LINDSBORG, Kan. — The Bethany College Department of Athletics announced Monday that Mike Grossner has been named the next head football coach of the Bethany College Swedes Football Team. Grossner succeeds Interim Head Football Coach Vincent Grigsby, who stepped in to lead the Swedes this year.

“We want to extend a sincere thank you to Coach Vincent Grigsby for all of his work as our Interim Head Coach this season,” said Dean of Athletics Laura Moreno. “He stepped in and led with tremendous integrity and character; his passion, motivation, and ability to provide perspective is impressive. He brings tremendous value to Bethany College and Swedes Athletics, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with him.”

Mike Grossner has a decorated history when it comes to coaching football at the collegiate level. Grossner received his first head coaching job at Glendale Community College where he was a three-time Maricopa League Champion and Valley of the Sun Bowl participant. He was also voted the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Coach of the Year three times, as well as the Western States Football League (WSFL) Coach of the Year and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Coach of the Year one time each. Coach Grossner won the AFCA National Championship in 2000.

Mike Grossner received his next head coaching position at Baker University where he stayed for 15 years. During his time leading the Wildcats, Grossner led his teams to 12 winning seasons in a row, seven National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) playoff appearances, six Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) conference titles, and one NAIA national championship game appearance. Coach Grossner was also a three-time Coach of the Year winner for the conference and tallied a 28-game winning streak within the conference.

Before accepting the position to be the next head coach of Bethany College Football, Coach Grossner was the Head Football Coach for the Leicester Falcons; an American football team located in Leicester, England. During his time with the Falcons, Grossner finished the shortened 2021 season ranked #7 in the country which is the highest ranking ever achieved by the franchise. In 2022, the Falcons won their conference championship with an 11-1 record and finished as a national semifinalist.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mike Grossner back home to Bethany College,” said Laura Moreno. “Coach Grossner’s proven track record of recruitment, retention, persistence to graduation, on-field success, and fundraising efforts makes him a tremendous fit for Bethany College and Swedes Football. His experience combined with his vision for Bethany Football impressed our Search Committee. As a former football student-athlete at Bethany under Hall of Fame Coach Dr. Ted Kessinger, Coach Grossner experienced firsthand how to build and sustain a successful program and has taken that with him throughout his coaching career. His ability to build relationships with student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, administration, alumni, and supporters will provide an immediate positive impact for Bethany College and our student-athletes. We can’t wait to work with him as a Swede.”

Grossner graduated from Bethany College in 1988 with a degree in Health and Physical Education K-12 Teaching. He was a football student-athlete for the Swedes; playing for Bethany Hall of Fame Coach Dr. Ted Kessinger. While finishing his degree, Grossner was a student assistant coach for the varsity football team, led by Coach Kessinger, who finished that season 13-0. Mike Grossner received his master’s degree in Education-Counseling at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Grossner had this to say about the opportunity to coach at his alma mater: “I’m very honored and humbled to serve my alma mater as their Head Football Coach. I would like to thank President Mauch, Dr. Pryor, and the search committee for this dream opportunity for myself and our family. A special thanks to Laura Moreno and Keith Ferguson for their outstanding communication throughout the process. I look forward to meeting all the student-athletes in our program individually after Thanksgiving break.”

“Coach Kessinger has been such a big influence in my life,” Grossner continued. “I’m excited to pay it forward at the institution that gave me an opportunity to begin my coaching career 34 years ago. I look forward to meeting all who are on campus and in the Lindsborg community. Thank you!”

See also:

–KCAC–