Ashland University Men's Football

YEAR: 22nd in 2025-26 (third as head coach in 2025) PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Cornell '92 AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Geiser was named Ashland football's 15th head coach on Jan. 3, 2023. The 2024 season was a historic one for Eagle football, as Geiser led the program to a 9-4 overall record, an 8-1 mark and a title in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and AU's first road NCAA Division II postseason victory, 40-38, at Charleston. Geiser was named 2024 Great Midwest Coach of the Year. In his first season as Eagles head coach, the team went 9-3 overall and 8-1 in the Great Midwest. Ashland finished the season on an eight-game winning streak, including the program's first bowl win, 23-20, vs. McKendree at the America's Crossroads Bowl. He spent 19 seasons as an Eagle assistant coach - 16 as associate head coach, and also serving as offensive line coach, run game coordinator and pro liaison. Coached nine All-American offensive linemen - Blake Dickson, Vince Cashdollar, Reggie Gamble, Justin Magruder, Zachary Douglass, Dominic Giunta, John Conner, Ryan Maguire and Gavin Posey. His offensive linemen earned seven All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference and 30 All-GLIAC honors. Eagle running backs earned 11 1,000-yard rushing seasons during Geiser's time as an assistant at Ashland, the program's all-time rushing yards record has been broken, the program record for rushing yards in a season has been broken three times, the program mark for rushing yards by a freshman was beaten twice, and the AU mark for single-game rushing yards has been eclipsed twice. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Coached nine seasons at NCAA Division I Akron - as a graduate assistant in 1995-96, then as tight ends coach and video coordinator from 1997-2003. Among his prep coaching stops were offensive coordinator/offensive line coach/head junior varsity coach at Lyndhurst Brush High School from 1992-94, and offensive line coach/defensive coordinator at Liberty Benton High School in 1991. Started football coaches career as a linebackers coach/freshman defensive coordinator at Triway High School in 1990. Geiser is a 1992 graduate of Cornell. PERSONAL Geiser is married to wife Amy, and they are the parents of twin girls, Abigail and Rebecca. His birthdate is June 4, 1968. GEISER YEAR-BY-YEAR Year                 School                   Record       Pct. 2024                 Ashland                 9-4             .692 2023                 Ashland                 9-3             .750

YEAR: Third in 2025-26 PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Ohio State '09, '16 AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Cordle is in his third year on Ashland University football's coaching staff. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Ohio Northern during the 2022 season. Prior to that, he was in the same positions at Long Island University in 2020 and 2021. In 2019, Cordle was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Urbana. Also at Urbana, was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2018, and offensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2017. Cordle was a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, The Ohio State University, in 2015-16. A Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, he played with the National Football League franchise from 2010-14. Cordle played in 36 games (7 starts) with the Giants, and was a member of the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI-winning team. Was a three-year starter and four-time Academic All-Big 10 honoree as a Buckeye. PERSONAL Graduated from Ohio State with a bachelors degree in business administration-marketing in 2009, and a masters degree in kinesiology-sport management in 2016.

Stacy is in his second tour of duty at AU. Stacy is AU's quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator. Stacy came to Ashland with Lee Owens and was AUs offensive coordinator in 2004. He left AU after that one season and served as the head coach at two high schools storied Massillon in Massillon, Ohio, and Green High School. At Massillon, he was 26-11 in three years and in 2005, Massillon was the Division I state runner-up with a 13-2 record.  Stacy coached at Green from 2008-10. He returned to Ashland in 2011. From 1995-2003, Stacy was an assistant under Owens at the University of Akron. He served as the quarterbacks coach and tutored two of the most successful quarterbacks in school history Charlie Frye and Butchie Washington. In 2000, Akron was the co-champion of the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division. Stacy has had similar success with quarterbacks at AU. In 2012, Taylor Housewright flourished as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. He was the GLIAC Player of the Year, a first-team All-American and a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. The Eagles were sixth in the nation in pass efficiency in 2012 and 11th in scoring offense. Prior to coaching with the Zips, Stacy held a number of high school coaching positions. He was the head coach at Shelby from 1991-94, where he guided the Whippets to a 24-16 record. He was the offensive coordinator at Galion (1983-86), Lancaster (1987) and Massillon (1988-90). Stacy is a 1981 graduate of Bowling Green. The AU assistant coach played baseball at Bowling Green, where one of his teammates was Orel Hershiser. Stacy and his wife, Shannon, have four grown children Sarah, Brian, Kevin and Kristen.

YEAR: Sixth in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Bluffton AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Tabler enters his sixth year with the Ashland University football program coaching the defensive ends. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Prior to joining the Eagles, Tabler spent 15 years coaching at Ashland High School, Westlake High School, Fostoria High School and Clarion University. In 12 years at Ashland High School, Tabler was a part of six conference championship seasons and eight playoff appearances, while also serving as the defensive coordinator and strength coordinator. PERSONAL Tabler is a graduate of Columbus Grove High School. He was a four-year starter and an all-conference defensive end at Bluffton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Masters in Business Administration. Tabler is a Physical Education teacher at Ashland Middle School. He is married to Rochelle (Saccomen), and they reside in Ashland with their sons, A.J. and Lucas.

YEAR: Second in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Ashland '25 AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Kirkpatrick is in his first season as the Eagles' offensive graduate assistant coach, after serving as a student assistant in 2024. He was an offensive lineman for Ashland from 2021-23.

YEAR: 17th in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Xavier AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Rose is in his 17th season as Ashland University’s defensive coordinator. The 2024 campaign saw Ashland's defense pace the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in sacks with 33, and tie for the league's second-most interceptions with 14. In 2023, the Eagle defense finished with the seventh-most sacks (40) in NCAA Division II. The 2022 season saw Rose's defense rank ninth in D-II in both scoring defense (14.7 ppg.) and total defense (259.7 ypg). Ashland led the Great Midwest in both categories. In 2021, the Eagle defense led the Great Midwest in total defense. The 2018 season saw the Eagles lead the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring defense, total defense, passing defense and rushing defense. Nationally, Ashland was third-best in passing yards allowed per game, fourth-best in total defense and eighth-best in scoring defense. In 2017, Ashland, using an entire two-deep roster throughout the entire campaign, was third in the GLIAC in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense, and second in interceptions. The 2016 season saw the Eagles lead the GLIAC in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense. In 2015, Ashland's defense was second in the GLIAC in interceptions (18). In 2014, the Eagles' "D" led the GLIAC in points allowed per game and was second in the league in total defense. Ashland's defense also scored three touchdowns, second-best in the conference. The 2012 season saw the AU defense develop into one of the top units in the country. Ashland was fifth in the nation in scoring defense, eighth in rush defense and ninth in total defense. Jamie Meder was named the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Brian Gamble was the conference's Defensive Back of the Year. AU shut out three opponents, including fifth-ranked Wayne State. Meder repeated as the conference Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2013. He also was a first-team AFCA All-American. In 2011, the AU defense featured two of the most dominant defensive linemen in the GLIAC - Meder and Jeris Pendleton. Both were first team all-conference linemen, and Pendleton was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pendleton is the first AU player to be selected in the NFL draft since 1972, and Meder has played all or part of three seasons with the Cleveland Browns. In 2010, Ashland led the GLIAC in pass efficiency defense and interceptions and was third in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense and sacks. Meder was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year. He is the first AU player to receive that award. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Rose came to Ashland with a very rare resume. He coached Division I-A football for 29 years and spent 22 years as a defensive coordinator and/or inside linebackers coach. He spent seven seasons (1983-89) as the head coach at Miami (Ohio), and his ties run deep throughout the Buckeye State. Rose came to Ashland from Toledo, where he was the defensive coordinator since 2005. In his first year with the Rockets, they improved from 98th in the nation in total defense to 23rd. In 2004, the Rockets yielded 424.3 ypg. In their first year under Rose, that figure dropped to 322.5 ypg. A similar reduction occurred at Louisiana Tech in 2004. The year before Rose arrived, Tech was last in the country in total defense. Under Rose, Tech allowed 407.8 ypg., in total defense. The year before he arrived, that figure was 510.5 ypg. Rose has certainly stood the test of time, and one reason for that is the attention to detail he talks about in building a defensive system. When he was the head coach at Miami, he directed the school to its lone conference championship in 25 years and its lone bowl appearances in 27 years (both came in 1986). In 1986, Miami upset LSU. Miami’s graduation rate under Rose was 92 percent. During his career, Rose has also coached in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game. He has served as an assistant coach at Memphis State, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Boston College, East Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Louisiana Tech and Toledo. He also spent 15 years teaching and coaching on the high school level. Rose was a high school head coach for 11 years. He coached at three Ohio high schools – St. Mary’s (Lorain), Moeller (Cincinnati) and Elder (Cincinnati). PERSONAL Rose and his wife, Joyce, have three grown children - Craig, Kristine and Kurt.

YEAR: First in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Tennessee-Chattanooga '23 AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY The 2026 offseason will be Wykle's first on the Ashland University football coaching staff. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Served as a graduate assistant coach for both Carson-Newman (2024 season) and Tennessee-Chattanooga (2025 season). Also was a volunteer defensive assistant for Tennessee-Chattanooga during the 2024 offseason. Played defensive back for Tennessee-Chattanooga from 2020-23, and at Lafayette College from 2018-19.

YEAR: 34th in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Miami (Ohio) AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY The 2025 season marks the 63rd year Saccomen has been involved with football. He has coached for 51 years. He has coaching experience on the high school and college levels. Doug Geiser is the fourth AU head coach Saccomen has served. He also coached under Dr. Fred Martinelli, Gary Keller and Lee Owens. He's worked 33 years at Ashland University, returning to the program in 2013 after coaching at Ashland High School. Saccomen has coached some of the best defensive units in school history. He was an assistant coach in the early 1990's when the Eagles led the country in total defense and were nationally ranked in scoring and rush defense. He worked with some of the best defensive players in school history, including defensive linemen Bill Royce and Sam Hohler. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Saccomen was a defensive tackle at Miami (Ohio) from 1969-73. After his playing career was complete, He coached high school football at Hamilton Garfield and Ashland. PERSONAL Saccomen and his wife, Ellen, reside in Ashland. They have two grown children - Justin and Rochelle.

YEAR: Fourth in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Tiffin ‘21 AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Nickoli will begin his fourth season with Ashland University's football program, and the first as its Director of Football Operations. In 2023, Nickoli guided Larry Martin to a first-team All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference season, as he rushed for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns. Before becoming the running back coach, Nickoli served as the team's assistant wide receivers coach. Logan Bolin, Garrett Turnbaugh, and Jent Joseph earned second-team all conference honors. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Nickoli spent the 2021 season at Tiffin as the quarterback graduate assistant. That season, he helped guide quarterback Nick Watson towards becoming the Great Midwest all time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions. In the spring of 2022, Nickoli became the tight ends for the Dragons. Nickoli played at Tiffin (2017-21), where he played wide receiver, quarterback, and became the team's place kicker for three years. As a kicker, Nickoli was an all-conference selection, and left as the program's record holder for most extra points made in a season. Nickoli was a three-year letter winner at Lexington High School. He was a first-team all-conference wide receiver, as well as the program's record holder for career receptions (143). He also is in the Ohio state record book for consecutive games with a catch (22).

YEAR: Second in 2025-26 PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Ashland '22 AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Turnbaugh is in his first season at his alma mater as a full-time coach, following a return to Ashland's football program as a graduate assistant in 2024. A second-team All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference honoree in 2022 after a season in which he caught 39 passes for 592 yards and seven touchdowns. Member of 2023 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honors Society. Team's leading receiver in 2021 who earned second-team All-Great Midwest selection. Started all 10 games and caught 36 passes for 520 yards and four touchdowns, leading team in all three categories. 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Played in all 11 games, starting first five, in 2019. Grabbed 17 passes for 266 yards. Caught 16 passes for 178 yards, and returned one punt for 12 yards, in 2018. Played in nine games as true freshman. Also a member of the Eagle esports team. BEFORE ASHLAND UNIVERSITY Spent the 2023 season as a graduate assistant coach for Ohio Dominican's football team. Earned first-team All-Ohio on the defensive side of the ball. Was varsity letter winner in both football and basketball. PERSONAL Son of Kris Turnbaugh.