Aurora University Men's Football

Lane Barlow was named the first Head Coach at AU in February 2025 and comes to AU after spending the previous two seasons as the head coach of Perspectives High School. In two seasons, Barlow led the program to two Tochito Bowl Championships, two conference titles, regional and sectional championships and had a 37-1 record. In the first season at Aurora, Barlow's Spartans found immediate success with a 16-4 record and won the inaugural Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament weekend event as well as a bracket championship at the NFL Chicago Bears tournament. AURORA UNIVERSITY COACHING RECORD YEAR OVERALL CONFERENCE (Place) 2026 16-4 1 Year 16-4 (.800)

J.T. Zimmerman joined the Aurora University football staff as an assistant coach in December of 2021. He will serve as the co-defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. Zimmerman comes to AU from Rockford University where he served as the Head Coach for three seasons. He was named the seventh head football coach at Rockford University in March 2019. Zimmerman was promoted to the position of head coach after serving four seasons as the team's defensive coordinator. During Zimmerman's four years at the helm of the RU defense, the Regents were consistently been in the top three in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference in multiple categories each season. Rockford led the NACC in total defense, pass defense and fumble recoveries, and finished second in points per game and rushing defense in 2015. This past season, the Regents ranked second in total defense, rushing defense and defensive touchdowns and third in points per game. Rockford also had one of its best overall years in a decade last season. The Regents had more overall and conference wins this past season than in any single year since 2007. Rockford also defeated both Lakeland University and Concordia University Wisconsin for the first time in program history. The Regents have also seen a lot of individual success on the defensive side of the ball since Zimmerman's arrival. Dating back to the 2015 season, the RU defense has had 11 all-conference performers, five NACC Defensive Players of the Week, one all-region selection and one All-American. The Regents have also had 32 football players named NACC Scholar-Athletes over the past three years. Before joining the Regents coaching staff in 2015, Zimmerman spent a season as the defensive backs coach at Western New England University. During his tenure there, Zimmerman led one of the top secondaries in the country. His unit finished the 2014 season ranked eighth in Division III pass efficiency defense, ninth in interceptions and nineteenth in passing yards allowed. Zimmerman also tutored the conference's leader in interceptions. Prior to coaching at Western New England, Zimmerman spent a total of six seasons at Benedictine University, both a player and an assistant coach. Zimmerman was a four-year linebacker for the Eagles, before joining the coaching ranks. After the conclusion of his playing career, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach. In 2012 he served as the defensive line coach before moving to coach the defensive backs for the 2013 season. Zimmerman graduated from Benedictine University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a minor in Education.   

Matt Piasecki joined the Aurora University Athletic Department as Graduate Assistant for the Spartan Football program in August of 2022 and is working on his master's degree.  Piasecki graduated from Aurora University in the spring of 2021, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  Piasecki was a five-year member of the Spartan Football program. His career includes a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Honorable Mention in his senior season.   Currently, Piasecki assists with the Spartan Football program, which includes recruiting activities like contacting high schools and organizing campus tours for high school athletes.  Piasecki is a native from Channahon, Illinois. 

Ryan Gehlert joined the Aurora University football staff as an assistant coach with responsibilities as the run game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in February, 2019. Following the 2021 season, he was named the co-offensive coordinator and continued duties as the quarterbacks coach. He comes to AU after four seasons as an assistant coach at North Park with his primary responsibilities as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Gehlert spent four years as an assistant coach/pass game coordinator for Southport High School in Indianapolis where he coached quarterbacks and receivers.  During his time at Southport High School, they won the two Conference Championships, as well as two 6A Sectional Championships. He began his coaching career in 2008 at Urbana University. During his coaching time at Urbana, the Blue Knights transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II and were part of the two most successful seasons in school history, where they won back to GLVC Conference Championships. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Gehlert graduated from Perry Meridian High School. In 2008, he received his B.S. in Sports Administration Management from Urbana University where he was a four year starter at quarterback for the Blue Knights. Gehlert broke numerous passing records during his four-year collegiate career.  Gehlert and his wife Rebecca reside in Yorkville, and have a son Wyatt and daughter Emory.