| Tyson Veidt, a graduate assistant coach under former West Virginia University (WVU) head football coach Rich Rodriguez, will be Bluffton University’s new head football coach, the 12th coach since 1905. Veidt (pronounced vîte, rhymes with “white”) comes to Bluffton after serving one year as defensive coordinator for Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. The fall 2007 season was Saint Vincent’s first year of football since 1962.
While at Saint Vincent, Veidt served as linebacker coach and worked with special teams. Prior to Saint Vincent, Veidt spent two years as a defensive graduate assistant at WVU and was a part of the 2004 and 2005 Big East Champion teams, a 2004 Gator Bowl appearance and a 2006 Sugar Bowl appearance and win. Veidt has also served in coaching roles at Indiana University and Muskingum College. |
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“We’re excited to introduce Tyson Veidt as our new head coach,” said Phill Talavinia, Bluffton University athletics director. “Tyson brings everything to the table that the search committee was looking for: passion, energy, discipline and vision. We’re happy to have him join our campus community, and we look forward to upcoming seasons of Bluffton football under Tyson’s direction.” “I’m excited to take on this opportunity to be a head coach at Bluffton University,” said Veidt. “I look forward to building on the school’s football tradition.” In the coming weeks, Veidt will spend time getting to know his current roster of players. “My vision involves developing my current roster of men and adding to that roster through recruitment. My philosophy is to be fundamentally sound in the three phases of football—offense, defense and special teams—and to be disciplined on and off the field.” |
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Veidt earned a bachelor’s degree in pre-physical therapy from Muskingum and a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from WVU. While at Muskingum, he was a two-year starter for the Muskies. He and his wife, Mandy, reside in Bluffton. |
| Three weeks after announcing a new head football coach, Bluffton University has appointed Chris Krieg as the offensive coordinator to its coaching lineup.
“Chris brings with him NCAA D-III playoff experience, and that is exciting for Bluffton football,” said Bluffton head football coach Tyson Veidt. “His 12 years of offensive coaching experience includes successes on both the ground and in the air. He has a solid background in recruiting and, as an Ohio native, is looking forward to coming back to the state and visiting with our local high school programs.” Krieg joins the Bluffton Beavers after serving as offensive line coach at Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden Sydney, Va. He previously held offensive coaching positions for two seasons at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and for eight seasons at West Liberty State College in West Liberty, W.V. |
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“I’m very excited to join the Bluffton University community, and especially the athletics program,” said Krieg. “It feels very good to be back in the state of Ohio and around the great tradition of football in the area. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to join Coach Veidt’s football staff and help him reshape the Bluffton football program. It’s an exciting time to be a Bluffton football player.” Krieg comes to Bluffton after two seasons at Hampden-Sydney where the team won the conference championship, earning a playoff berth. The Tiger offense averaged 35.8 points per game with the nation’s leading scorer in running back Josh Simpson (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin). |
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Krieg spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons at Catholic University of America, where he served as offensive line and strength and conditioning coach and helped the Cardinals generate the number one passing offense in the nation (2005). From 1996-2003, Krieg coached at his alma mater, West Liberty State College. In 2003, he helped engineer the conference's leading rushing attack, as well as coach its leading rusher. Under his leadership, the ground game broke several school records, including highest single-season rushing offense, single-season rushing leader and highest single-game rushing performance by a running back (348 yards). His offensive line also helped pave the way for several national rankings—number four leading rusher, number one rusher in yards-per-carry (7.1), number 16 in rushing offense (223 yds/game) and number six in yards-per-carry (5.3). Krieg received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from West Liberty State College (2001) and is a graduate of Grand Valley High School in Orwell, Ohio. He and his wife, Shannon, and their daughter reside in the Bluffton area. |
| Bluffton University head football coach Tyson Veidt has named James “Bo” White as an assistant coach. The addition of White completes Veidt’s coaching staff. White will work with wide receivers while serving as the pass game coordinator.
“Bo White brings college coaching experience from the offensive and defensive side of the football as well as valuable recruiting experience at the college level,” said Veidt. “He has coached in two major bowl game victories- the Sugar and Gator Bowls. He brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to Bluffton University, the football program, and the entire community.” |
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White, originally from Daphne, Ala., comes to Bluffton from Glenville State College in Glenville, WVa., where he served as the defensive backs coach. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant at West Virginia University (WVU) under former head coach, and current University of Michigan coach, Rich Rodriguez. White worked on the offensive side of the ball with the receivers and running backs and was part of the coaching squad for the 2005 Big East Conference Champion, the 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl Champion and the 2007 Gator Bowl Champion teams. White received his bachelor’s degree in business management from West Liberty State College (2004) in West Liberty, WVa., where he was a four-year letter winner as a running back and a receiver. At WVU, he obtained his masters in athletic coaching education. White will make his home in the Bluffton area. |
The Beaver defense has been ranked second in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for three out of the last six years and was third in total defense during the 2004 campaign. He has produced at least one All-HCAC defensive back in six of the last seven years, including first team cornerback Jeremy Anderson in 2005 and 2006. A native of Castalia, Ohio, Phillips earned Associated Press All-America honors in track at Margaretta High School before coming to Bluffton, where he lettered in track and basketball. He was the Bluffton University head track coach in the early 1990s, leading his teams to three conference titles in the Association of Mideast Colleges. His football coaching experience includes tenures at Lima, Perry and Leipsic high schools. He teaches elementary health and physical education in the Bluffton public school system.
Now in his 19th season on the Bluffton University football staff, Denny Phillips coaches the defensive secondary while serving as Bluffton’s special teams coordinator
Coach Phillips lives in Bluffton with his wife, Kaye, and sons, Adam and Justin. 
He was a standout offensive lineman for Bluffton in the early 1980's. In 1972 he helped lead the Beavers to a conference championship and was named first team All-NAIA District 22. Coach Stokes lives in Ottawa with his wife, Melanie.
Lou Stokes, who served for 18 seasons before taking a two year break, will return to the football program to work with the running backs and serve as the team’s director of academic support. Stokes’ coaching experience includes being the head coach at Ottawa-Glandorf and Bucyrus high schools and a coordinator at Celina high school.
| Bill Fisher is currently in his third year as an assistant coach for the Bluffton University football team. Fisher served as a student assistant coach of the defensive backs and punt returners in 2004. He will work with safeties and be the video coordinator for the Beavers.
Graduating from Clay High School in 2000, Fisher ran track and received all-league honors in football. He continued his football career with the Beavers from 2000-2003, where he lettered four years and received All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recognition his senior year. He graduated in 2005 with a degree in mathematics. In addition to coaching, Fisher recently completed the teaching licensure program at Bluffton and is now certified to teach mathematics in grades 7-12. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in education at Bluffton University. Coach Fisher resides in Bluffton. |
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Bryan Lloyd will serve as tight ends coach for the Beavers. Lloyd played defensive tackle for Bluffton and graduated in 2007. He was selected to the All-HCAC second team his last two years after being named honorable mention All-HCAC following his freshman and sophomore seasons.
He graduated from Bath High School in 2002 and garnered all-league honors in both football and wrestling. After graduation, Lloyd attended the University of Findlay for a year before transferring to Bluffton and joining the football team in 2003. Lloyd graduated from Bluffton University in 2007 with a degree in sports management. In addition to coaching, he is currently working at the Bluffton Family Recreation Center. Coach Lloyd currently resides in Bluffton. |
| Bluffton University head football coach Tyson Veidt has named Jason D. Diller as an assistant for the 2008 season. He will serve as the quarterbacks coach during his first year on the Bluffton staff. |
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Diller comes to Bluffton from Cory-Rawson High School where he served as head varsity football coach for four years. In 2003, he was named Northwestern Ohio Division VI Coach of the Year, and WFIN Coach of the Year. He directed Cory-Rawson to its first league title in 11 years while racking up the most wins (11) ever for a single season. A graduate of Bluffton College in 1995, he continued his education at Marygrove College where he obtained his master’s of art in teaching (2003). In addition to coaching, Diller also teaches chemistry, physics and physical science at Cory-Rawson High School. Diller currently resides in Bluffton. |
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He graduated from Glenville State College in 2006 with a degree in physical education. While playing football for Division II Glenville, he was named all-conference (WVIAC) three times. Hefner comes to Bluffton from Hampden-Sydney College, Va., where he was the defensive line and strength coach for the past year. Prior to that, Hefner worked as a student assistant at Glenville State College, in Glenville, West Virginia. Hefner will reside in rural Bluffton.
Brian Hefner is a graduate assistant with the Bluffton University football program in 2008. He will coach the defensive line for the Beavers.
