The College of Idaho Men's Football

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Mike Moroski became head coach at the College in 2014. Was named head coach in January of 2013 and led the Yotes through their "zero year" program, prior to the return to the field in September of 2014. His 2018 squad closed the season with a six-game win streak and ended the campaign ranked No. 22 in the NAIA, while his 2019 team completed a perfect 10-0 league record, winning the Frontier Conference title, reaching the NAIA Football Championship Series quarterfinals, ending the season 11-1 and ranked No. 5 in the NAIA postseason national poll. The 17-game win streak spanning the 2018 and 2019 season is a school record. In 2020, his team finished the COVID-19 shortened season 3-1, claiming a share of the Frontier Conference championship. HONORS: Moroski was honored as the 2019 Frontier Conference Coach of the Year. He has coached six NAIA All-Americans (Dorian Hardin Nate Moore, Darius-James Peterson, Josh Brown, Kyle Mitchell, Taeson Hardin), two Preseason All-Americans (Moore, Marcus Lenhardt), 47 All-Frontier Conference selections, 44 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 35 Academic All-District selections and 172 Frontier Conference All-Academic Team selections. PRIOR TO C OF I: Moroski came to the College after three decades at UC-Davis – both as a player and a coach.  As offensive coordinator from 1993-2010, his schemes helped the Aggies to eight NCAA Division II postseason appearances, including three trips to the national quarterfinals and trips to the national semifinals in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2001. In 2000, his offense averaged 47 points per game, ranking second in Division II, while in 2001, his offense averaged 41 points and 511 yards per game, helping Moroski earn Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year honors. With Moroski serving as offensive coordinator, UC-Davis posted an overall record of 148-80, including a 98-32 record as a Division II school. Moroski coached every offensive group during his tenure at UC-Davis – quarterbacks (1987-88), wide receivers (1992-97), offensive line (1998-2009), tight ends (2010-11), and running backs (2012), while serving as the junior varsity head coach from 1989-91. He helped the Aggies in their move from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision in 2003, with UC-Davis transitioning to the Great West Conference and and the Big West Conference. PERSONAL: A native of Novato, Calif., Moroski played quarterback at UC-Davis from 1975-78, earning Far West Conference Player of the Year honors in both 1977 and 1978, and leading the Aggies to the 1977 Division II national semifinals.  He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth-round of the 1979 NFL Draft, spending eight years as a backup quarterback with the Falcons (1979-84), the Houston Oilers (1985) and the San Francisco 49ers (1986). Moroski played in 69 career games,  completing 57 percent of his passes for 2,864 yards and eight touchdowns. Moroski graduated from UC-Davis with a degree in managerial economics and has a master’s in educational psychology.  He and his wife, Cathie, have four children – sons Nate, Will and Ben, and daughter Emilie.

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Chris Jewell started joined the College of Idaho's Football staff in 2014 as defensive coordinator. As one of the top defensive coordinators in the NAIA, Jewell has led one of the top defensive units in the country which is perennially among the top 25 in the nation. Four out of the last five seasons, his defense has finished in the top 25 in scoring defense, rushing defense, and QB sacks. Last fall, in 2022, the defense ranked 10th in the nation against the rush and 16th in scoring defense, holding opponents to 18.1 points per contest. His efforts saw the Yotes defense hold Carroll College to -15 yards on the ground in a 30-21 win, just one week after shutting out Eastern Oregon University. Three Yotes in the secondary were named all-Frontier Conference, including Dorian Hardin, who earned All-American honors. The 2021 unit finished ranked fourth in the nation in sacks, 15th in rush defense, 16th in total defense and 21st in scoring defense. On three occasions, opponents were held under seven points or less and surrendered just 18.9 points per contest. Two members of the defensive back unit were named all-conference, including All-American safety Taeseon Hardin. The 2021 spring season saw College of Idaho lead the league in pass defense as well as in the top 25 nationally for sacks per game. Three YOtes were picked all-conference and an All-American honoree. In 2019, the Coyote defense held opponents to an average of 93 rushing yards and 308 yards of total offense over a 12-game season. Four opponents were limited to 100 yards passing and seven were held below the century mark on the ground. Since arriving at College of Idaho, he has produced 12 all-conference players, six All Americans - including three-time All-American Nate Moore - and a honorable mention All-American selection.     BEFORE C OF I: Jewell joined the C of I staff after spending two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Division II Fort Lewis College in Colorado, working under the tutelage of former Division I head coach John L. Smith. He also spent time in the California junior college ranks – coaching at both Southwestern College and at San Diego Mesa College. As the defensive coordinator at SDMC, his defense finished seventh in total defense among Southern California schools and 20th-overall in the state. Jewell has also coached at the University of Ottawa in Canada and with the Nidaros Domers of the Norweigian American Football Federation. PERSONAL: Jewell earned All-Conference honors at SDMC as a player in 1998, before transferring to the University of Idaho. He finished his collegiate career, earning All-Conference honors at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. He is married to Erin Jewell and has three daughters.

At College of Idaho: Tanner Forkner joined the coaching staff in 2026, making it his first collegiate coaching experience. He is currently working on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive analyst. In addition to assisting with multiple position groups, Forkner focuses his efforts on film breakdown/analytics, prospect evaluation, and player development.  Prior to College of Idaho: Prior to joining the Yotes, Forkner gained valuable coaching experience at the high school level. At the age of 18, Forkner became the head coach of Del Norte High School’s JV football program which he led to an undefeated season. He also spent two years as an assistant coach at Nampa High School.  Personal: Forkner was also a student-athlete at the College of Idaho where he graduated with a double major. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Philosophy. He then went on to get his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. He began his collegiate playing career at College of the Redwoods where he earned All-Conference honors in 2022 and All-Region honors in 2023 playing linebacker. Once at the College of Idaho, he suffered a series of injuries that ultimately ended his playing career despite his efforts to battle through them. He and his wife Jill live in Caldwell with their dog Ace, and the three of them love to be outdoors!

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Nelson joined the Yotes for the 2020 season as an assistant with the Coyote football program, working with the linebackers. In 2020, three of his linebackers earned All-Frontier Conference honors (Dylan Martinez, Graham Carnahan, Joey Calzaretta). He currently serves as the linebackers coach, special teams coordinator, and recruiting coordinator. He has coached two Frontier Conference Players of the week (Dylan Martinez, Tanner Leaf) who also won honors as NAIA players of the week. He coached two time All-America player Dylan Martinez. He has mentored athletes that have been honored as all-conference nine times in the Frontier Conference. Nelson also coached Champion of Character 2023 recipient Joey Calzaretta. He coached Dylan Martinez to Second all time on total tackles in a career-109, all time leader in fumbles Recovered in a Career-7, single game tackle record-22, all-time leader in In assisted tackles in a season-66. Nelson helped coach the team to a program best semi-final run in the 2023 NAIA National Championships. PRIOR TO C OF I: Originally from Lakewood, Colo., he is a 2017 graduate of Fort Lewis College with a degree in exercise science, where he played football for four seasons and also served as an assistant coach from 2017-19. At Fort Lewis he coached 3 all-conference players. As a player, saw action in 34 career games, recording 55 total tackles on special teams and as a linebacker. PERSONAL: Nelson is from Lakewood, Colorado. His wife Shay and him have a dog named Baker. His twin brother Shane coaches linebackers at The Colorado School of Mines.

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Joining the College of Idaho in 2017, Taylor initially coached wide receivers through 2019, while also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator that year. He was named Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach in February 2020. His offenses have helped the Yotes reach the NAIA Championship tournaments in 2019 and the historic 2023 season where the Yotes reached the semifinal for the first time in program history. PRIOR TO C OF I:  A four-year starter at Pacific University (2010–2013), he was part of the inaugural class that helped restart the football program and earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2011. He began his coaching career at Pacific, working with tight ends from 2014 to 2016. PERSONAL:  Originally from Lewiston, Idaho, he holds a B.S. in Exercise Science from Pacific University. He lives in local with his wife, Lexee, and their daughter, Teagan.