The Buena Vista University football team is set to open its 2022 fall camp today and with that, Head Coach Grant Mollring is pleased to announce the hiring of Tom Rethman, Tony Harper, and Stephan Sandford as part-time coaches to round out his staff.
“We are excited to add three outstanding coaches to our staff this year in multiple roles,” says Mollring. “Coach Sanford and Coach Rethman will be taking on roles as position coaches for us at some places of need and our program will benefit greatly from having them available at practice and on gamedays. Coach Harper will be assisting us through some portions of camp and will be involved throughout the season in a consultant role both with our defense and program operations.”
Rethman spent nine seasons as head football coach at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City (2008-16) after serving as offensive coordinator for seven seasons at UW-Oshkosh. He’s also had coaching stints at Knox College, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University and Carroll University.
Harper, meanwhile, was head football coach at Hastings College in Hastings, Neb., for 10 seasons (2011-2020) and for three seasons as head football coach at Dakota Wesleyan University. Harper has also had coaching stints at Dana College, Doane University, and Grand Island Northwest High School.
“Coach Rethman and Coach Harper are both long-time head coaches in the GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference) and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff” adds Mollring. “I have known Coach Rethman for over 10 years now as someone who I have coached against and respected in the coaching world. While serving as the head coach at Hastings College for 10 years, Coach Harper hired me as his offensive coordinator and Coach Mandelko as his defensive coordinator in our time there. I am especially indebted to him for helping me prepare to be a head coach and am excited to get him back into coaching in this role with us.”
Sanford will be working as a defensive assistant. He has spent four seasons as an assistant at Storm Lake High School and played football at the collegiate level for Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. In addition to assisting with football, Sanford also serves as a volunteer coach within the BVU track & field program.
