Graceland University Men's Football

Douglas spent a four year stint at Interstate 35 Community Schools where he served as Defensive Coordinator in football, Head Girls Basketball Coach, and Assistant Track Coach.  He still serves the District as Head Baseball Coach. This is Coach Douglas' second different stint involved with Graceland football.  Before his four years involved in high school athletics at I-35 Douglas spent 14 years at Graceland serving as Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, as well as QB, LB, DB and O-Line positions coach. Douglas was a four year varsity letterman at Graceland University from 1979-1983 while playing defensive back.  He was selected to all-conference and district teams as a Jr. and Sr.  He earned All-American status as a Sr. finishing his Sr. campaign being ranked 2nd in the nation in pass interceptions. Douglas also earned all-conference and district status in baseball earning four varsity letters.  He received tryout opportunities in the USFL and MLB.  Douglas was a running back and defensive back at Wayne Community High School in Corydon, IA. Douglas graduated from Graceland University in 1984 with a BA in Physical Education and Health.  He earned his M.D.Ed. Degree from Northwest Missouri State University.  He has three children, Brandon, Brett (twins) and Briana.  Other than coaching, Jeff enjoys hunting, golf and reading. Jeff Douglas is entering his seventh year as the head football coach at Graceland and his 8th year back at the University.  Before the 2007 season, Douglas spent a four year stint at Interstate 35 Community Schools where he served as Defensive Coordinator in football, Head Girls Basketball Coach, and Assistant Track Coach.  He still serves the District as Head Baseball Coach. This is Coach Douglas' second different stint involved with Graceland football.  Before his four years involved in high school athletics at I-35 Douglas spent 14 years at Graceland serving as Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, as well as QB, LB, DB and O-Line positions coach. Douglas was a four year varsity letterman at Graceland University from 1979-1983 while playing defensive back.  He was selected to all-conference and district teams as a Jr. and Sr.  He earned All-American status as a Sr. finishing his Sr. campaign being ranked 2 in the nation in pass interceptions. Douglas also earned all-conference and district status in baseball earning four varsity letters.  He received tryout opportunities in the USFL and MLB.  Douglas was a running back and defensive back at Wayne Community High School in Corydon, IA. Douglas graduated from Graceland University in 1984 with a BA in Physical Education and Health.  He earned his M.D.Ed. Degree from Northwest Missouri State University.  He has three children, Brandon, Brett (twins) and Briana.  Other than coaching, Jeff enjoys hunting, golf and reading. Todd Verwers enters his first year on the Graceland University Football coaching staff, serving as the Running Backs Coach. Coach Verwers comes to GU from Martensdale-St. Marys HS where he served as the Quarterback/Assistant Coach from 2007 to 2014.  He also made football coaching stops at Colfax-Mingo HS (1997-2006) and Russell HS (1994-1996) -- where he began his football coaching career.  Prior to his coaching career, Verwers played football at Simpson College (1988) before transferring to Graceland University (1989-1993) to finish his playing career under then Head Coach Bill Duke Dudek.  Verwers also played baseball for the Yellowjackets and Head Coach Jeff Douglas. Coach Verwers son Trent is a Senior Quarterback on this years GU Football Team.  His daughter Riley is a Freshman on the GU Softball Team. A native of Melcher-Dallas, IA., Coach Verwers now resides in Lamoni.

Rave. While playing at MVC, Thomas earned all-conference honors for three seasons and helped guide his team to two conference titles. Besides leading the defensive line, he will begin his first season as the strength and conditioning coordinator. Coach Thomas is looking to instill a tradition; which Graceland can build on in the years to come. Graceland alumnus Dewey Clark begins his eleventh year as religious life coordinator for the Jacket football team. Clark's last coaching position was in the mid-1970s, when he coached four years at Willamette University, two years with the wide receivers and two years with defensive backs. Clark is a familiar face to Graceland due to his recent 11 years of service in admissions for the university and the four years he attended Graceland College in the sixties. In 1960, Clark was a starting defensive back for the Yellowjackets. In 1961 he chose to play on the Leeward Ali'is semi pro football team in Oahu, Hawaii, where he was a starting wide receiver and corner back. From 1962-66 he was called to service with the United States Marine Corps, spending time in Vietnam in 1965-66. In the spring of 1967 Clark returned to Graceland and played football from 1967-69, gaining unanimous all-conference accolades and team captain honors. Clark attended Graceland College, St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. and Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Co. At Graceland, Clark received his bachelor's degree in physical education. During his stay at Graceland, Clark was the Lamoni City Marshall from 1968-70, then was a member of the Salem, Ore. police department from 1970-78. His accomplishments there include participating in SWAT school, teaching both motor officer training for the California Highway Patrol school and officer survival classes in Salem. Prior to his time on the hill, Clark was an appointee minister for the Community of Christ Church in Colorado. He was also an administrative assistant to the stake president of the Denver stake. Dewey enjoys spending time with his grandchildren-Keiki and Colton. He is also an avid gardener, specializing in cultivating hostas and shade gardening. He also plays tennis, racquetball and is a first degree black belt in karate.