2008 Record 3-7 .300 Overall 2-7 .222 Conference Location: Grinnell, IA Head Coach: Max Hawsey (Austin '96) Stadium (cap.): Rosenbloom (5000) Conference: MWC Region: West 2009 Schedule

By Ted Schultz
Grinnell College Sports Information Director

GRINNELL, Iowa – In Max Hawsey’s first year as head coach of the Grinnell College football coach, the Pioneers tripled their win total from the season before while going from 1-9 to 3-7.

Hawsey and his staff are looking for even bigger things in 2009.

Grinnell returns 19 starters from the 2008 team, including nine on the offensive side of the ball, eight on defense and two on special teams.

The key on offense will be quarterback Mike Bogard ’12, who now has a season under his belt in the rugged Midwest Conference. He passed for 1,516 yards last year while completing 151-of 299 aerials, and was also the team’s leading rusher with 542 yards.

“Mike is another year older and that much more comfortable in running the offense,” said Hawsey. “He’s more confident with that year of experience and has turned into a great leader. He’s already gone through the first-year mistakes and now he’ll be set to take us to a different level.” Kelsey Davis ’12 will back up Bogard.

Returning on the offensive line as starters are Michael Tricoli ’10, who will move from guard to center, and tackles Jake McVeigh ’11 and Stephen Hudak ’12. Other projected starters are Scott Mata ’11 and Chris Jarmon ’12 at guards.

Others in the mix are Joe Sinnwell ’12 at center or tackle, and Andrew Judt ’13 and Tom Brinkman ’13 at guard.

“The offensive line is where we took the biggest hit in terms of graduation,” said Hawsey. “We’re really counting on Mike Tricoli to step up and be a leader, and Chris Jarmon is a transfer from Colorado College who will be a nice fit. I think we’ll be solid in this area. The guys we have are good fits for our line.”

The skill positions return much experience for the Pioneers, with the likes of receivers Robert Seer ’12, Joey Snyder ’10, Chad Christoff ’10, Mike Martinez ’10 and Davis. Others seeing action will be Jordan Courtain ’10, Brian Westerlind ’12, Logan Granera ’12, and Mike McLeran ’12. The running back spot will be filled by Carlos Sims ’12, who will be backed up by TJ Schaid ’13.

Seer led the team in receiving last year with 39 catches for 532 yards, while Snyder caught 29 passes for 274 yards.

“We’re pretty deep in the skill positions,” said Hawsey. “It’s probably the deepest spot on our team. We’ll rotate a lot of guys in and out. We’ll have some playmakers.

On the defensive line, Jake Thompson ’10 and Curtis McCoy ’10 return at tackles and Ryan Fletcher ’11, a starting linebacker last year, will play there and also end. Kyle Lobaugh ’10 is slated to also start on the line, while others vying for time are Erick Palacios ’13, Brian Taylor ’13, Trent Chavira ’13 and Christoff.

Fletcher was third on the team last year in tackles with 63.

“We have three guys with lots of experience on the line, so that will be very big for us,” said Hawsey. “We don’t have a lot of depth or size, but some great guys overall. Some of these players are ready for breakout years.”

Leading the linebacker corps will be John Hereford ’10, Fletcher, Ryan Creps ’12 and Justyn King ’12. Others in the mix are Malcolm Adams ’13, Damon Fernandez ‘13 and Matt John ’12.

“John Hereford is back and healthy after leading the team in tackles in 2007,” said Hawsey. “He’ll be ready to replace (MWC single-season tackle leader) Brett Maloney. I think we’re going to be very deep. Ryan Creps will fill in well, and Ryan Fletcher will play there as well at defensive end. We’ll have good starters and good backups.”

The defensive backfield returns intact with cornerbacks Ben Johnson ’10 and Marc Heronemus ’11, strong safety Marquis Bradley ’11 and free safety Ryan Boehm ’10. Backups are Kevin Hwang ’13, Fernando Jenkins ’10 and Drew Blumberg ’13.

Boehm, an All-MWC honorable mention pick in 2008, had a team-high four pickoffs last year while Bradley snagged three. Johnson was an All-MWC honorable mention selection in 2007.

“All of the defensive backfield is back, and they’ll be much-improved over last year,” said Hawsey. “They forced a fair amount of turnovers last year, but with our defensive line putting even more pressure on the quarterback, I think that will allow them to force more turnovers this year.”

Bogard is slated to fill both the kicker and punter spots, with Scott Koenning ’10 backing up at kicker and Granera at punter.

Hawsey has virtually his entire coaching staff back, which alone gives him reason to be excited.

“We’re a more experienced team and the coaching staff is pretty much intact,” he said. “Another year of the players being in our strength program and getting that season of experience will be big.”

Instead of setting specific season-long goals, Hawsey simply wants to take things a game at a time.

“We haven’t put any specific record on what we want to do,” he said. “We still have the mindset that we want to win a conference championship here. But we’ll take things one game at a time and do the little things to get better from game to game.”