Coaches

Head Coach Dr. Ted Kessinger

    Dr. Ted Kessinger has led the Bethany College Football program since 1976. In those 22 seasons, he has directed the Swedes to 14 Conference Championships and 12 National Championship Playoff Games. He is the winningest active football coach in the NAIA with an overall record of 179-41-1. Bethany College has not had a losing season under Coach Kessinger.
    Ted Kessinger earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education at Augustana College in South Dakota. He enjoyed a successful playing career while at Augustana, as well as professionally in the Canadian Football League. He went on to earn a Master of Education Degree and a Doctorate of Education Degree from the University of South Dakota.
     He began his coaching career at the University of South Dakota, directing the junior varsity program. "Coach K" joined the staff of Augustana College in Illinois during the time that Ken Anderson (former All-Pro quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals) was their quarterback.
     In 1969, Kessinger followed Coach Ralph Starenko from Augustana College in Illinois, to NCAA Division II Augustana College of South Dakota. "Coach K" was the Defensive Coordinator and also served as Recruiting Coordinator for two years. Other members of the staff included: Jim Walker, former Head Coach at the University of Minnesota; Don Morton, former Head Coach at the University of Wisconsin; Mike Daily, former Head Coach at South Dakota State University; and Roger Thomas, Head Coach at the University of North Dakota.
     Ted Kessinger describes Ralph Starenko as the man who deserves the credit for the success of all these coaches.  "He was a tremendous influence on our lives. His character and lifestyle have made a positive impact on all of our lives, which have greatly affected our careers."
 

Kessinger Team Records vs. KCAC Schools (through 1998 season)

Bethel College	21-2
Friends University	20-3
Kansas Wesleyan University	20-3
McPherson College	20-3
Ottawa University	16-5
Sterling College	20-3
Southwestern College	18-5
Tabor College	21-2
Total	156-26 (.857)

Offensive Coordinator Steve Barrows

   Steve Barrows has fourteen years of coaching experience from high school to Division I. Steve coached high school football in Eastern North Carolina for four seasons. Prior to Steve's appointment to Bethany College, he was on the staff at Ohio University, the University of Washington at Seattle, William Penn College, and The University of Minnesota at Morris.
   During Barrows tenure at William Penn College, his offense finished the season ranked #10 nationally in passing. Before coming to Bethany College, he served as defensive coordinator and interim Head Coach for The University of Minnesota at Morris.
   Steve's academic credentials are from Ohio University. He earned his Bachelors and Masters Degree in 1986 and 1989.
   In Steve's first season at Bethany, the Swede offense finished the year #1 nationally in total offense (517 ypg), passing offense (364 ypg), and scoring offense (48 ppg).
   He and his wife Jennifer have a daughter, Emma.

Defensive Coordinator Mike Waldie

   Mike Waldie is a graduate of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX, with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice.
   While at Sam Houston State, he played two years of collegiate baseball (NCAA D-I). He then transferred to Bethany, where he was an All-Conference and All-American Linebacker on the 1993 and 1994 Conference Champion teams.
   In his first season as defensive coordinator, The Swede defense was ranked #1 nationally in pass defense (98.1 ypg) and #1 in the KCAC in scoring defense (15.1 ppg).
   Coach Waldie is also heads the baseball program at Bethany. He and his wife Keri have a son, Brock.