University of Minnesota, Duluth Men's Football

113 career wins, seven Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division titles. Five NCAA Division II playoff appearances. Three overall NSIC championships. Two perfect 11-0 regular seasons. An .794 winning percentage. That, for starters, is what Curt Wiese has accomplished since taking over as UMD's sixth head coach on Dec. 21, 2012. He's also helped produce 32 All-Americans and 73 All-NSIC First Team selections while his Bulldogs have earned NSIC All-Academic status 148 times. Among those are 12 College Sports Communicators (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans including three in the 2024 season. Wiese's Academic All-American's are wide receiver Jason Balts (First Team, 2017), two-time honoree defensive lineman Ethan Beffert (Second Team, 2024 and 2023), three-time honoree offensive lineman Arik Johnson (First Team in 2024, 2023 and 2022)  defensive end Dan Monson (Second Team, 2019), offensive lineman Andrew Pattock (First Team, 2013), two-time honoree tight end Sam Pitz (First Team, 2024 and 2023) and defensive end Nick Thorpe (First Team, 2017). Johnson also won the 2024 Britton Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence, for the NSIC's top male student-athlete. In addition, during Wiese's head coaching tenure UMD has racked up a victory total 104, making him the second-winningest coach in UMD program history, behind UMD Hall of Famer Jim Malosky. Nine times Wiese's UMD squads have earned nine or more wins in a season, including a 9-2-0 record in 2024. In 2019, UMD went 8-3 and laid claim to its 12th consecutive NSIC North Division crown (with a perfect 7-0 mark against North competition). The 2018 season saw his Bulldogs run the regular season table for sixth time in the program history, going a perfect 11-0. They also captured a share of their 20th NSIC overall title, advance to the NCAA II postseason for the ninth time since 2008 and was ranked 13th in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll. In 2017, the 9-3 Bulldogs earned invitation to the Mineral Water Bowl and that came one year after they reeled off 10 straight victories following a setback in the season opener and wound up going 10-2. Along the way the 2016 Bulldogs upped their home winning streak to a school-record 22 games, returned to the NCAA II playoffs after a brief, one-year absence, and occupied the No. 13 spot in the final AFCA II poll.  In 2015, UMD capped off a 9-3 season by defeating Fort Hayes State University 30-22 in the Mineral Water Bowl and in 2014 rolled up a 13-1 overall record (the third most wins in program history) and claimed a share of another league crown. That was on top of advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA II playoffs and ending up at No. 3 spot in the final AFCA II poll.  Wiese's rookie-go-around (2013) included an 11-2 mark in all games, an NCAA II playoff berth and a No. 8 final AFCA II poll ranking. Curt Wiese and former NFL quarterback Archie Manning For his exemplary efforts in 2013, Wiese was selected the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner for Division II, a prestigious honor recognizing coaches for their responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and excellence, on and off the field.  Wiese was elevated to the UMD head coaching position after spending the previous five years overseeing offenses that moved the football with as much proficiency as any in NCAA II ranks. During Wiese's successful run as the team’s offensive coordinator, the Bulldogs finished near the top of the NCAA II leader board four times in scoring (third in 2012 with a school-record 46.5 points per game average, fifth in 2008, sixth in 2010 and ninth in 2009) and in 2012 possessed the nation’s seventh best rushing attack (after ranking seventh, fourth, and third, respectively, in that department the previous three seasons). The 2012 Bulldogs were also the nation’s leader in third down conversions (54.8 percent). In addition, no less than 15 of his pupils landed some kind of All-American recognition, including a pair of Harlon Hill Award finalists -- quarterback Ted Schlafke (2008), the school’s career passing and total offense leader, and running back Isaac Odim (2009), UMD’s  No. 1 all-time ground gainer and scorer and the holder of over one dozen school records. In addition, his starting offensive guard from 2009-12, Garth Heikkinen, became the school’s first recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year of Award and earned a playing spot in the annual East-West Shrine Game in January 2013 while offensive tackle Jake Bscherer participated in the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings Training Camps later that year. Since Wiese’s arrival at UMD in February 2008, the Bulldogs have generated both a record of 159-30 and winning percentage (.841) while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010) seven NSIC titles (2008-12, 2014 and 2018) and 12 straight NSIC North Division crowns (2008-18). They've also posted two perfect 15-0 seasons and four 11-0 regular seasons. Wiese came to UMD following two years of employment as the head coach at NCAA Division III member Marietta College (Ohio). He compiled a 9-11 career overall record with the Pioneers, including a 6-4 mark in 2006. The Stoughton, Wisconsin native signed on with the Marietta football program in 2003 when he became the team’s offensive coordinator -- a duty he continued to maintain after he was elevated to head coach. In five years of directing the Marietta offense, Wiese helped churn out two All-Americans, 12 All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections and five Academic All-OAC honorees and was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association Division III Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2004. Prior to his move to Marietta, Wiese worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, tutoring the tight ends for two years and the offensive line for one season. He entered the coaching arena on the heels of a four-year collegiate playing career. After three seasons at Minnesota State University-Mankato (1995-97), Wiese transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where as a senior in 1998, he quarterbacked the Pointers to a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title. Wiese, one of 10 head coaches from across the nation who were up for the 2016 Allstate Insurance Good Works Team, graduated from Minnesota State-Mankato in 2000 with a B.A. degree in technology education and received a Master’s degree in educational professional development from Wisconsin-Eau Claire two years later. He and his wife, Jenny, have three daughters -- Alexis, Makenna and Brooke -- and make their home in Hermantown.  THE NUMBERS ON WIESE Year School Overall Conference (Place) NCAA II Playoffs 2006 Marietta College 6-4 5-4 (4th-T) - 2007 Marietta College 3-7 3-6 (7th-T) - 2013 UMD 11-2 10-1 (2nd-T) 1-1 2014 UMD 13-1 11-0 (1st-T) 2-1 2015 UMD 9-3 8-3 (4th-T) - 2016 UMD 10-2 10-1 (2nd) 0-1 2017 UMD 9-3 9-2 (3rd-T) - 2018 UMD 11-1 11-0 (1st-T) 0-1 2019 UMD 8-3 8-3  (3rd-T) - 2020  UMD 0-0 0-0 No Season 2021 UMD     9-3 9-2 (1st-T) 0-1 2022 UMD 8-3 8-3 (4th-T) - 2023 UMD 9-2 8-2 (2nd-T) - 2024 UMD 7-4 6-4 - Totals 113-38 (104-27 UMD) 104-31 (96-21 NSIC) 3-5  

Steger embarks on his 16th season -- in his second tour of duty -- as the Bulldogs defensive coordinator in 2016. He thrived in that role for 11 years before departing in 2009 for Southern Illinois University, where he served as the Salukis inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for a pair of years, prior to returning to the Bulldog fold. Under Steigers expert watch, UMD has consistently finished among the league leaders in a number of defensive statistical categories. That includes in 2015 when the Bulldogs paced the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in passing defense ( 162.1 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (95.41 - -the third best figure in the couuntry). On a national scale, UMD has also earned plenty of notice both as a team and individually. Three years ago, for example, the Bulldog ranked fourth among all NCAA II institutions in total defense (281.9 yards per game) and were fifth in rushing defense (77.6 ypg). In 2008, Steger was chosen as a finalist for the footballscoop.com NCAA Coordinator of the Year Award after the Bulldogs allowed just four defensive touchdowns over the course of their four-game NCAA II national title run. During his 15 years at UMD, he has helped produce 13 All-Americans and 34 All-NSIC/North Central Conference first team selections. Steger joined the UMD football program in 1999 after working the previous 11 seasons as a defensive coordinator at two NCAA III schools. He served a seven-year stint at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and in his final year there, the Blugolds topped the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense. For his efforts, the Wisconsin High School Coaches Association chose him as their 1998 College Assistant Coach of the Year. Steger began his coaching career at Sul Ross State University where, for four seasons (1988-91), he was employed as the Lobos defensive coordinator after doing two years of graduate assistantship duty at that Texas institution. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Steger started a pair of seasons at linebacker while attending Loras College (Iowa) and co-captained the Duhawks as a senior in 1984. Steger, 53, received a B.A. degree in both physical education and business from Loras College in 1985 and a Masters degree in education from Sul Ross State three years later. He and his wife, Barb, make their home in Duluth.

Chase Vogler returned to the University of Minnesota Duluth football program in 2019 and currently serves as the Bulldogs’ Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. In addition to coordinating the offense, Vogler oversees the program’s wide receivers and tight ends while directing one of the most productive offensive units in NCAA Division II. In 2025, Vogler was named the NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to a 10–2 record and the outright NSIC championship. UMD finished the season with one of the conference’s top-ranked offenses, averaging 37.5 points and 417.4 yards per game while leading the league in offensive efficiency and completion percentage. The season was highlighted by a breakout campaign from tight end Luke Dehnicke, who earned First Team All-American and First Team All-NSIC honors while emerging as one of Division II’s premier tight ends and earning a Harlon Hill Trophy nomination. During the 2024 season, UMD once again fielded one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, averaging 34.3 points and 439 yards per game while ranking among the conference leaders in rushing offense and third-down efficiency. The rushing attack finished 12th nationally, led by quarterback Kyle Walljasper’s 806 rushing yards, and Vogler coached two All-Americans, tight end Sam Pitz, who earned AFCA First Team All-American honors, and offensive lineman Aiden Williams, both of whom later signed NFL free agent contracts. In 2023, Vogler’s offense ranked sixth nationally in rushing while helping produce another standout season from Walljasper, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards while leading an offense that ranked among the national leaders in both third- and fourth-down conversion percentage. Tight end Sam Pitz and offensive lineman Treyvon Cahalan both earned Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-American honors following the season, with Cahalan later receiving an invitation to the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp. In 2022, Vogler’s offense controlled games with one of the most physical rushing attacks in Division II while leading the nation in time of possession at nearly 36 minutes per game. The Bulldogs averaged over 33 points and more than 400 yards of offense per contest while ranking among the national leaders in passing efficiency, rushing offense, third-down conversion percentage, and first downs per game. All-NSIC selections included tight end Zach Ojile, running back Wade Sullivan, and offensive linemen Brent Laing, Treyvon Cahalan, and Arik Johnson. During the 2021 season, Vogler helped guide the Bulldogs to a 9–3 record and a share of the NSIC championship while directing an offense that averaged more than 32 points per game and amassed over 4,700 yards of total offense with strong situational efficiency. Offensive standouts included wide receiver Armani Carmickle, tight end Sam Pitz, offensive linemen Brent Laing and Arik Johnson, and running back Cazz Martin, all of whom earned All-NSIC recognition. In his first season orchestrating the Bulldog offense in 2019, Vogler helped UMD rank among the most productive offenses in the NSIC, with the Bulldogs averaging 34.2 points and 404.4 yards per game while finishing 8–3 overall and capturing the NSIC North Division title. His offense produced multiple All-NSIC selections, including first-team honors for quarterback John Larson, offensive linemen Brent Laing and Noah LeBlanc, and running back Wade Sullivan. Prior to returning to Duluth, Vogler spent five seasons at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, including three as the program’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, where his offenses consistently ranked among the top units in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in total offense and passing production, developing 13 All-WIAC selections, including wide receiver Levy Hamer, who led the conference in receiving yards in 2018.  Vogler’s coaching career also includes international experience as the offensive coordinator for the Bielefeld Bulldogs of Germany’s GFL North during the 2013 season, helping guide the team to a 14–2 record and division championship. He later returned to UMD as a volunteer assistant before spending time as a graduate assistant at Western Illinois University. A former Bulldog quarterback, Vogler authored one of the most successful playing careers in program history. From 2009–12, he appeared in all 54 games and compiled a 46–6 record as a starting quarterback, leading UMD to the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship and four consecutive NSIC titles. A team captain and two-time All-American, he finished his career ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in several statistical categories, including first in completion percentage (63.2%), third in total offense (10,486 yards), fourth in passing yards (7,583), and eighth in rushing yards (2,903). A native of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Vogler earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2013. He and his wife, former UMD soccer player Kelli (Klun), have three children: daughters Zurich and Scotlyn and son Lawson.

Graham spent last season at the University of Central Missouri serving as their running backs, tight ends, and offensive player personnel manager. That season, one of his tight ends earned All-Conference honors, and the team ranked No. 1 in scoring offense in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association conference and No. 6 in total offense in the country. He specialized in film breakdowns, script creation, scheming, video coordination, scouting, and recruiting.   He played quarterback for the University of Texas Permian Basin from 2022 to 2024. There, he helped the Falcons to become Lone Star Conference Champions. He also served as the team’s captain for two seasons and earned an honorable mention on the Lone Star All-Conference team.  

The 2025 season will mark Trey Dill’s 15th year at UMD and his seventh as the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator after he received that promotion in February 2019. In his first season as D-Coordinator in 2019, no one in the NCAA Division II had a better season than the unit Dill oversaw. For the second straight year, the Bulldogs ranked first among all NCAA II schools in total defense, allowing just 250.3 yards per game. In addition, UMD was third in team pass efficiency defense (91.83) and fewest first downs allowed (150), fourth in pass defense (142.0 yards per game), ninth in scoring defense (16.5 points per game) and ninth in punt return defense (2.82 yards per return). Dill coached two 2024 All-NSIC First Team selections between defensive end Drew Hennesey and linebacker Mac Strand with three Second Team nominations (defensive end Liam Fahey, defensive back Preston McQueen, and defensive end Mojo Weerts). This adds to the four 2023 All-NSIC First Team selections (linebacker Andrew Klopp, defensive lineman Hennessey, defensive lineman Ethan Beffert, and defensive back Marcus GlodowskiI, as well as well second team selection defensive back Tim Pokornowski. In 2022, Dill's Bulldog Defense finished in the top 10 nationally in rush defense, sacks and interceptions and had five First Team All-NSIC North Division selections on the defensive side of the ball and defensive back Dayvia Gbor was a Second Team All-Region choice. In fact, over his last five season's, Dill has had 27 defensive players named to NSIC squads. Dill joined the Bulldog program in 2011 and since then has served as the defensive line coach (2011-18), special teams coordinator (2018), recruiting coordinator (2011-18) and outside linebacker coach (2018). During that time, he mentored the likes of two-time All-NSIC defensive linemen Dre Greer, Jonathan Harden (a 2015 USA College Football All-American), Jacob Brusehaver, Buma Foncham, Karl Finkel, Nick Thorpe and Chris Vandervest as well as 2018 Don Hansen All-American outside linebacker Alex Helmer. Dill previously served a two-season appointment as the inside linebackers coach at intrastate rival St. Cloud State University and helped groom a pair of All-NSIC performers during his time with the Huskies (who qualified for the 2010 NCAA II playoffs). He signed on with the St. Cloud State staff fresh off a four-year playing career as a reserve linebacker at that same institution. A two-time member of the North Central Conference Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, Dill is currently completing a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from St. Cloud State, where he graduated in 2008 with a B.S. degree in marketing. The St. Cloud Tech High School alumnus, resides in Duluth with his son, Tucker. His father, Tracy Dill, is the former director of intercollegiate athletics at Bemidji State University and is currently the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's commissioner. 

Luke Olson was elevated as the team's next special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach in January of 2025 after serving as recruiting coordinator for two seasons. Olson joined Bulldog Country after three years with the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) as their defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.  Olson, a native of Plymouth, Minnesota, has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Prior to Sioux Falls, Olson served as the Defensive Quality Control Coach for North Dakota State University, which captured the FCS National Championship in 2019 with a 16-0 record. He coordinated the scout offense and special teams during practice and led all scout offensive meetings for Bison Head Coach Matt Entz.   From 2018-19, Olson was the cornerback coach/assistant special teams coordinator/video coordinator at Truman State University (Mo.). He was part of a staff that helped guide TSU to a 6-5 record and coached an All-American kicker returner. He also worked at Doane University (Neb.) where he was secondary coach/recruiting coordinator/video coordinator for a team that had a 30-12 record and made two NAIA Football Championship series appearances from 2014-18.   While at Doane, he coached 17 All-GPAC defensive backs and an NAIA All-American. Olson also served as a recruiting assistant at the University of Minnesota, which had a 14-12 record and two bowl appearances while he was on staff from 2012-14.  In addition, he was the linebackers coach/junior varsity defensive coordinator in Minnesota at Wayzata High School in 2011.

The University of Minnesota Duluth football program has hired Gavin Robertson as its next safeties coach.   Robertson assumes the role after serving as a secondary coach and pass game coordinator for the University of Mary this past season. At UMary, he was responsible for player skill development, film breakdowns, strategizing against the pass, and coverage schemes.   Before becoming the secondary coach and pass game coordinator, Robertson served as the Marauders’ running backs coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2024 season. In the role, he was responsible for the development of the team’s running backs, holding position group meetings, film breakdowns, managing the recruitment process for all positions, and identifying potential recruits.   As a player, he started his collegiate career at the University of Arizona as a safety and linebacker, seeing game action in the 2017 season. Robertson spent the rest of his eligibility at the University of Montana, which included the 2019 season, where he cemented himself in the linebacker position, becoming the fourth leading tackler and ranking in the top 25 tacklers of the Big Sky Conference. He was also a preseason Third Team All-Big Sky recipient twice and a co-recipient of both the Golden Helmet award and Pat Norwood award.   A native of Auburn, Washington, Robertson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Montana.  

Austan Davis enters his second season as the Offensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Duluth after helping lead the Bulldogs to one of the top offensive seasons in the country in 2025. In his first season in Duluth, Davis coached an offensive line unit that played a key role in Minnesota Duluth winning the NSIC Championship outright with a 10-2 record and earning a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bulldogs finished 13th nationally in scoring offense at 37.5 points per game while ranking 27th in the country in rushing offense with 201.0 yards per game. UMD also ranked 23rd nationally in third-down conversion percentage, 11th in fourth-down conversion percentage, 18th in time of possession, and 4th in the NSIC in sacks allowed, reflecting the consistency and protection of Davis’ offensive line. Under Davis’ direction, the Bulldogs produced two First Team All-NSIC offensive linemen Carter Geerts and Tait Kongsjord with Geerts also earning a D2CCA All-Super Region selection as well. In addition to coaching the offensive line, Davis was responsible for the unit’s weekly preparation, protection plans, and pressure reports, while collaborating with the offensive coordinator on the run game and overall weekly game plan. He also oversaw the Bulldogs’ field goal unit with UMD kicker Drew Henson earning First Team All-NSIC honors. Davis came to Minnesota Duluth after two seasons at Temple University. In 2024 he served as an Offensive Analyst working with quarterbacks and tight ends, assisting with offensive game planning, opponent scouting, analytics, and player development. Prior to that, he spent the 2023 season as the Offensive Line Graduate Assistant, helping coach a unit that earned two All-AAC selections while the Owls ranked 25th nationally in passing offense and 29th in sacks allowed. Before Temple, Davis coached running backs at Midwestern State in 2022. His unit led the Lone Star Conference in rushing 191.3 yards per game and featured three running backs averaging more than 5.8 yards per carry, including the LSC Freshman of the Year, while producing two All-LSC Conference selections. A former standout offensive lineman himself, Davis was a 36-game starter at Midwestern State from 2015–21, helping the Mustangs win three Lone Star Conference championships. He earned All-LSC honors twice and served as a three-year team captain. A native of Sulphur Springs, Texas, Davis earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sport & Leisure Studies from Midwestern State University in 2019 and completed his Master’s degree in Higher Education at Temple University in 2024. Davis is joined in Duluth by his wife Taylor and together they have one son, Callahan.  

Green spent the last two seasons at the University of Dubuque, serving as a defensive backs graduate assistant. There, he specialized in film breakdowns, film study, opponent scouting, recruiting, defensive schemes, drill work, and safety’s oversight. One of his defensive backs earned an American Rivers Conference All-Conference honorable mention.   As a player, he competed for Midland University as a linebacker. There, he earned two Great Plains Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team selections.  

Martin joins the Bulldogs after serving as a tight ends and fullbacks coach at the University of Findlay last season. There, he helped coach the team to a 10-2 record with a Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship and a playoff berth. Throughout the year, he specialized in position drills, opponent scouting, film analysis, and recruiting. He also served as an assistant junior varsity coach for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2022 to 2024.   As a player, he competed as a tight end from 2020 to the 2025 season at UW-Whitewater. There, he was a two-time team captain, a two-time Second Team All-Conference selection (TE), and a First Team All-Conference selection for special teams.