Central College Athletics

Football helmet

Central College coaching staff

First row (left to right): Betsy Roe , Tracy Paulsen, Steph Anderson, Emily McMartin, Caroline McMartin, Brenda Jones, Liz Evans, Betty Bollard.
Second row: Caitlyn Roe, Dr. David Roe, Caleigh Roe, Tess Paulsen, Matt Paulsen, Jake Anderson, Laurie McMartin, Eric Jones, Reid Evans, McKenna Evans, Jeff Bollard.
Third row: Don De Waard, Jean De Waard, Jerry Southmayd, Lori Southmayd, Jeff McMartin, Sherma Brand, Darrell Brand, Barb Bowzer, Dick Bowzer
Fourth row: Jay Sikkink, Drew Sikkink, Mike De Waard, Jameson Rosien, Dan Krull, Anna Bates, Tim Bates, Zeb Birchette, Kevin Sanger, Travis Sterling, Jeff Sanger, Joel Wissler.

Jeff McMartin, head coach
AFCA Div. III regional coach of the year (2007)
Iowa Conf. coach of the year (2005, 2006, 2007)

Jeff McMartin rocketed his alma mater back to the top, winning or sharing three Iowa Conference titles and earning three straight NCAA Division III playoff berths.

After four years at Central, McMartin has posted a glossy 37-8 record (.822). He's a three-time conference coach of the year (2005, 2006, 2007) and was named a AFCA Division III regional coach of the year in 2007. From 2005-07, his team has recorded a 29-1 mark with 27 consecutive regular-season victories, with back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 2006 and 2007.

McMartin, who also serves as the team's quarterback's coach, has been a part of one of the nation's most tradition-rich college football programs as a player and student assistant and now head coach. The 2007 league title was Central's 29th and the school's 98 NCAA Division III playoff berths match the most in the nation. Central hasn't had a losing football season since 1960.

Jeff McMartin Named as one of 10 “hot” coaches and “primed for success” in the NCAA Division III by American Football Monthly in 2005, McMartin also gained extensive coaching experience at other schools for 13 years, coaching nearly every position.

Prior to returning to Central, McMartin was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at DePauw University ( Ind.). During his four years there, DePauw broke several school offensive records.

From 1995-2000, he served as offensive line coach at Beloit College (Wis.) where he also worked with special teams. From 1994-95 he was the defensive line coach at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and was defensive line coach at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1992-94. He was a graduate assistant at Wake Forest from 1990-92.

McMartin graduated from Central in 1990 with a bachelor's of arts degree in physical education. He earned his master's degree in liberal studies from Wake Forest University (N.C.) in 1992.

Jeff McMartin While at Central, McMartin served as a student coach under hall of fame coach Ron Schipper for two seasons after a career-ending injury. He was also a student coach at Oskaloosa High School in 1987.

McMartin is also a veteran track and field coach. He was head men's and women's coach at Beloit from 1995-2000 and interim head coach at Illinois Wesleyan in 1994. McMartin was also an assistant at De Pauw from 2000-03, at Rochester from 1994-95 and at Illinois Wesleyan in 1994.

McMartin's wife Laurie is also a 1990 graduate of Central and they have two children.

E-mail: mcmartinj@central.edu
Office phone: (641) 628-7609
Toll-free admission phone: (877) 462-3687

U.S. mail:
Central College
812 University Street
Pella, IA 50219

Jeff Bollard, tight ends

Jeff Bollard is in his 22nd season as an assistant football coach at Central and is in his third year working with the tight ends. A native of Pocahontas and a 1989 Central graduate, Bollard is an independent computer consultant and programmer. He is also a commercial pilot flight instructor. Bollard and his wife Betty have two children.

Dick Bowzer, quarterbacks/receivers

The dean of Iowa Conference assistant coaches, now in his 40th year at Central, Dick Bowzer returns to the staff after a one year sabbatical for 2006-07. Bowzer was a long-time offensive coordinator for the Dutch and now helps with quarterbacks and receivers Bowzer is a 1966 graduate of Central where he played end and earned 11 letters in football, basketball and tennis. A Jackson, Mich. native, Bowzer completed his master's degree at Michigan State University and is an associate professor of exercise science. He also served as assistant men's basketball coach for 10 years.

E-mail: bowzerr@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5141

Darrell Brand, kicking coach

In his 11th season as an assistant coach, Darrell Brand works with the kickers. Brand, a 1959 Central graduate, is a veteran high school coach. He was head football coach at Montezuma High School from 1969-95 and served as the school's principal and athletic director from 1973-96. He previously taught and coached at Harmony High School in Farmington and at Prairie City High School . Brand has also coached boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' track, baseball and softball and has served as an umpire, teacher and guidance counselor.

Brand was inducted into of the Iowa High School Football Coaches' Association Hall of Fame in 1995 and in 2001 his name was added to the Drake Relays Wall of Honor for his service as an official there.

Brand and his wife Sherma have one child.

Feature article on coach Darrell Brand

Phone: (641) 628-5226

Don De Waard, defensive coordinator/linebackers

Don De Waard is in his 25th year as linebacker coach and also serves as defensive coordinator. He is a 1982 Central graduate and former Dutch player.

In 2000, the American Football Coaches Association named De Waard the Div. III Assistant Coach of the Year. He was honored at the AFCA convention in Atlanta, Ga. in January, 2001.
Don De Waard
A native of Kanawha, he is a certified public accountant and also serves as president of the Molengracht, a $15-million downtown development project in Pella. De Waard and his wife Jean have four children.

E-mail: dewaardd@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5226

Reid Evans, offensive line

Reid Evans is in his seventh season as an assistant coach and his fourth year as a full-time member of the Central staff, working with the offensive line. A 2001 Central graduate, Evans was a four-time varsity letterwinner and a two-time first-team all-Iowa Conference center for the Dutch. The Newton, Iowa native was a third-team pick for the 2000 Hewlett-Packard all-America team and participated with a team of Div. III all-stars in the 2000 Aztec Bowl in Mexico.

Evans was also a four-time track and field letterwinner, winning conference titles in the shot put and discus and qualifying for the NCAA Div. III national meet in those events.

Following graduation, Evans played and coached football for the Franken Timberwolves in Nuremburg, Germany in 2001. A former co-owner and vice-president of DSI Data Services, Evans also serves in Central's marketing and media relations office as Marketing Web Programmer.

E-mail: evansr@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5421

Eric Jones, defensive line

Eric Jones is in his 10th season on the Central staff, returning in 2006 after a three-year absence. Jones previously coached the offensive line and tight ends and also spent a season as the team's offensive coordinator. He is in his second season as defensive line coach.

A 1987 Central graduate, Jones was an offensive guard for the Dutch. He received his master's degree in counseling education from Iowa State University.

Jones taught and coached in Shelbina, Mo. and was an at-risk coordinator and assistant coach at Pella High School. He previously served as assistant director of admission at Central while also working with the college's retention program and in several capacities in the student life office.

In 2002, Jones received a Central Presidential Service Standards Award for his work at the College.

From 2003-06 Jones spent three years as dean of students at Waukee High School before returning to Central as a counselor in the student life office.

E-mail: jonese@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5248

Matt Paulsen, defensive backs

Matt Paulsen is in his 10th season as an assistant coach, working with the defensive secondary. A 1997 Central graduate, Paulsen was an all-American defensive back for the Dutch and a four-time letterwinner. He was a three-time all-Iowa Conference selection, the 1997 team MVP, and holds the school career interceptions record (18). He spent the summer of 1999 playing for a club team in Germany. A Waverly-Shell Rock High School graduate, Paulsen was raised on a farm near Plainfield, Iowa and is a two-time selection to the All-American Farm team named by Successful Farming magazine. He is employed by Heritage Lace, Inc.

Phone: (641) 628-5226

Zach Pfantz, defensive assistant

Zach Pfantz is entering his first season on the Central staff. Pfantz, who also serves as an admission representative/football recruitment coordinator, will be a defensive assistant coach for the Dutch. He served as an assistant at Coe College for three seasons before taking over as head coach at Akron-Westfield High School in 2007. He inherited a squad in the midst of a 21-game losing streak and piloted the team to a 5-4 record. Pfantz was named Class 1A District 1 coach of the year.

A former all-Iowa Conference linebacker and captain at Coe College, Pfantz was a four-year letterwinner for the Kohawks, helping lead the squad to a share of the 2002 league title and an NCAA Division III playoff berth. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Coe in 2004 and a master’s degree in education in 2007.

Originally from Melbourne, Iowa, Pfantz was named team MVP and captain for the 1999 Class 1A state champions at West Marshall High School. He was a first-team all-state honoree as a linebacker and an all-district selection at running back.

In 2004 Pfantz coached running backs at Coe before working with the defensive line in 2005-06. He was co-head coach and defensive coordinator for the Coe junior varsity squad as well and helped the Kohawks win a share of the 2004 and 2005 league crowns.

E-mail: pfantzz@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5661

Jeff Sanger, stingers

Jeff Sanger is in his fifth season as an assistant coach at Central, working with the stinger position on defense.

Sanger, a 2001 Central graduate, was a two-time all-America selection, a two-time Schilder team MVP award winner and a three-time all-Iowa Conference pick as a linebacker. He also was chosen as a Central team co-captain for two seasons.
Jeff Sanger
The Britt, Iowa native set the school freshman-season tackles record in 1997 with 111 and racked up 375 stops in his career.

Sanger also serves as a staff accountant at Central.

E-mail: sangerj@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5161

Kevin Sanger, receivers-special teams

Kevin Sanger is in his 14th season as assistant coach and his second year working with receivers after 12 years as defensive line coach. He continues as special teams coordinator as well.

He also serves as head men's and women's track and field coach, and was named the Iowa Conference men's coach of the year in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004. He was tabbed the NCAA Div. III indoor Kevin Sanger regional coach of the year in 1999 and won outdoor honors in 2004. A four-year letterwinner in both track and football at Central, Sanger graduated in 1993. He received a master's degree from Iowa State University.

In 2001, Sanger received a Central Presidential Service Standards Award for his work at the college.

E-mail: sangerk@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-7603

Drew Sikkink, offensive line

Drew Sikkink is in his first season as an assistant football coach at Central, working with the offensive line.

An Urbandale native, Sikkink is a 2006 Central graduate and played offensive line for the Dutch, receiving the P.H. Kuyper Award in 2005. He was a recruiting intern in spring, 2006. Sikkink also serves as a residence hall director.

E-mail: sikkinka@central.edu
Phone: (641) 628-5800

Jerry Southmayd, running backs

High school hall of famer Jerry Southmayd is in his sixth season as assistant coach, working with the running backs after two seasons as quarterbacks coach.

Southmayd served as head football coach at Wapsie Valley High School from 1969-2001, Southmayd posted a 241-83 record including 18 playoff appearances and three state titles in 1986, 1987, and 1997. He was enshrined in the Iowa Football Coaches Association's hall of fame in 1990 and served as a Shrine Bowl all-star game coach in 1992. He was named the Des Moines Register's state coach of the year in 1987 and was the IFCA Class IA coach of the year in Jerry Southmayd 1997. Southmayd was also a math instructor at Wapsie Valley and was the school's athletic director for two years. He served as head golf coach for 10 years, and was an assistant basketball and wrestling coach.

He served on the IFCA's board of directors for six years and chaired the group's ethics committee for six years.

A graduate of Yankton College (S.D.), Southmayd received a master's degree in physical education from the University of South Dakota and a secondary administration endorsement from the University of Northern Iowa.

A high school baseball umpire, Southmayd has been a counselor and activities director for the American Legion's Boys' State program for 28 years.

E-mail: southmaydj@central.edu

Travis Sterling, player development

Travis Sterling is in his 10th season on the Central football staff and his fourth year as the player development assistant, coordinating the team's leadership program.

For six seasons, Sterling assisted with the team's strength and conditioning program. A 1993 Central graduate, Sterling was a first-team all-Iowa Conference offensive guard and was a two-time CoSIDA academic all-district selection. The Pekin, Iowa native spent a year in graduate school at Iowa State University studying biomechanics before completing requirements for a master's degree in physical therapy at the University of Iowa.

Sterling is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and operates Sterling Physical Therapy, P.C. in Pella. He previously supervised a clinical sports medicine program in the physical therapy department at a local hospital and headed the orthopaedic and sports physical therapy program for an area health club.

In 2004, Sterling became one of just 30 Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialists in Iowa and was honored for this achievement in 2005 at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections meeting in New Orleans , La.

Sterling was named to the "Best in the U.S. " list. The list seeks to identify the top three percent of physical therapists in the country and serves as a public reference source for individuals choosing health care.

E-mail: sterlingt@central.edu

COACH RON SCHIPPER

The architect of the Central football tradition was coach Ron Schipper (1928-2006). One of the winningest coaches in college football history, Schipper was the Dutch head coach from 1961-96, leading his teams to 18 Iowa Conference championships.
more on Coach Ron Schipper

Student assistants

Zeb Birchette, defensive line

Jay Sikkink, wide receivers

Dan Krull, linebackers

Mike De Waard, offensive line/video

Jameson Rosien, quarterbacks

Central College Football