University of Nebraska at Kearney Men's Football

Ryan Held was named the 19th head football coach in Nebraska Kearney school-history on Dec. 20, 2022. In 2025, he'll coach the tight ends and quarterbacks.  "I can't tell you how fired up I am to be the next head football coach at UNK. The opportunity to return to Nebraska and lead the Loper football program, which has tremendous tradition and is committed to winning championships, is something I can't wait to take on," said Held. "The MIAA is one of the toughest football conferences in the country, and UNK is right there at the top with a strong foundation in place." The Lopers beat Northeastern State, Lincoln and Washburn in 2023 with seven players earning All-MIAA honors. UNK also suffered three losses by a combined 11 points, had six Academic All-District qualifiers and 59 named Academic All-MIAA. Finally, the program expanded its recruiting base into Georgia, Oklahoma, the Kansas junior college ranks and a renewed emphasis in Lincoln and Omaha.  UNK went 5-6 in 2024 with all nine of its league games decided in the fourth quarter. That included a walk-off win at Missouri Western State and a last second defensive stop a Washburn. Earlier in the fall, the Lopers beat rival Chadron State on the road and then bested longtime power Northwest Missouri State at home. UNK finished had All-MIAA picks with end Quillan Felton being the fourth Loper d-lineman in the D2 era (since 1990) to earn All-American status.  Held spent 2022 as interim head coach and offensive coordinator at FCS-member North Alabama. Before that, he was an assistant/running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Nebraska (2018-21) and assistant/running backs coach at the University of Central Florida (2016-17). He was twice named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com while at Nebraska.  A coaching veteran with 15 years of head coaching experience, Held climbed the coaching ladder as a junior college, NCAA Division II and NAIA head coach before joining the Division I ranks. He had head coaching stints at junior colleges Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Highland (Kan.) Community College, Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Panhandle State, and NAIA Peru State College. He he has a career head coaching record of 68-102 (43-69 at 4-year schools; 25-33 at junior colleges) with four winning seasons and another .500 campaign. At 26-years old, he was the nation's youngest head coach while at Peru State in 2001. He guided the Bobcats to a second place finish in the league and then helped turn around OPSU. The independent Aggies had won only two games in the previous three years but Held led them to back-to-back winning seasons in 2003 and 2004.  Next, he helped SWOSU tie for the 2007 North Division title in the tough Lone Star Conference (LSC). A year earlier Held was named the North Division Coach of the Year. At Highland, he took over a program that hadn't had a winning season since before 2000. In 2013, Highland made the playoffs for the first time in the modern era. Finally, Held coached 22 all-league players at NEO over the 2014 and 2015 seasons.  "Ryan has created a strong reputation for leading, recruiting and developing players," said Bauer. "His focus goes beyond the game, aimed at elevating players to become the best version of themselves on and off the field. "Equally important, Ryan believes in the Division II model. Not only does he have plans to guide and continue to elevate the program, but also create a culture driven by our mission, complemented by our core values and efforts to contribute to our campus and community." Held's other coaching stops include Butler (Kan.) Community College and the University of Tennessee, where he was a defensive graduate assistant in 1998-99, helping the Volunteers win the 1998 national championship. At Butler, Held was offensive coordinator for a Grizzlies team that went 11-1 and finished with the second ranked offense in the country. "We have a great opportunity to build on recent success," said Held. "There are a lot of really good players returning. We're going to add more moving forward and build on recent successes in the great MIAA conference. "I look forward to meeting all the great alumni, boosters and community members who make it possible to build our program." Recognized as an outstanding recruiter and for developing players, as well as being an offensive-minded coach, Held's running backs at Central Florida rushed for more than 2,500 yards in 2017 when the Knights went 13-0 and won the American Athletic Conference (AAC) title. At Nebraska, Held's running backs produced impressive results in his first season in 2018. The group helped the Huskers rush for more than 2,500 yards, as Nebraska boasted the third-most-improved rushing attack in the country, averaging 209 yards per game. His 2022 North Alabama squad was among the ASUN Conference leaders in multiple offensive categories, with running back ShunDerrick Powell's 1,508 rushing yards the fourth-best total in the nation. "Our players will be disciplined, detailed and tough. That's our culture and what we stand for, on and off the field. That encompasses everything it means to be a Loper football player," said Held. He said his recruiting strategy at UNK will be to heavily recruit Nebraska high schools and players from across the Midwest and Florida, including junior colleges in Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. "We will recruit impact players from winning programs who fill immediate needs – smart, tough, physical athletes who love to compete," he said. "I look forward to working with all the great Nebraska coaches. We want Nebraska high school players to be Lopers. That will be paramount to our success." A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Held was a reserve quarterback and split end at Nebraska from 1993-96, when the Huskers won two national championships, posted a 47-3 record and won three conference titles. He and his wife, Katie, have two sons, Jacob and Greyson. Held also has a daughter, Rhylan Meet Ryan Held Coaching Experience University of North Alabama, offensive coordinator / interim head coach (2021-Present) University of Nebraska, assistant coach / running backs and recruiting coordinator (2018-21) University of Central Florida, assistant coach / running backs (2016-17) Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, head coach (2014-15)                Highland (Kan.) Community College, head coach (2012-13)                  Butler (Kan.) Community College, offensive coordinator (2011)           Southwestern Oklahoma State, head coach (2005-08)               Oklahoma Panhandle State, head coach (2002-04)                     Peru State College, head coach (2001)                                           University of Tennessee, graduate assistant (1998-99) University of Nebraska, undergraduate assistant (1997) Age: 50 Personal: A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Ryan and his wife, Katie, have two sons, Jacob and Greyson. Held also has a daughter, Rhylan. Education: Bachelor's degree in community health, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1998. Master's degree in sport management, University of Tennessee, 2001. Playing Experience: Reserve quarterback and split end at Nebraska from 1993-96, when the Huskers won two national championships, posted a 47-3 record and won three conference titles. High School: All-state wide receiver, kicker and defensive back his senior year at Blue Valley North High School in Kansas. … Scored 11 touchdowns on 46 receptions his senior year, totaling 843 yards. … Earned all-league honors in football, baseball and basketball  

Riley Myers joined the Nebraska-Kearney football program in the summer of 2024 and serve as one of the program's two graduate assistant coaches. He leads the Loper running backs.  In 2024, newcomer Isaiah Harris was one of the MIAA's top backs, running for 825 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 19 balls for 195 yards to earn all-league honors. Four other backs combined for 358 yards and two scores as well.  The native of Kingfisher, Okla., most recently was a linebacker at Division II Northwestern Oklahoma State. For the Rangers he played several seasons under former Loper DC Ken Gordon. Myers comes from a football family as both his father, Jeff, and grandfather, Nelson, led the Kingfisher High School program. They both played football at NWOSU as well.   

Nate Baker joined the Nebraska Kearney football program in January 2023 and serves as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. UNK suffered an array of injuries up front in 2023 but the offense still managed to average nearly 20 points and 303 yards per game. Record setting quarterback TJ Davis ran for seven touchdowns and threw for 14 more with veteran guard/tackle Hunter Hays earning third-team All-MIAA honors. In 2024, redshirt junior Wyatt Marr and redshirt sophomore Carter Klein earned all-conference nods with former all-league pick Kooper Reece returning after a long injury absence. The Lopers had 16 rushing TD's with back Isaiah Harris named third-team All-MIAA. The Georgia native spent the 2022 season as Senior Defensive Quality Control at Buffalo. Previously, he was co-offensive coordinator/tackles and tights coach at Division II Savannah (Ga.) State for three seasons. He also has coached at Georgia Military College, a junior college program, and at his alma mater, Georgia Southern.  "I'm very fired up to have Nate as my OL Coach/Run Game Coordinator. His knowledge of line play and development is elite and I'm very happy to have him on the staff," said UNK head coach Ryan Held. "Our OL is in great hands!" At UB in 2022, Baker helped the Bulls win seven games and beat Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl. Buffalo's defense ranked fourth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in scoring and was third in efficiency. The 2019 SSU Tigers posted a 7-3 record, the first program's first winning season in 21 years. It was SSU's first year of competition back in Division II and the Tigers finished 5-0 in conference play. Under Baker's leadership, SSU turned to an old-school option offense to set new school records in a number of categories during 2019. The success continued as the Tigers went a combined 9-3 over the next two seasons, one cut short due to the pandemic. Working under current Army head coach Jeff Monken and current Tulane head coach Willie Fritz at Georgia Southern, Baker saw great success in Statesboro. He first stint was as an undergrad offensive analyst (2008-12) and then he moved into a graduate assistant role, working with the line (2013-15). He helped the Eagles go 67-34, win three league titles and make four postseason appearances (three FCS playoff trips and FBS bowl game). Not surprisingly, the option-based Eagles led the country in rushing between 2011-15. Baker moved onto GMC where he helped the Bulldogs go 22-9 over three seasons. As the o-line coach, he saw four of his players earn D1 scholarships (South Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Troy and Alabama State) after the 2016 season. In 2017, GMC went 8-2 with Baker coaching two All-Americans. In his final season at GMC, he sent four more athletes to D1 programs with the 'Dawgs averaging over 35 points and 350+ yards per game and having 30+ rushing touchdowns. Having recruiting experience in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the JUCO ranks in Kansas, Baker has helped coach seven All-Americans, seven first-team all-conference picks and seen four of his players get drafted or be in an NFL camp. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from GSU and is married to the former Katherine Baker. They have two children; Beau and Brooks.     

Nate Willis joined the Nebraska-Kearney football coaching staff in the spring of 2024. He served as one of the program's two graduate assistants and then was promoted to full-time status in the summer of 2025. Willis again will lead the UNK cornerbacks.   Last fall, senior transfer corner Kendall Brewer was one of the MIAA's best, having 29 tackles, five pass breakups and four interceptions. One pick was a 88-yard "pick six" against two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski of Central Missouri.    Previously, Willis was the secondary coach at Heritage High School in Conyers, Ga., for two seasons. The former Kentucky Wildcat defensive back also has had stops at Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2017), ASA College in Miami (2018-19), and NAIA Missouri Valley College (2019-21). Willis was the DB’s coach at Stevens Point and then was secondary coach and special teams coordinator at ASA for two seasons. While in Miami, he coached Loper corner Terrell Williams. Willis then moved onto NAIA power Missouri Valley, serving as the Valkyries corner backs coach and special teams coordinator. Most recently, he was Heritage High’s secondary coach. At UK, he was a two-year starter after beginning his player career at Arizona Western. Willis holds a Master’s in Education Administration from Missouri Valley and a BS in Community Leadership Development from Kentucky.    

Ruzell McCoy Jr. joined the Nebraska Kearney football program in January 2025 and serves as the Lopers linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator.  McCoy spent the 2024 season as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at NAIA Madonna University (Livonia, Mich.). The Crusaders first full football season came just four years ago. "I'm very excited to have Ruzell McCoy join our staff. I've known Coach McCoy for many years and all the way back to when I recruited him in 2004," said Loper head coach Ryan Held. "He has a wide range of experiences from being a head coach, coordinator and position coach." An All-American linebacker in his playing days at Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State (Weatherford, Okla.), McCoy has also coached at his alma mater (2019-23), Ellsworth C.C., Iowa (spring 2019), NAIA McPherson College, Kan., Coffeyville C.C., Kan. (2016-17) and Highland C.C., Kan. (2012-13). Held was at coach of the Highland Scotties during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. McCoy served as DC at SWOSU, Ellsworth, McPherson, Coffeyville and Highlands while also working as a defensive line coach (Highland & SWOSU) and linebackers coach (Ellsworth, Coffeyville & Highland). Finally, he was interim head coach at SWOSU during the 2023 season. "He'll be a great addition to our staff and will help us continue in our quest to build a consistent winning football program," said Held. "We're fired up to have Coach McCoy and his family join our Loper family." Between 2005-08, the Frederick, Okla., native racked up 238 tackles for the Bulldogs. The total included 44.5 tackles for loss, third most in SWOSU's Division II era. A two-time first-team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) selection, he also was tabbed the 2008 North Division's Linebacker of the Year. Finally, McCoy was a 2008 first-team Don Hansen Gazette's All-American and SWOSU's Male Athlete of the Year. He holds two degrees from SWOSU, a bachelor's in Parks & Recreation and a master's in Sports Management. McCoy and his wife, Sara, have three children in Kynna, Trey and Zella.

Jake Mandelko returned to the Nebraska Kearney football program in January 2023 and is the team's special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. The Lexington native is a former standout safety for the Lopers, earning All-Region honors as a senior in 2009.    "I'm excited to have Jake on our staff. He is a former Loper and he bleeds blue!” said Loper head coach Ryan Held. “He will coach our DL and Special Teams in the way he played for UNK! It will be done with DDT!”  In 2023 the d-line was paced by All-MIAA selections Tell Spies (52 tackles, six tacks) and Quillan Felton (44 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss). Overall the defense was among the MIAA leaders in the red zone (77% score pct., 55% TD pct.), forced fumbles (eight) and sacks (24). On special teams, the Lopers blocked four kicks with the team first in the MIAA in punt return avg. (13.6).  Felton and the defense took another step in 2024 as the unit allowed just 21.5 points and 363 yards per game. UNK gave up only 75 second half points on the year, held five opponents under 21 points and forced 23 turnovers. Felton was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA picked who then earned All-American honors. He tallied 17.5 tackles for loss including seven sacks. Finally, the special teams had six blocks, was 30 of 31 on PAT's and had a 11.9 punt return average.    Priot to his return, Mandelko worked under former Loper assistant coach Grant Mollring at NCAA Division III Buena Vista (Ia.) University where he was assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for six seasons. He also served as DC, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Hastings College for two years while beginning his coaching career at Nebraska. For the ‘Huskers over four years, Mandelko handled quality control for the DB’s and special teams and assisted with on-campus recruiting.   At BVU, Mandelko helped the Beavers win 16 games in five completed seasons. His defense moved up from last to the middle of the conference rankings in total defense.  Buena Vista also was among the league leaders in interceptions (25) and finished second sacks in 2019 with 25. In 2022, Madelko's defense ranked third in the conference against the run, allowing just over 100 rushing yards per game. He also helped coach seven all-conference defensive selections.   Having recruited extensively in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Arizona and Texas, Mandelko was part of a 2009 Loper team that won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) regular season title, posted an 11-2 record and won the program’s first-ever playoff game. He had a combined 27 tackles in two playoff games that fall and currently ranks 22nd (194) on the all-time tackles list.   Mandelko holds a UNK bachelor of science degree in sports administration. He and his wife, Shandace, have three daughters -- Zoey, Aria and Avery -- and a son, Kai.  

Tim Schaffner joined UNK football in January 2023 and serves as the Lopers defensive coordinator and safeties coach. In the summer of 2025, he was promoted to assistant head coach.  Schaffner was defensive coordinator at FCS-member Idaho State in 2022 after spending 17 years at Butler (Kan.) Community College. He was the Grizzlies head coach from 2015-21 and a part of two NJCAA National Championships, nine league titles and seven region titles in his time in El Dorado. His "Chas Tempo/1-800-I-GO-FAST" brand of defense emphasizes fast, physical and swarming play that led the region in scoring, total and rushing defense for seven straight years, while finishing in the top two in every other major category during that time period. In 2023, the UNK defense was among the MIAA leaders in the red zone (77% score pct., 55% TD pct.), forced fumbles (eight) and sacks (24). Tackle Tell Spies, end Quillan Felton, linebacker Zach Schlager, corner Armani Webster and safety Tre O'Guinn each earned All-MIAA honors.  The Lopers took another step last fall, holding five opponents under 21 points, forcing 23 turnovers, giving up just 75 second half points and having an All-American in Felton. Four others were named to the All-MIAA team with the unit allowing just 93 rushing yards per game.  An All-American defensive back in his playing days at Westmar (Ia.) College, Schaffner also has had coaching stops at Eastern Arizona, Garden City (Kan.) and Ranger (Texas) Colleges as well as New Mexico Military Institute. He served as head coach at Ranger and DC at both EAC and NMMI.  "I'm fired up to have Coach Schaffner be our Defensive Coordinator. He will bring his patented 'Chaos Tempo' defense to UNK which will be fun for our players to play in," said Loper head coach Ryan Held. "He has a lot of experience as a DC and HC which will be very valuable to me as a HC and our program." Schaffner began his full-time coaching career at Division II Eastern New Mexico and also spent two years in England, leading the Essex Buccaneers to a national title game. He began his career as a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State. Schaffner was part of 146 wins in his time at Butler which included seven seasons with a double-digit win total. The Grizzlies claimed the 2007 and 2008 NJCAA National Titles, were National Runners Up twice, annually competed in bowl games and were a mainstay in the national rankings. His defense posted 23 shutouts over a 13-season span – nearly two per year. Four of those shutouts came during the 2007 season, including three games in a row when the defense went more than 15 straight quarters without allowing a score of any kind. Individually, he coached 20 Butler All-Americans, five Region and three National Players of the Year. Many of his Butler players went onto star at the FBS level and for schools such as Florida State, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas Tech. He holds a Master's in Athletic Administration and a Bachelor's in Physical Education from Northwest Missouri and a Bachelor's Degree in English Education from Westmar. Schaffner is married to the former Holly Maupin and they are the parents of a son, Brady, and daughter, Tommie.  

Tyler Harris joined the Nebraska Kearney football program in February 2024 and serves as offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He was elevated to OC in the summer of 2025.  He replaced Moses Harper who was named head coach at Division II Lincoln (Mo.) University. "Tyler is an up-and-coming rising star in the profession, and I felt he could to this role and help grow our offense to be much improved in 2025 and beyond," said UNK head coach Ryan Held.   In 2024, a new look receiving corps managed 122 catches, 1,618 yards and 10 touchdowns. He'll have another new group to coach in 2025.  Harris, a native of Andover, Kan., is no stranger to the MIAA as he spent seven years at Emporia State as a player, graduate assistant coach, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Beginning his playing career at Hutchinson (Kan.) C.C., Harris was an All-MIAA receiver in 2018 before transitioning to a GA role where he led the Hornet outside receivers for two years. He then was tabbed for a full-time role prior to the 2021 season, serving as receivers coach/recruiting coordinator. His recruiting territory was Southwestern Kansas, Wichita, Kansas junior colleges, Oklahoma City, and the Dallas Metroplex. "I'm very excited to have Tyler and his wife, Kailey, join the UNK Football Family. Tyler is a very talented coach that has had a proven track record of developing wide receivers," said Held. "He understands the MIAA Conference and he will help us elevate on offense as we go into our second year as a staff. We fired up for him to be a Loper!" Harris was an integral part of the Hornets quick and potent passing attack as he coached standout receivers Jaylen Varner, Tyler Kahmann, Corey Thomas and Cole Schumacher, among others. Each earned All-MIAA honors in their career with Varner, Kahmann and Thomas being first-team selections. In 2023 Varner and Thomas both went over 1,000 receiving yards and combined for 32 receiving touchdowns. Varner transferred to Minnesota with Kahmann earning Academic All-American honors. He then was with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025.  Emporia made three straight bowl games between 2021-23 and had two nine-win seasons. As a player, Harris helped the Hornets win the 2018 Corsicana (Texas) Bowl. He finished the year with 57 catches for 829 yards and a MIAA-best 14 receiving TD's. Harris graduated from Andover Central High School and received a Marketing degree from Emporia State in 2018. He is married to the former Kailey Corr, who played and coached soccer at E-State.