New BCU grid boss: Focus is on the here and now
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Briar Cliff University's new head football coach, Tom Rethman, is introduced at a press conference Wednesday. (Sioux City Journal/Jerry Mennenga)
Tom Rethman made it perfectly clear when he stepped to the podium to be introduced as the second head coach in the history of the Briar Cliff University football program: BCU is where he wants to be.
"One of the things I've noticed is the fact that this is an incredibly caring place," said Rethman, who was introduced by Briar Cliff athletic director Steve Gast at a press conference on Wednesday. "They definitely opened their doors and that's something I can appreciate.
"When we start talking about what drew me to this position and also what's going to draw athletes to come here is that it's a very open place and they're going to be able to feel comfortable about things."
The 37-year-old Rethman, a veteran of 17 seasons as an assistant coach, was hired by Briar Cliff on Jan. 25 but met the media for the first time on Wednesday. Rethman had served as offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh since 2001.
"What we're going to focus on is doing everything right, doing the things we need to make ourselves better," said Rethman. "I'm not interested in what happened here or where we're at right now. What I'm interested in is what we can become."
Dick Strittmatter, who started the BCU football program in 2001 and had a 12-41 record in five seasons, resigned in November following an 0-11 campaign.
"There's a lot to be said for going to a program that has tradition and been successful and being part of that tradition," said Rethman, an El Dorado, Kan., native and 1992 graduate of Knox College. "But there's an awful lot to be said for coming to a program and establishing that tradition.
"So when you're done and you finish up, you can be awfully proud of what you accomplished. Right now, what we're trying to stress to the players is to take care of what we need to do, go out and improve every day in practice. As long as we do that we'll be able to succeed and move forward."
Last season, Rethman's offense led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in fewest turnovers while ranking second in rushing offense and passing efficiency. Before Oshkosh, Rethman was the offensive coordinator at Carroll (Wis.) for two seasons and in one season helped the Pioneers improve from last in total offense and scoring offense to third in the Midwest Conference in both categories.
A four-year letterwinner at defensive back, Rethman spent one season as an assistant coach at Knox before serving as a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois. He completed his graduate studies at Illinois State, where he coached tight ends and punters for two seasons.
After earning his master's degree from Illinois State in 1996, Rethman returned to his alma mater to serve as offensive coordinator for three seasons.
Rethman's first Briar Cliff squad has completed five spring practices leading up to the spring game on Sunday, May 4.
"We're working on building our depth. We have 63 players right now, which I'm very happy with," said Rethman. "We definitely need to increase our numbers at certain positions and we have to do it immediately.
"We told the players you're going to start where you want to, but that might not be where you finish."
Briar Cliff is expected to return 15 starters this fall, five on offense and 10 on defense.
Ideally, Rethman said, he would like to incorporate a "west coast" offense, with a good balance of rushing and passing. Defensively, the Chargers will base out of a 4-4 set.
"We will adjust to what our personnel dictates," said Rethman. "I'm not going to be so stubborn in what we do that if we aren't going to be able to be successful at because we don't have the personnel to do it, we will make the adjustments we need to."
Rethman and his wife, Michelle, have four children, daughters Devin, Tara and Jenna, and son Garrett.
BCU athletic director Gast also announced that Beau Livingston, who was named interim head coach after Strittmatter resigned, has left the program. Livingston and his wife have moved to the Des Moines area. Kyle Langhoff has taken over Livingston's duties as defensive coordinator.
"One of the things I've noticed is the fact that this is an incredibly caring place," said Rethman, who was introduced by Briar Cliff athletic director Steve Gast at a press conference on Wednesday. "They definitely opened their doors and that's something I can appreciate.
"When we start talking about what drew me to this position and also what's going to draw athletes to come here is that it's a very open place and they're going to be able to feel comfortable about things."
The 37-year-old Rethman, a veteran of 17 seasons as an assistant coach, was hired by Briar Cliff on Jan. 25 but met the media for the first time on Wednesday. Rethman had served as offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh since 2001.
"What we're going to focus on is doing everything right, doing the things we need to make ourselves better," said Rethman. "I'm not interested in what happened here or where we're at right now. What I'm interested in is what we can become."
Dick Strittmatter, who started the BCU football program in 2001 and had a 12-41 record in five seasons, resigned in November following an 0-11 campaign.
"There's a lot to be said for going to a program that has tradition and been successful and being part of that tradition," said Rethman, an El Dorado, Kan., native and 1992 graduate of Knox College. "But there's an awful lot to be said for coming to a program and establishing that tradition.
"So when you're done and you finish up, you can be awfully proud of what you accomplished. Right now, what we're trying to stress to the players is to take care of what we need to do, go out and improve every day in practice. As long as we do that we'll be able to succeed and move forward."
Last season, Rethman's offense led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in fewest turnovers while ranking second in rushing offense and passing efficiency. Before Oshkosh, Rethman was the offensive coordinator at Carroll (Wis.) for two seasons and in one season helped the Pioneers improve from last in total offense and scoring offense to third in the Midwest Conference in both categories.
A four-year letterwinner at defensive back, Rethman spent one season as an assistant coach at Knox before serving as a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois. He completed his graduate studies at Illinois State, where he coached tight ends and punters for two seasons.
After earning his master's degree from Illinois State in 1996, Rethman returned to his alma mater to serve as offensive coordinator for three seasons.
Rethman's first Briar Cliff squad has completed five spring practices leading up to the spring game on Sunday, May 4.
"We're working on building our depth. We have 63 players right now, which I'm very happy with," said Rethman. "We definitely need to increase our numbers at certain positions and we have to do it immediately.
"We told the players you're going to start where you want to, but that might not be where you finish."
Briar Cliff is expected to return 15 starters this fall, five on offense and 10 on defense.
Ideally, Rethman said, he would like to incorporate a "west coast" offense, with a good balance of rushing and passing. Defensively, the Chargers will base out of a 4-4 set.
"We will adjust to what our personnel dictates," said Rethman. "I'm not going to be so stubborn in what we do that if we aren't going to be able to be successful at because we don't have the personnel to do it, we will make the adjustments we need to."
Rethman and his wife, Michelle, have four children, daughters Devin, Tara and Jenna, and son Garrett.
BCU athletic director Gast also announced that Beau Livingston, who was named interim head coach after Strittmatter resigned, has left the program. Livingston and his wife have moved to the Des Moines area. Kyle Langhoff has taken over Livingston's duties as defensive coordinator.
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