Mount Union Football Coach Larry Kehres Named Offensive Coordinator of 2011 U.S. Men's National Football Team
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- University of Mount Union head football coach Larry Kehres has been named offensive coordinator for the 2011 U.S. Men's National Football Team that will compete in the fourth annual International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship on July 8-16 in Austria.
USA Football, the national governing body of the sport, assembles America's national teams in the sport for international competition.
Kehres, who will enter his 26th season as head coach of the Purple Raiders in 2011, is the winningest coach in college football with a 303-23-3 (.926) record, winning a record 10 NCAA Division III National Championships in 14 title game appearances, including the last six in a row. His teams have also won 19 consecutive and 21 overall Ohio Athletic Conference Championships.
The head coach of the U.S. National Team is Mel Tjeerdsma (pronounced "CHURCH-ma"), who retired in December of 2010 after 17 seasons and a 183-43 (.810) in 17 seasons at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. His teams played in seven NCAA Division II national championship games, winning three. He was the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year in 2009 and was among the first three coaches inducted into the NCAA Division II College Football Hall of Fame.
The U.S. defensive coordinator is Lou Tepper, a former head coach at Illinois, Edinboro (Pa.) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Tepper was the Illini head coach from 1991-96, going 25-31-2 and reaching three bowl games. He is 101-75-2 (.573) overall in 16 seasons a head coach. Tepper has served as the architect of elite defenses in his 17 years as a Division I defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, Colorado and Illinois.
"I am honored and excited to lead our national team in Austria against the world's best competition," Tjeerdsma said. "Team USA will be befitting of the title 'U.S. National Team' by how we play and how we represent our country – with integrity, intelligence and pride.
"We welcome the challenge to defend our gold medal against excellent football coaches and players across four continents."
"Coach Tjeerdsma continues USA Football's proud history of national team head coaches, melding great football intelligence with high character and team-first values that this game represents," USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said.
"His selection of coordinators – Coach Kehres and Coach Tepper – reinforces this team's strong foundation of leadership."
The United States is part of Group A along with Mexico, Germany and Australia. All Group A games will be played in Innsbruck. Group B teams will play in Graz and include Canada, France, Austria and either Japan or South Korea. Japan hosts South Korea in Tokyo on Saturday, Feb. 26, for the right to represent Asia in Austria. All medal round games will be held in Vienna. A round robin schedule in group play determines who will compete for gold and bronze medals.
USA Football is accepting nominations for athletes age 20 and older to be part of the Men's National Team. Forty-five (45) players will be selected from current NCAA athletes and graduating college seniors as well as other athletes age 20 and older. The NCAA recognizes USA Football as the sport's national governing body. Participation in USA Football's national teams does not affect collegiate eligibility. A training camp will take place June 28 to July 4 prior to Team USA's departure for Austria.
Group A: Australia, Germany, Mexico, United States
Group B: Austria, Canada, France, Japan or Korea
U.S. Men's National Team Schedule (All times Eastern):
July 8 - United States vs. Australia, 9 am
July 10 - Germany vs. United States, 1 pm
July 12 - United States vs. Mexico, 1 pm
* Games above played in Innsbruck, Austria
2011 IFAF Senior World Championship Medal Round Schedule (All times Eastern):
July 15 - Bronze Medal Game, 1 pm
July 16 - Gold Medal game, 1 pm
* Games above will be played in Vienna, Austria
About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body, inspires participation, and ensures a positive experience for all youth, high school, and other amateur players. The independent non-profit hosts more than 80 football training events annually for coaches, players and youth football league commissioners. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association and manages U.S. national teams for international competition. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football distributes $1 million annually in equipment grants and offers youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Former NFL team executive Carl Peterson is USA Football's chairman.
