017.
“We are very excited to add Michael Hepp to our coaching staff,” said Head Coach Mark Dufner. “Coach Hepp comes from a great background having worked for a very strong program at Fort Hays State. We believe he will be a great addition to our staff.”
“I’m excited to get up there and get working with the student-athletes,” Hepp said. “It was awesome to be around Coach Dufner and his staff. I was very impressed with Coach Dufner when I was there for my interview. He has been at every level of the Minnesota Crookston program and has a great passion for the Golden Eagles and wants to see the program move in the right direction. I truly believe he is going to get things going in the right way. I was also impressed with the Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson. She is an exciting person to be around. It was a fun experience and I can’t wait to get to Crookston.”
Hepp has been the assistant special teams coordinator for Fort Hays State since the 2014 season. In addition, Hepp has coached the safeties since 2016. He previously worked with the defensive line during the 2014 and 2015 season. In his four seasons with Fort Hays State, the Tigers have gone 34-13. The 2017 version of the Tigers won the school’s first-ever MIAA Championship and set the school record for wins with 11. Hepp helped coach Fort Hays State to back-to-back-to-back post-season appearances over the last three seasons, including the Mineral Water Bowl in 2015 and the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in 2016.
While at Fort Hays State, Hepp assisted in the development of the defensive game plan against the run and pass game each week for the Tigers. He also served as video coordinator, social media coordinator, equipment manager, assistant recruiting coordinator, and assistant camp coordinator during his four seasons with Fort Hays State.
Prior to arriving at Fort Hays State, he was the graduate assistant running backs coach for Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan. While at Ottawa, Hepp was responsible for all aspects of the running back position. Hepp also assisted in weekly game planning, specifically in the run game. He also helped break down opponent film, served as video coordinator, equipment manager, and social media coordinator. In addition, he assisted with recruiting.
Prior to Ottawa, Hepp served as offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for Campbellsport High School in Campbellsport, Wis.
Hepp earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Ripon College in Ripon, Wis. In 2012. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science degree in Education from Fort Hays State University. Hepp is a native of Campbellsport, Wis.
Hepp joins a staff that currently consists of Dufner as head coach, along with Jared Hottle as offensive coordinator and Tom Miller as defensive coordinator. Sam Smith is special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach, while Sam Gooding is the recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach. The Golden Eagles are also currently working on finalizing two interns for the staff.
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