Brian Keller Head Coach E-mail: bjk@nebrwesleyan.edu 402-465-2354

	John Bates Defensive Coordinator Safeties E-mail: jbates@nebrwesleyan.edu 402-465-2359

John Bates is entering his fifth year as the defensive coordinator on the Nebraska Wesleyan coaching staff.

Under Bates, the 2007 Prairie Wolves defense posted shutouts in three straight games. It was the first time that a NWU defense shutout three straight opponents since the 1967 season. The 2007 defense finished the season ranked ninth in the country in scoring defense, 11th in pass defense efficiency and 17th in rushing defense.

His 2006 defense ranked 16th or higher nationally in four defensive categories, including total defense, rushing defense, pass defense and opponent third-down conversion percentage. In addition, the 19-0 win against Doane College was NWU’s first shutout since 1989.

He also serves as Recruiting Coordinator for the athletic department and administrative assistant for NWU’s cross country and track programs.

Before coming to Nebraska Wesleyan, he spent two years coaching the defensive line at Western Oregon University, in addition to serving as the defensive coordinator for the Chrysler Vienna Vikings of the European Professional League. The Vikings were Austrian champions both seasons and finished as runner-up in the 2003 Eurobowl. At Western Oregon he coached two First-Team All-Conference players, including Jeff Charleston who is currently playing in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.

Bates earned his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology/Health and Secondary Education from Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., where as a player, he was a captain and an all-league safety as a junior and senior for the Pirates.

After graduating in 2000, Bates joined Whitworth’s staff as a graduate assistant in charge of linebackers. In 2001, Whitworth qualified for the NCAA Division III Football Championship and all three starting linebackers were named All-Northwest Conference, including one who was named the league’s defensive player of the year. Bates helped Whitworth go from a 1-win season to the playoffs seven years later.

He also earned his masters in secondary education from Whitworth College.

He and his wife, Dana, who serves as Director of the Athletic Training Education Program at Nebraska Wesleyan, have a three-year old son, Ryan.

Chase Andersen
Defensive Line Assistant

Chase Andersen enters his second season with the Prairie Wolves as the assistant defensive line coach. A former Cornhusker football player, Anderson comes to NWU after serving as an assistant coach at Malcolm High School for one season. While at Nebraska, he was on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.

Andersen earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and he is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Public Accounting. Andersen is a Lincoln East graduate and is also an accountant at Kidwells.

Ray Corona
Punters, Kickers

Ray Corona is starting his 14th season as a Nebraska Wesleyan assistant. This season he will again help with the punters and kickers. Corona coached wide receivers and defensive backs at Lincoln East High School from 1985 to 1991 before moving to Lincoln High School where he spent eight years teaching and coaching.

Corona was a two-year letter winner as a wide receiver at Kearney State College before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned his degree in Education. He currently teaches at Southeast High School. Corona is married to his wife Juanita, and they have a daughter, Karla.

Kevin Crume
Linebackers/
Special Teams Coordinator
E-mail: kcrume@nebrwesleyan.edu
Phone: 402-465-2184

Kevin Crume, a former linebacker for NWU, enters his sixth season on the staff. Crume, who attended Bellevue East High School, earned three letters and was the third-leading tackler for the Prairie Wolves as a senior in 2001. His 65 total tackles, including eight for loss, earned him All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.

While at NWU, Crume has coached 12 all-conference linebackers and has had two players earn Academic All-American honors.

Crume graduated from NWU with a degree. He served as an assistant football and wrestling coach at Lincoln High School in 2002-03 and coached wrestling at Lincoln Southeast in 2003-04. Crume earned his Master of Arts in management from Doane College last May. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Lincoln.

Alex Czeranko
Wide Receivers

Alex Czeranko, who is entering his 13th year of coaching at NWU, is in his second stint with the team, as he was also a member of the Nebraska Wesleyan coaching staff in 1982 and 1983. After leaving NWU, Czeranko became an assistant coach at Lincoln High School where he spent eight years. In 1992, Czeranko coached at Norris High School before joining the staff at Lincoln East High School for the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

Czeranko graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1978 and coached three years at Randolph High School before returning to UNL for graduate work. He then joined Orson Christensen’s staff at Nebraska Wesleyan in 1982.

Czeranko, who has a master’s degree in Sport Studies, is currently a Health and Physical Education instructor for Lincoln Public Schools. He is also involved with the Husker Track Officials and the USA Track & Field Official Association.

Czeranko and his wife, Sandi, have three children, Alexandra, Josh and Hannah.

Steve Heimann
Tight Ends

Steve Heimann enters his second season as an assistant coach at Nebraska Wesleyan. Heimann comes to NWU after serving as a student assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2006. In 2005, he was the secondary coach for the Nebraska B.E.A.R.S Indoor Professional Football Team.

He played football at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., from 1991-92 where he was a defensive back for the Swedes, who won the 1991 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Heimann transferred to UNO where he played cornerback and free safety, he remained at UNO until 1994 and later graduated with a Management degree from Bellevue University in 2001. He is currently pursuing his masters degree in leadership from Bellevue University.

The Omaha Roncalli graduate lives in Springfield with his wife Rochelle. They have two children, Aiden and Alex. Heimann is also the owner of a painting company, H.P.S.

Rodney Jones
Offensive Line

Rodney Jones enters his third season with the Prairie Wolves, coaching the offensive linemen. A Glenwood, Iowa, native, Jones attended Glenwood High School before heading to Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Ill.

After two seasons with the Cougars, Jones served as an assistant coach at Central Christian High School from 1994-95 and head coach at Victory Christian High School from 1996-2000.

Jones currently works as a bus driver for First Student. He resides in Springfield with his wife, Paige, and their children Dany, Dyland, Kyler, Daysha and Catalina.

Chip Lange
Running Backs

Chip Lange enters his eighth year of coaching at Nebraska Wesleyan. Lange has coached for over 27 years altogether, spending eight years as a coach at Raymond Central High School before coming to NWU.

The Lincoln native received his bachelor of education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a master’s degree in coaching from the United States Sports Academy and is currently working on his doctorate in Athletic Administration. Lange teaches math at Raymond Central and owns Lincoln businesses, nuVision Software and Gridiron Sports.

Ben Santo
Corner Backs

Ben Santo is entering his third season as an assistant with the Nebraska Wesleyan football team. The Falls City, Neb., native works with the cornerbacks at NWU. Santo came to NWU after completing three years as an assistant to the Nebraska Cornhuskers football coaching staff.

He is currently pursuing a master’s in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Santo graduated from Falls City Sacred Heart High School where he was an All-State honoree, a First Team All-District selection and a First Team All-Pioneer Conference pick.

Chris Shipley
Devensive Assistant

Chris Shipley enters his fourth year as an assistant coach at NWU after spending two seasons working with linebackers on the Doane College staff. Shipley has also worked as a visiting assistant for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s summer football camps.

Shipley graduated from David City Aquinas High School and attended Doane, where he helped the Tigers to an overall record of 11-1 and a trip to the NAIA semifinals as a junior. In 1998, he earned All-Conference Honorable Mention as a senior on the defensive line.

After earning his degree in Mass Communication from Doane in 1999, Shipley served as a sergeant in the United States Army for four years. He received a master’s degree in Human Resources from Central Michigan University in 2003. He now works in Company Fleets at Crete Carrier. Shipley and his wife, Danielle, reside in Lincoln and have a son, Cal.

Dan Thurin
Defensive Line

Dan Thurin enters his fourth season with the Prairie Wolves, after spending seven seasons as an assistant coach and head strength coach at Doane College. The Geneva, Neb., native was in charge of Doane’s linebackers before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2003.

As a player for Doane, he was a four-year letter winner and a two-time All-Conference selection. In 1997, he earned Second Team All-America honors as the Tigers went 11-1 and advanced to the NAIA Semifinals, losing by just a single point to the eventual national champions. Thurin’s sack totals in 1996 (11.5) and 1997 (10) rank first and second in team history. He also played professionally for the Lincoln Lightning in 1999 and in the German Pro League in 2000.

Thurin earned both his undergraduate (Physical Education in 1998) and graduate (Management with Leadership emphasis in 2005) degrees from Doane. He is also employed by ArtFX.

Connor Wobig
Linebackers Assistant

Former Nebraska Wesleyan football player Connor Wobig enters his second season as an assistant coach. Wobig was the starting strong safety for the Prairie Wolves in 2006 recording 40 tackles and two sacks earning him All-GPAC Honorable Mention.

He was a three-time NAIA/Daktronics Scholar-Athlete and was one of just 348 players in the country named to the National Football Foundation Honor Society following his senior season. Wobig earned his bachelor’s from Nebraska Wesleyan in K-12 Health and Physical Education. He is also a Physical Education instructor at West Lincoln Elementary in the Lincoln Public School District.




Brett Langenberg
Equipment Manager

Brett Langenberg is back to serve as the team’s equipment manager again in 2008. His duties include setting-up and tearing-down for practices, as well as fixing any problems with the team’s equipment. The senior from Bertrand, Neb., is a Theatre major at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Langenberg attended high school at Bertrand Community School where he played offensive tackle and defensive end on the football team for four years. While playing for the Vikings, he was a three-time Academic All-State selection.

Josh Pfeiffer
Student Intern

Josh Pfeiffer is in his second season as a member of the NWU coaching staff. Pfeiffer is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is pursuing his bachelor’s in Mathematics Education. He is originally from Cook, Neb., and attended Nemaha Valley High School, where he was a Second Team All-District linebacker in 2005 and Honorable Mention All-District pick in 2006.