Calvin University Men's Football

Year Record MIAA Post Season Finish 2024 2-10 0-7 (8th) - 2025     7-3 4-3 (4th) Total 9-13 4-10 Trent Figg was hired as the first head coach in Calvin University football history on January 6, 2023. He heads into his third full season of competition this fall.  The selection of Figg followed a national search that commenced in early November. The search committee that selected Figg from a national pool of candidates included representation from faculty, staff, administrators, and coaches. Figg was selected to lead a Calvin football program in the process of bringing in its first recruiting class for the fall of 2023 and slated for its first varsity competition in the fall of 2024. In the fall of 2022, the university announced football as an addition to its offerings of 24 varsity intercollegiate sports. In 2025, he led Calvin to a remarkable 7-3 season in year two of Calvin football with the Knights finishing 4-3 in the MIAA for a fourth place league finish. The Knights were picked to finish seventh in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll but picked up their first MIAA win on Sept. 27 with a 24-16 win over Kalamazoo. Led by Figg, the Knights picked up their first win in the month of October with a 34-31 win over Trine Oct. 25. Calvin picked up their first two victories in the month of November, defeating Olivet 50-20 on November 1 and Albion 53-24 on November 15.   In 2024, he led the Knights through their first varsity campaign with Calvin producing a 2-8 record with four of its eight defeats coming by 10 points or less. Calvin captured the first win in program history on September 7, 2024, as the Knights blitzed Oberlin College 50-6 in front of more than 4,200 fans gathered to watch the program's varsity debut.  Figg arrived at Calvin after spending the 2022 at the University of Oregon. In 2022, he has served as the football program’s senior offensive analyst under current head coach Dan Lanning. Oregon recently completed a 10-3 season that included a 28-27 win over the University of North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl. A native of Chillicothe, Missouri, Figg is a 2008 graduate of William Jewell College (Mo.). He was a four-year member of the William Jewell football team as a defensive back. He graduated with degrees in secondary education and physical education. He later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northwest Missouri State in 2013. Figg remained at his alma mater as a graduate assistant from 2009-2012 and worked with the football program’s defensive backs, running backs and later outside linebackers. His first full-time football coaching position came at Division II Southern Arkansas University where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. He later became the defensive coordinator at William Jewell College from 2015-2016 where his defense led its conference in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss. He returned to Southern Arkansas as defensive coordinator in 2017. His Southern Arkansas defense was ranked as the No. 2 unit in the Great American Conference. His first Division I job came in 2018 when took over as special teams coordinator and running backs coach at Missouri State. He later spent two years (2019-2021) at the University of Hawai’i. At Hawai’i, he began as chief of staff of the football program. After nine months he was named associate head coach of the defense and defensive backs coach. While at Hawai’i, Figg coached a Jim Thorpe national defensive player of the week and had a first time all conference safety who was tied for 2nd in the country in interceptions. Two of his defensive backs – Eugene Ford and Cortez Davis – later signed NFL free-agent contracts. Last year Figg joined the Oregon football program where he served under Lanning. Lanning was the defensive coordinator of the 2021 University of Georgia national championship football team. “I would first like to thank God for putting me in this situation. I also want to give thanks to provost Dr. Noah Toly and to head athletics director Dr. Jim Timmer and associate athletics director Dr. Amber Warners as well as the rest of the search committee for giving me this opportunity and for taking the time to get to know me and for letting me get to know them,” said Figg. “I feel extremely blessed and honored to receive this position and I do not take it lightly. Adding football to its athletics offerings is a significant step for Calvin University. It’s an opportunity that my family and I are extremely excited about. We can’t wait to get to Calvin and get to work.” Figg and his wife Tori are parents to three sons, Titus (10), Thomas (7) and Tobias (5). Tori is a former women’s volleyball player at William Jewell with the couple meeting during their time with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as William Jewell students. Figg is looking forward to joining a Calvin athletics department that has annually finished in the top 30 of the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings with its teams competing regularly for conference championships and national tournament berths. “Calvin is adding football to come and join its successful athletics community, not be its own entity,” said Figg. “That truly excites me and is one of the reasons Calvin is so special.” Figg’s football coaching philosophy has foundational tenets. ”We want to recruit great young men who want to grow as Christians, be at Calvin, love Calvin and love to compete.” “We want our players to graduate and grow to be the best Christian men they can possibly be. We want them to be great husbands, fathers and servant-leaders who will be ready to enter the real world and give back to society. A Calvin degree is a significant achievement. Our student-athletes will be here to be serious about academics and about life. We want their Calvin experience to be something that sets the foundation for the rest of their lives.” “We want Christian young men who are tough. We will be building a program from scratch which will present some early challenges so we will need our players to have toughness.” “On the football field, we want to be explosive, both on offense and defense. We will be looking for dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball. We want to stretch the field on offense and put pressure on opponents with our defense. We want to run systems that our players will enjoy and thrive playing in.” Figg is grateful for the coaches that have shaped and molded him during his coaching tenure. “I have worked for seven different head coaches and with many other assistant coaches and I am thankful for everyone of them,” said Figg. “They have helped play a major role in putting me in the position that I am in today.” TRENT FIGG COACH ENDORSEMENTS *Oregon Coach Dan Lanning: "Trent will make a phenomenal Head Coach at Calvin. I am excited about the future for him, his wife Tori and their boys. He is a great coach and an even better person. He will create an environment ready for success with his leadership and relentless work ethic." *Former Azusa Pacific head coach and current J. Serra Catholic High School Head Coach Victor Santa Cruz: "Coach Figg is an outstanding coach and even better human being! Calvin University football is in good hands!"  

Joined the Calvin football coaching staff June of 2025 Previously hired as running backs coach at his alma mater, College of the St. Scholastica, in January of 2025, and was a member of the strength and conditioning staff there Four-year member of the St. Scholastica football team (2021-24) In his final season in 2024, St. Scholastica ranked in the top five offensively in rushing yards (second), time of possession (second), first downs (third), total yards (fourth) and scoring (fifth) Was a part of the first ever St. Scholastica win in the MIAC conference Graduated with a B.A. in sustainability studies with a minor in biology Originally from Berlin, Wisconsin. 

Hired by Calvin as Defensive Pass Game Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach in January, 2024 Came to Calvin from Greenville University, where he served as Defensive Coordinator from 2017-23. Also served at various points at Greenville as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, while also coaching defensive backs and linebackers During his time as Defensive Coordinator at Greenville, Bell helped the program to its first ever trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs in 2021 Greenville led the UMAC in total defense and scoring defense in each of his last three seasons (2021-23) Served at Bluefield University from 2013-16, helping the new program to its first ever wins. Coached at Greenville in 2012, serving as Recruiting Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach Coached one season (2011) at Methodist University While a student at High Point University, Bell coached at NC A&T State University (2010) and High Point Central High School (2009) Graduated from High Point University in 2011 with a bcahelor's degree in Sports Management Received his M.A.E from Greenville in Coaching in 2018

Christian Verley was hired by the Knights to coach the defensive line after serving as the head football coach at Ottawa Hills High School from 2017-22. An Ottawa Hill High School graduate, Verley was the youngest head football coach in program history and helped 46 student-athletes transition to college athletics during his tenure, which also included two years as the defensive line coach (2013-14) and two more as the defensive coordinator (2015-16).   Prior to his coaching stint at Ottawa Hills, Verley played football at Trine University and was part of the 2007 recruiting class that is the winningest class in program history. Verley holds the Trine record for blocked field goals (in a game, season and career). He also ranks among the top five in fumble recoveries and fumbles returned for touchdowns.   Verley graduated from Trine in 2011 with a degree in Business Administration, and later received his MBA from Cornerstone University in Healthcare Administration.  

Hired by Calvin as Linebackers Coach in February, 2025 Coached defensive tackles for one season (2024) at Yale University, where two players at the position earned All-Conference honors Coached outside linebackers and served as recruiting coordinator for two seasons (2022-23) at North Central College During those two seasons, NCC went 29-1 with two trips to the NCAA III championship game and won one national championship (2022) Coached outside linebackers for two seasons (2020-21) at his alma mater, Hendrix College Graduated from Hendrix with a B.A. in Economics & Business and Psychology.  Also earned his MBA during his two years at North Central College Played football at Hendrix, where he earned a starting position as a freshman before suffering a career-ending injury Originally a native of Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Bishop Lynch High School in 2016 after serving as a two-year captain and helping that program to a state championship in 2016.

Hired by Calvin as Defensive Line Coach in February, 2025 Coached Defensive Line for four seasons (2021-2024) at DePauw University During those four seasons, DePauw went 39-7, winning the NCAC 4 years in a row including 2 undefeated regular seasons and a top 10 ranking in the country McCrory coached 3 NCAC Defensive Players of the Year (’21, ’22, ’23), 13 All-Conference players, and 5 All-Region players In 2024, DePauw was ranked as the #1 overall defense in D-III, and the #1 rushing defense in the country allowing 1.1 yards per rush. Also, 2nd in country in sacks with 51.0 Coached Defensive Line at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. In 2020 Coached the defensive line at NCAA Division II Davenport University from 2017 to 2018, and the linebacker unit in 2019 After a 1-10 season in 2017, Davenport finished the 2018 season at 6-5 with a top-ten defense in Division II Earned master’s degree in Business Management from Davenport. Before going to Davenport, McCrory coached one season of high school football at Grandville High School in Grandville, Mich., where he served as a defensive line coach for the Bulldogs ending the season with a 10-2 record and had the number one defense in the state of Michigan in Class A. Grandville gave up only 6.9 points per game and the starting defense gave up only seven touchdowns and two field goals for the year and advanced to the Regional Finals in the MHSAA playoffs. Graduated from Trine University in Angola, Ind., earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2016 Played on the defensive line for the Thunder for four years After his senior season, he was a student coach for Trine in spring of 2016 A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Forest Hills Northern High School in 2012 McCrory and his wife Tam are parents to two children, Lexie and Lucas

Jaiden Burgess joined the Calvin University Football staff before the 2024 season as a student assistant coach and was named the Wide Receivers coach before the 2025 season. Burgess graduated from Grand Rapids Christian in 2022. He will graduate from Calvin with a degree in kinesiology with a sports management focus & a business minor.  He has strong Calvin University bloodlines as his uncle Nate Burgess was a key member of Calvin's 2000 men's basketball national championship team. 

Hired as Running Backs coach at Calvin in January of 2024 Coached running backs and special teams at Pioneer HS in Ann Arbor, Mich., from 2019-21. Student assistant football coach at the University of Michigan from 2018-19. Volunteer assistant football coach at Ann Arbor Pioneer HS and Ann Arbor Huron HS Received a bachelor's degree in Sports management from the University of Michigan. Wife, MacKenzi, is an assistant men's volleyball coach at Calvin University.

Hired as Calvin Offensive Coordinator in January of 2023. Prior to joining Calvin staff, was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Midland University (NAIA) At Midland, the offense averaged 28.1 points per game in 2021 and 26.2 points per game in 2022. The team went 8-3 in 2022 for the program's best record in 12 seasons. In 2020, Dixon was the wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Oberlin College, where he helped them sign the program's largest recruiting class ever. Spent two seasons (2018-19) as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at his alma mater, Dordt College. Graduated from Dordt in 2012 with a degree in Physical Education, and later got his Master's Degree from Dordt in Sports Leadership in 2020.

Founder and Owner of NS Training (trainwithns.com). Started this athlete performance training business in 2016.  Coached High School Football in the Grand Rapids area for the past 15 years. Most recently the Special Teams Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach at Rockford High School.  Held various other roles at the high school level including: Assistant Head Coach (Grand Rapids Union), Defensive Coordinator (Comstock Park), and Strength & Conditioning Coordinator.  Graduated from Davenport University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management & Marketing.  Played running back in college for the Olivet Comets in 2011.  A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Rockford High School in 2011  A player on the 2008 MHSAA Division 1 State Championship Team (Rockford HS)  A coach on the 2012 MHSAA Division 3 State Championship Team (Grand Rapids Christian).  Coach Sanders and his wife Devinie are parents to two sons, Knox and Daxsyn.