Washburn University of Topeka Men's Football

Zach Watkins was named the 38th head coach in program history on Nov. 26, 2024 becoming the first Ichabod alumnus to fill the top spot on the Ichabod sidelines in more than 30 years after spending the previous 11 seasons as the co-defensive coordinator on the Ichabod coaching staff.  In his first season as the head coach, Watkins had 10 players earn all-MIAA honors, an all-region selection, a CSC Academic All-American®, and 70 MIAA Academic Honor Roll picks adding five MIAA Scholar Athletes and three MIAA Academic Excellence selections. Prior to joining the Ichabod staff, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Fort Hays State where he wash the special teams coordinator while coaching the defensive line for two seasons and the inside linebackers. Watkins spent one season as a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri prior to joining the Tiger coaching staff.  Watkins has coached 53 Ichabods to all-MIAA honors on the defensive side and directly coached 22 all-MIAA selections including 10 linebackers, three punters, three placekickers and six defensive backs.  In 2017, he was selected as one of 34 NCAA football coaches and the only from the MIAA and one of only two from the Division II ranks who were picked to attend the 2017 NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy. Watkins was a four-year starter at linebacker for Washburn from 2006-09 under current Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown and defensive coordinator Cooper Harris. He put together a historic career for the Ichabods, registering 100 or more tackles in each season, compiling a school record 473 for his career. That mark also placed him third all-time in NCAA Division II history at the end of his career. Watkins was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2006 following a season which saw him earn honorable mention all-MIAA and second team all-region honors. From there, Watkins went on to earn first-team All-MIAA in each of his final three seasons. In 2007, Watkins helped lead the team to the NCAA II Playoffs for the second time in school history. Watkins would go on to be named the MIAA and Daktronics regional Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 following a stellar senior season. He was also a first team All-America selection by the American Football Coaches Association in 2009 and a second team selection by Daktronics. In addition, Watkins was a three-time All-American selection by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Following his playing career at Washburn, Watkins was invited to the Minnesota Vikings mini-camp in 2010 before going into coaching. In the summer of 2011, Watkins played for Team USA in the IFAF World Championship and helped the USA defend its world title by defeating Canada in the Gold Medal Game. He was a first team all-tournament selection in the event. His accolades go beyond the field as well as Watkins was a three-time selection as both Academic all-MIAA and as an MIAA Scholar Athlete. He was also an ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2008 and a Ken B. Jones MIAA Student-Athlete of the Year Award finalist in 2010. Watkins, a native of Independence, Mo., graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Business Management from Washburn University in December of 2009 and completed his master’s degree in sports administration at Fort Hays State University in 2013.  Watkins and his wife Amanda, have two children, a son, Parker and a daughter, Naomi.

Luke joined the Washburn Ichabod coaching staff on Jan. 17, 2011 returning to Washburn after serving three seasons at Northwood University and is entering his fifth season as the Ichabods co-defensive coordinator while working with the defensive line in 2014.  While at Washburn he has coached 10 defensive lineman who have gone on to earn all-MIAA honors and two who have received all-region honors. In his four seasons as the Ichabod defensive coordinator, 23 defensive players have received all-MIAA accolades while four have received all-region honors with an additional two going on to receive all-American honors. Prior to working at Northwood he spent the 2006-08 seasons at Washburn as a graduate assistant coach obtaining his masters degree in administration. He received his undergraduate degree from Clarion University in 2005. In his three seasons on the Northwood coaching staff, he coached the running backs for one season and the defensive line in his final two seasons. In 2009 he coached two all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference selections and in 2010 one defensive lineman was named all-conference.  Luke graduated from Clarion University in Pennsylvania with a degree in management. He was a three-year starter at inside linebacker playing for his father Malen. He was an all-conference nominee as a senior after recording 39 tackles including 15 solo stops with eight tackles for loss and three sacks with an interception. Luke and his wife Stephanie live in Topeka with their son Kellan. Brock Luke Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Brock Luke joined the Washburn Ichabod coaching staff on Jan. 17, 2011 returning to Washburn after serving three seasons at Northwood University and is entering his fifth season as the Ichabods co-defensive coordinator while working with the defensive line in 2014.  While at Washburn he has coached 10 defensive lineman who have gone on to earn all-MIAA honors and two who have received all-region honors. In his four seasons as the Ichabod defensive coordinator, 23 defensive players have received all-MIAA accolades while four have received all-region honors with an additional two going on to receive all-American honors. Prior to working at Northwood he spent the 2006-08 seasons at Washburn as a graduate assistant coach obtaining his masters degree in administration. He received his undergraduate degree from Clarion University in 2005. In his three seasons on the Northwood coaching staff, he coached the running backs for one season and the defensive line in his final two seasons. In 2009 he coached two all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference selections and in 2010 one defensive lineman was named all-conference.  Luke graduated from Clarion University in Pennsylvania with a degree in management. He was a three-year starter at inside linebacker playing for his father Malen. He was an all-conference nominee as a senior after recording 39 tackles including 15 solo stops with eight tackles for loss and three sacks with an interception. Luke and his wife Stephanie live in Topeka with their son Kellan.

Demonte Hood is in his first season on the Ichabod coaching staff and will be coaching the defensive line.  Hood spent the four seasons at Joshua High School in Arlington, Texas coaching the defensive line helping to develop multiple first-team all-district and all-county award winners. Hood started his collegiate career at Kansas State where he played in 20 games recording 27 tackles on the defensive line with three tackles for loss and two sacks. He finished his career at North Texas playing in 13 games tallying 12 tackles and two tackles for loss. He is a native of Houston, Texas.

Osborn is in his fifth season as a full-time assistant after spending the previous two as a graduate assistant coach working with wide receivers. Overall Osborn is in his 10th season on the Ichabod sidelines after spending his first three seasons as a volunteer student assistant working with quarterbacks.  In 2010, he helped coach Joe Hastings to a school record 1,546 yards and 87 receptions snapping records which were more than 20 years old. Hastings was an All-American pick for the Ichabods. Osborn has helped six Ichabod wide receivers garner all-MIAA honors and three quarterbacks receive all-MIAA honors. Osborn played quarterback at Highland Community College for two seasons graduating in 2004. He enrolled at Washburn in the fall of 2005. The Topeka native was a two-year starter at quarterback for Topeka High. Osborn graduated in 2009 with his degree in history. Osborn has taken classes toward his masters degree in administration. Josh Osborn Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers / Recruiting Coordinator Josh Osborn is in his fifth season as a full-time assistant after spending the previous two as a graduate assistant coach working with wide receivers. Overall Osborn is in his 10th season on the Ichabod sidelines after spending his first three seasons as a volunteer student assistant working with quarterbacks.  In 2010, he helped coach Joe Hastings to a school record 1,546 yards and 87 receptions snapping records which were more than 20 years old. Hastings was an All-American pick for the Ichabods. Osborn has helped six Ichabod wide receivers garner all-MIAA honors and three quarterbacks receive all-MIAA honors. Osborn played quarterback at Highland Community College for two seasons graduating in 2004. He enrolled at Washburn in the fall of 2005. The Topeka native was a two-year starter at quarterback for Topeka High. Osborn graduated in 2009 with his degree in history. Osborn has taken classes toward his masters degree in administration.

Kamble Haverkamp joined the Ichabod coaching staff after graduation in Dec. of 2025 after a four-year career as a member of the Ichabods. Haverkamp played in 28 games recording 109 tackles with four interceptions and four fumble recovers earning all-MIAA first team honors as a senior as well as D2CCA All-Region Second Team accolades. Academically he was a four--time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and was a second team Academic All-America® selection by the College Sports Communicators. As a senior he started all 11 games at safety making 76 tackles with 56 of them being solo stops adding 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Prior to joining the Ichabods, he transfer from Kansas State where he redshirted. His senior season in high school he was an all-state selection at quarterback and was named the Class 1A Player of the Year earning All-Class Top 11 honors while earning first team all-league honors at quarterback, defensive back and punt returner and all-state honors at quarterback and defensive back. He was also an all-state and all-league selection in basketball his senior season earning all-state honors at defensive back as a junior along with all-league honors at quarterback, defensive back and punt returner and all-state honorable mention honors in basketball.  He graduated from Washburn in December 2026 with his degree in kinesiology and he is working on his master's degree in communication and leadership at Washburn. He lives in Topeka with his wife, Macy.

Cody Clemmensen joined the Ichabod coaching staff in the spring of 2026 after spending the 2025 season at Henderson State as the graduate assistant coach for tight ends in 2025.  Starting his coaching career as a middle school football coach in Virginia, Clemmensen joined Division I James Madison as a videographer in August 2020. The following year, he served as a student coaching assistant for the Dukes’ offense. After graduation, Clemmensen spent three seasons as an assistant high school football coach. In 2024, he also took on the role of tight ends coach at Division II McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois. Clemmensen earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Recreation Management from James Madison University in December 2021.

Josh Flaminio is in his first season on the Ichabod coaching staff after spending the previous two seasons at the University of Kansas as a recruiting and scouting intern. His final season on the KU coaching staff, he was promoted to the defensive intern supervisor working full time for the director of scouting leading a group of part time staff helping the Jayhawks' recruiting efforts. The St. Paul, Minnesota native graduated from Kansas in 2026 with his bachelor's degree in sport management with a minor in business.

Alex Hammersley is in his first season on the Ichabod coaching staff and he will help with the defensive backs. Hammersley played collegiately at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.  He is a certified public account working at Carlson Financial and he graduated from Christopher Newport with his degree in accounting and business management in 2019 and his master's degree in accounting from William and Mary in 2020. Hammersley lives in Topeka with his wife, Rachel and their two sons.

Nelson Vazquez is in his second season as a member of the Ichabod coaching staff and he will coach the wide receivers after a successful five-year run at New Mexico Military Institute. He was initially the wide receivers coach before being elevated to the position of passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In the summer of 2024, Vazquez was selected from a pool of more than 1,500 applicants to participate in the NFL team's National Coaching Academy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he gained on-field experience, had interactive sessions, learned business insights, had media training, learning film review, and instruction on key football software with NFL players, coaches and staff. The Broncos captured the NJCAA Division I national championship in 2021 with a 31-13 win over Iowa Western to mark the program's first national title. NMMI had the nation's best rushing attack, compiling 3,746 yards along with 41 touchdowns on the ground and Vazquez helped complement that potent rushing attack with a passing game that put up 1,879 yards and 23 touchdowns. NMMI's offense finished second in total yardage with 5,625 yards and led the nation in scoring with 526 points, 40.5 per game. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, NMMI recorded top-five passing offenses in the junior college rankings. He also mentored Kobe Muasaw to All-American honors after passing for 2,824 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Tampa, Florida, native has been coaching since 2015, first as wide receivers coach at his alma mater Plant High in Tampa before moving on to nearby Wesley Chapel High, where he coached wideouts and coordinated the offense. Vazquez was a wide receiver at Plant and helped guide the Panthers to a 14-1 campaign and a state championship in 2008. He later attended Mendocino College in Ukiah, Calif., where he appeared in nine games as a sophomore in 2010, catching 32 passes for 517 yards and eight touchdowns earning an All-American Bowl invite. Later, he ran track and played football at Fort Hays State University earning all-MIAA honors in the 100m as a senior. Nelson graduated from FHSU with a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies in 2014 and was a student-athlete on the FHSU Football and Track and Field teams. Vazquez and his wife Gabrielle have two daughters, Kennedy and Emery.

Ross Sharp is in his second season on the Ichabod coaching staff as the director of player personnel after spending the previous six years as an assistant coach at Oak Park High School in North Kansas City also serving as an Assistant Athletic Director. In his time on the Oak Park coaching staff, he served as a co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach and defensive backs coach. He helped lead Oak Park to its best record in more than 20 years in 2024 including an 11-1 mark with a conference and district championship. Prior to joining Oak Park, Sharp was at Northwest Missouri serving multiple roles including the tight ends coach at as a graduate assistant then moving into the director of player personnel leading recruiting efforts leading to two Bearcat NCAA National Championships. Before coaching in Maryville, Sharp worked at the University of Missouri where he worked with the tight ends and the recruiting staff helping Mizzou land the No. 1 recruit in the nation as the Tigers moved from the Big 12 to the SEC. As a member of various collegiate coaching staffs, he has been part of two NCAA Championships, three MIAA titles, the AFCA D2 Coaching staff of the Year, the Southeastern Conference East Championship, the Cotton Bowl Championship, and the Independence Bowl Championship.

Kellen Simoncic is in his second season as an assistant coach at Washburn returning after spending the 2024 season a the University of Missouri on the Tigers' coaching staff. In his first season on the Ichabod coaching staff, he mentored Henry Mohrmann to honorable mention all-MIAA honors. Simoncic was a five-year member of the Ichabods from 2019 to 2023 making 12 starts appearing in 18 games. In the class room he was a five-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and passed for 3,127 yards and 32 touchdowns as the Ichabod signal caller. Simoncic was on the roster at Kansas State for the 2024 spring season before medically retiring with a shoulder injury. As a junior at Washburn, Simoncic appeared in two games before missing the remainder of the season with an injury. As a sophomore he was an honorable mention all-MIAA selection after passing for 2,354 yards completing 195 of 312 passes with 25 touchdowns passing for a school-record tying six touchdowns against Central Missouri passing for at least 300 yards four times in nine appearances breaking the Ichabod record for single-game completions with 35 against Emporia State in 48 attempts passing for a career-high 334 yards adding four touchdowns. As a redshirt freshman, he started in one game and appeared in seven throwing for 525 yards going 42 of 81 passing and six touchdowns. The Smithville, Mo. native was an all-state, first team all-district and first-team all-league quarterback after passing for 2,414 yards completing 176 of 292 passes with 28 touchdowns as a senior and was also named the KMZU 4A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior as well as a finalist for the Fontana Award for the small class player of the year in the metro area finishing career with 4,745 passing yards with 48 touchdowns going 29-7 as a three-year starter for the Warriors. Simconcic graduated in 2023 with his business degree from Washburn and lives in Topeka with his wife, Erica.

Tyce Brown is in his second season as a member of the Ichabod coaching staff after wrapping up his playing career in the 2024 season at Washburn after playing five seasons for the Ichabods. In his first season at Washburn, he coach all-MIAA running back Ky Thomas.  As an Ichabod, Brown appeared in 42 games making 13 starts recording 69 receptions for 820 yards and five touchdowns and was a five-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.  As a senior, he appeared in 11 games with two starts making eight catches for 122 yards. His junior season he started all 11 games recording 31 catches for 351 yards averaging 11.3 per catch scoring three touchdowns. As a sophomore, he played in 10 games recording 23 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns averaging 10.9 yards per catch and he played in 10 games as a freshman recording seven receptions for 97 yards. He joined the Ichabods for the 2020 season which was canceled because of COVID-19 after playing baseball at Xavier. The Topeka native and Shawnee Heights High School graduate was a first team all-league safety and a second team all-league pick on offensive and as a returner and a all-city top 11 selection his senior season and a first team all-league pick and picked up UCK player of the year as a senior in baseball earning first team all-state, all-city and all-league honors He graduated from Washburn in 2024 with his degree in physical education.

Reese Holaday joined the Ichabod coaching staff prior to the summer workouts in 2026 after wrapping up his player career at Baker and will server as a graduate assistant coach as a defensive analyst for the Ichabods. Holaday is a 2021 graduate from Holton High School where he played football, basketball and golf. Holaday graduated with with bachelor's degree in sports administration and data analytics in 2025 and he is pursuing his master's degree in communication and leadership at Washburn.

One of the most highly-decorated players in Ichabod history returns to the sidelines for his seventh full-time season on the Ichabod coaching staff moving into the role of offensive coordinator starting in the 2025 season.  Prior to joining the Ichbaods he spent four seasons at Northeastern State with the final three as the offensive coordinator helping the RiverHawks to NCAA era records in its passing game in 2016 with Diminic McKinzy breaking season marks in passing yards and touchdown passes. Simoneau spent his first three seasons on coaching the offensive line and the last two as the quarterbacks coach, which he will continue to work with in 2025. In three seasons as the offensive line coach, Simoneau has helped six offensive line earn all-MIAA honors while three more picked up all-region accolades and two added All-American honors. Simoneau served as a graduate assistant coach at Washburn from 2012-13, coaching both the quarterbacks and tight ends. Simoneau played for the Ichabods from 2007-11, where he started 42 of 43 games and recorded the most proficient passing career in Washburn history. The five-time consensus All-American finished his senior season second in Harlon Hill voting with school records of 4,089 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also earned the MIAA’s Offensive Player of the Year as well as regional player of the year honors. Simoneau finished his collegiate career 12th in NCAA Division II history with 11,291 yards passing and 15th on the all-time charts with 102 passing touchdowns. He left school with 35 Ichabod career, season and single-game records, including the top three passing seasons in school history. Simoneau was also a four-year starter on the Ichabod baseball team where he finished his career first in all-time doubles, fourth in at bats, sixth in RBI, and 10th in hits earning all-MIAA honors as a senior at shortstop.  He served as the offensive coordinator and also played for the Salina Bombers of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League from 2012-13. He led the 2013 squad to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Champions Bowl. He was also named the 2013 CPIFL Offensive MVP. Simoneau was inducted into the Washburn Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022 and into the MIAA Hall of Fame and the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame in the summer of 2025. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in kinesiology from Washburn in 2013. Simoneau and his wife Morgan, have two children, a daughter, Maddie and a son, Quinn.

Kaleb Koch returned to his alma mater starting the 2025 spring semester after a successful nine-year run at Benedictine College, where he served as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator since 2021 and was named the assistant head coach helping guide the Ravens to an 11-3 record, the Heart of America Championship and the NAIA National Semifinals in 2024. In his first season back on the Ichabod sidelines in 2025, four Ichabods earned all-MIAA honors, including all-region selection, Kamble Haverkamp. He also coached J.C. Heim who led the MIAA in tackles at linebacker finishing second in the nation in total stops. The Ichabod defensive unit was sixth in the nation in fumbles recovered and led the MIAA with 13. The Ichabods were also 14th the nation in interceptions with 14. Against Central Missouri, the Ichabods recorded six interceptions and forced two more fumbles as the Washburn scored 30 points off of Mule turnovers. Koch joined the Benedictine Football coaching staff in 2016. He served as the outside linebackers coach (2016-18), special teams coordinator and linebackers coach (2019-20) and became the defensive coordinator in 2021. He was named the Heart Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022. In two seasons, Koch's defenses ranked third in the NAIA in takeaways, fourth in the NAIA in sacks, and allowed just 16 points per game in 2022. In 2023, his defense was second in the Heart (16th in the NAIA) in takeaways, fourth in the NAIA in total sacks and second in the sacks per game. Second in the Heart in scoring defense at 18 points per game and second in the Heart in rushing defense. In 2024, his defense ranked second in the NAIA in interceptions with 24, second in sacks with 42, ninth in fumbles recovered and fifth in defensive touchdowns. Koch graduated from Washburn University in 2012 with a degree in Physical Education. While an Ichabod he played both outside linebacker and free safety. He began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant at Washburn. Koch started out on the defensive side of the ball, coaching the defensive line from 2012 to 2013. From there, he spent the next three seasons coaching on the offensive side, working with tight ends and fullbacks. Koch moved to running backs coach in the spring of 2016. During his time at Washburn he coached three all-MIAA players. Koch and his wife Alyssa have two sons, Colsen and Zander.

Travis Britz is in his second season as a member of the Ichabod coaching staff after three seasons on the coaching staff at Oklahoma State as a coach on the defensive line. Prior to joining the Cowboys staff, he spent two seasons at Abilene Christian coaching the defensive line. Britz was a four-year letterwinner and team captain in 2015, a three-time All-Big 12 performer at Kansas State, and a two-year graduate assistant coach, starting in the 2017 season as a defensive graduate assistant for K-State. Britz, who played in 47 games with 36 starts over his career, helped the Wildcats accumulate a 34-18 record and win the 2012 Big 12 Championship, while K-State advanced to four bowl games. He totaled 111 career tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in addition to nine pass breakups. Britz earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2015 when he totaled career highs in tackles (41), TFLs (11.0) and sacks (4.0). His TFL total was the most by a Wildcat interior defensive lineman since 2000. He was also a valuable member of the special teams as he blocked four kicks in 2013 and another in 2014 to tie the K-State career record. Britz, who graduated from K-State in 2017 with a bachelor’s of science degree in secondary education and his master’s of science from K-State in academic advising in 2019. The Harrisonville, Mo. native was rated the No. 20 player in the state by Rivals.com. Britz and his wife, Erin, have two daughters, Delaney and Noelle.

Julian Mendez is in his second season as a member of the Ichabod coaching staff after spending a season at William Woods as the head coach helping to build the program from scratch. Mendez brings 14 years of coaching experience at different levels of college (NAIA, NJCAA, NCAA Division II) and high school (Class 6A Texas High School), including serving as an Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. In his first season on the Ichabod coaching staff he helped Jakobe Harmon and Nick Hogan to all-MIAA honors on the offensive line. Prior to going to William Woods, Mendez served as the Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Odessa (Texas) High School, one of the most powerful high school programs in the country in the famed Class 6A division in Texas, responsible for coordinating and implementing offensive game plans and recruiting visits from college coaches for Odessa.  Previously, Mendez served as Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Ottawa (Kansas) University from 2019-22, where he was involved in every aspect of the football program, including preparing and implementing offensive game plans; coordinating recruiting; coordinating academics; overseeing eligibility; and personally recruiting players in junior colleges in California and Iowa and high school players in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Additional experience includes serving as offensive line coach and travel coordinator at MIAA foe Northeastern State University (2015-18); Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach at Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College (2013-14) and as a graduate assistant/offensive line coach at Ottawa (2011-12) Mendez is a graduate of Ottawa University, earning his Master's in Education in 2013 and Bachelor's in Recreation and Sports Administration in 2010. As a player, he was a two-year letter winner at both Ottawa and Southwestern (California) Community College, where he earned first-team All-Conference honors as an offensive tackle in 2009. He is married to Samantha Mendez.