Ripon College Men's Football

Mike Hepp is in his second season as the Defensive Coordinator at Ripon College. Hepp previously served as the Assistant Football Coach for the Red Hawks, where he was in charge of coaching the safeties. In his first season of 2023, Clay Ritschard and Gavin Engh each entered the Ripon single-season record books with 96 tackles and 7 sacks, respectively. Hepp headed up a defense that held six opponents under 24 points and held Lake Forest to its first game without a rushing touchdown all season. Through the air, the Foresters had their second-lowest passing yard total on the season as the Red Hawks forced 3 fumbles and 3 interceptions for its highest single-game takeaway total since forcing 8 turnovers against Grinnell on September 29, 2018.   A 2012 graduate of Ripon College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Hepp played four years as an offensive lineman for the Ripon Red Hawks. He went on to earn a Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology in 2021 from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. While at Fort Hays State, Hepp coached the Safeties, while also serving stints as the Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Defensive Line Coach. While at Fort Hays, Hepp was part of a coaching staff that set a school record for single season wins, while clinching their first MIAA Championship in school history and first postseason appearance in 20 years. Prior to his final stint with Fort Hays, Hepp served as the Defensive Line Coach for the University of Minnesota-Crookston. He has also served as running backs coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas and offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Campbellsport High School in Campbellsport, Wis. Prior to coming to Ripon College, Hepp has coached four student-athletes to spend time in the NFL, three student-athletes earning All-American honors and over 20 All-Conference players.

Coles 13th as the Red Hawks offensive coordinator. Coles also serves as the teams offensive line coach. No stranger to the football field, the 2016 season will be Coles' 38th as a coach, and 32nd at the collegiate level. Coles is an active member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and currently serves as the chair of the AFCA Division III Assistant Coaches Committee. On March 29, 2014, Coles was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame. Coles is also a member of the Linn-Mar (Iowa) High School Hall of Fame. Before coming to Ripon, Coles was the head coach of Midwest Conference rival Lawrence University from 1993-98, where his offense was consistently ranked among the nations best. Prior to that, he served as the offensive coordinator at Cornell (Iowa) College, where he helped them win the 1992 MWC Championship with a 10-0 record. Coles began his collegiate coaching career at Coe College, where he served as an assistant coach for five years. In his first season as a coach at Coe, Coles helped the team win the MWC Championship, culminating in a NCAA playoff appearance. Coles earned his B.A. in History and Physical Education from Coe in 1979, where he was named First Team All-Conference as an offensive lineman. Coles then went on to earn his M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa in 1984. In addition to his football coaching duties at Ripon, Coles also serves as Professor and Chair of the Exercise Science department. He is also active in the community, serving as President of the Board of Directors of the Republican Party Birthplace Museum, as a Mason and Shriner, and as a member of Ripon Rotary Club. Coles and his wife Nancy have one son, Michael '04 and triplet daughters, Sara, Jennifer, and Katie. Michael and his wife Amy have two daughters, Amiah and Riann, while Sara is married to Tyler Mueller.

Jon Petkoff is in his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Ripon College football team where he serves as the secondary coach. A native of Delavan, Wis., Petkoff earned his B.S. in Exercise Science from Ripon in 2014. In his four years with the Red Hawks, Petkoff appeared in 35 of a possible 40 games as a Safety. He finished his career with four interceptions.

Smith joined the Red Hawks coaching staff in February 2026.

Mike Schmitt returns for his 18th season with the Red Hawks football coaching staff in 2024, which also marks his 38th year coaching football overall. Schmitt will continue serving as Ripon's special teams coordinator while coaching the wide receivers and tight ends. Over his 38 years of coaching football, Schmitt has had high school coaching stints at Waupun, Dodgeland, and Randolph high schools, including a 13-year stint as Head Football Coach at Waupun High School. He has been an active member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) as a District Representative, Clinic Committee member, and WFCA Combine Co-Chair. Schmitt is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).   Schmitt retired from the Waupun Area School District in 2019 and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Educational Studies. He supervises student teachers in health and physical education, teaching PE methods to future teachers. During his 40 years of coaching athletics, Schmitt was selected to coach in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Annual All-Star Game in 2001 as the defensive coordinator for the South All-Stars. He has been honored by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association (WBCA) as the District 6 Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011 & 2013 and the WBCA State Spring Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013. Originally from Columbus, Wis., Schmitt was a three-sport athlete at Columbus High School. He earned his B.S. in Health, Physical Education, and Specially Designed Physical Education from UW-Stevens Point, where he played football for the Pointers. Schmitt earned his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Schmitt and his wife Barb have three adult children, Adam, Ryan, and Erin.  

Yoder is in his ninth season with the Ripon College football coaching staff where he is in charge of coaching the defensive line. The 2024 season marks Yoder's 22nd as a football coach. Yoder served as the Varsity Head Coach at Ripon High School during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, where he has also been the Defensive and Special Teams Coordinator while serving as the team's linebackers coach. Prior to that, Yoder coached 11 years at Port Washington (Wis.) High School, including three seasons as the team's varsity offensive coordinator and running backs coach. A native of Port Washington, Yoder is a 1997 graduate of UW-Milwaukee where he earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Psychology. Prior to that, Yoder spent three years at UW-Oshkosh where he was a three-year starter at linebacker under Head Coach Ron Cardo. Yoder is currently a Cross-Categorical Special Education Teacher at Ripon High School. He resides in Ripon with Becki Parsons Baird '97 and their four children, Brendan (23), Dayton (20), Ella (17), and Addy (16).

Dan Lueck is in his 26th season as an assistant football coach at Ripon College and 37th overall. Lueck is in charge of coaching the defensive backs. Lueck graduated from Ripon College in 1986 with a degree in P.E. and Psychology. He and his wife Shelley have four children, Jessica, Louisa, Kaitlyn, and Jacob. 

Lueck is in charge of coaching the defensive backs. Lueck graduated from Ripon College in 1986 with a degree in P.E. and Psychology. He and his wife Shelley have four children, Jessica, Louisa, Kaitlyn, and Jacob.  

The Ripon football program has bolstered its staff with the addition of Joe Blitstein, who will serve as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator as announced by head coach Jake Marshall on Friday, January 12, 2024. Blitstein was elevated to Offensive Coordinator in February 2026.    "We are thrilled to have Coach Blitstein joining our staff," Marshall said. "His passion for offensive line play is incredible, and his experience as both a player and a coach will add a great dynamic to the group. As a former Division 3 standout, Joe was a great example of what our student-athletes strive to achieve."   Blitstein is no stranger to Wisconsin, playing at UW-Oshkosh for four seasons while serving as a team captain. With the Titans, Blitstein was part of the most successful runs in UWO history, advancing to the NCAA Championship in 2016, the NCAA Semifinals in 2017, the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2015 and the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019. He also helped UWO to a trio of WIAC championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019, going 56-15 throughout his career while only dropping eight WIAC games in six seasons.   Blitstein comes to Ripon after one season as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Buena Vista University, an NCAA Division III school in Storm Lake, Iowa. There, he coached James Facio who was named an All-American Rivers Conference honorable mention offensive lineman.   Prior to Buena Vista, Blitstein was the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at the University of St. Francis, an NAIA institution in Joliet, Illinois for one season. He mentored All-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League (MSFA) tight ends Daniel Goetsch and De'Whon Gavin while helping the Saints to a 7-3 record and a second-place finish in the MSFA. In addition to his on-field roles, Blitstein served as an equipment manager and creative content coordinator with the Saints.   Blitstein's first coaching opportunity came at his alma mater, where he served as an assistant offensive line coach from October 2020 to May 2021.   "I'm excited for this opportunity given to me by Jake Marshall, Mike Hepp and Chris Schumacher," Blitstein said. "I played at Oshkosh and was there for seven years so I know there's a lot of quality football in central Wisconsin. I'm excited to be at a place that feels like home and do my part to help Ripon develop outstanding players while winning football games."   Blitstein graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 2019 with a degree in Psychology. He received his master's degree from UWO in Educational Leadership and Policy with an emphasis in Athletics Leadership and Sports Management in 2021.