Midlands Notes: Coaches still expect big year at Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls has lost head football coach Kalen DeBoer and two of his assistants, but it likely won't lose its domination in the NAIA or the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

“For one year, I don't think it will have much of an effect,'' Morningside coach Steve Ryan said. “It will be mostly juniors and seniors who are playing. They'll be highly motivated to have one last great year in the NAIA.''

Sioux Falls will be moving to Division II after next season.

The Cougars will be going without DeBoer, who will take over the offensive coordinator position at Southern Illinois. Defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell and quarterbacks coach Kurtiss Riggs, also the head coach of the Sioux Falls Storm arena team, left in January. The trio won a national title in 1996 under legendary coach Bob Young.

DeBoer had a 67-3 record in five seasons. The Cougars won the GPAC title in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the NAIA crown in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Hastings College coach Paul Mierkiewicz said DeBoer's move took him by surprise. He said the Broncos play Sioux Falls in the fourth game of the season next fall, so he'll see quickly if there are any big changes.

“It's a pretty solid program,'' he said. “A team with a winning streak like they have is always going to be tough to beat.”

Cougar offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has been named the interim head coach and will be included in the list of candidates for the job. The school has received numerous applications.

Morningside's Ryan said it was a fantastic move for DeBoer after all he has accomplished at the NAIA level.

“I was hoping I could coach against him one more year,'' Ryan said. “I was hoping to get one more shot at him. Now it's not going to happen.''

Bulldog women's basketball is 25th

The Concordia women made the crucial jump from a team receiving votes to the 25th spot in the NAIA Division II rankings on Monday.

The Bulldogs, who went 1-1 last week, are 17-9 and 8-7 in the GPAC.

“If we're hoping to make the national tournament, we kind of have to be in that group,'' coach Drew Olson said.

Last year, three teams outside the Top 25 qualified. Olson would prefer not to go that route.

“It's pretty big to get up there,'' he said.

Updates

• Northwest Missouri State receiver Jake Soy was named the receiver of the year and Mel Tjeerdsma the coach of the year on Don Hansen's Football Gazette NCAA Division II All-America team.

Bearcat lineman Brett Grozinger, Chadron State kicker Travis Atter and University of Nebraska at Kearney center Jack Hiett also were on the first team. Hiett earned the Division II Rimington Award as the nation's top offensive center.

• Wayne State's Ashley Arlen has been named the Northern Sun player of the week for the second straight week and third time this season. The sophomore forward, who had 32 points on Saturday in a 75-46 win over Augustana, is averaging 23.7 points and 10.2 rebounds during the Wildcats' six-game win streak. Wayne State is 17-4 and sits second in the NSIC at 10-4.

• Wayne State's Christina King broke the 400-meter school record for the third time this season, running 55.81 seconds at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational to top her previous school mark of 57.50. She improved her national provisional qualifying mark that unofficially ranks as the top NCAA Division II time. Andy Jansen set a school record in the 400 (49.78) and the 600 (1:14.75).

• Bellevue University's loss to top-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday was its first in two months. The Bruins, who had won 16 straight games, are 19-7 overall and 7-1 in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference.

• Northwest Missouri State's Abby Henry hit a career high for the second straight game with 33 points in Saturday's 106-102 loss in double overtime to Pittsburg State. The Bellevue West graduate's previous high was 31 against University of Nebraska at Omaha last week.

Contact the writer:

444-1034, marjie.ducey@owh.com

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