Randy Ball and Tom Lichtenberg, who have a combined 39 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 25 years as college head coaches, have joined the Drake University football staff.
New Drake head football coach Steve Loney also disclosed that Matt Jeter has been promoted to defensive coordinator.
This will mark the third time Lichtenberg and Loney have been on the same coaching staff.
Loney was a graduate assistant at Iowa State in 1974 during the same time Lichtenberg served as assistant football coach under Earle Bruce. Loney served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Morehead State, under Lichtenberg in 1979-80.
Lichtenberg, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, brings 23 years of collegiate coaching experience to Drake, having served as head coach at Morehead State (1979-80), Maine (1989) and Ohio (1990-95). He also was an assistant coach at Ohio State under Earle Bruce. He also was offensive coordinator at Bowling Green in 2000 and served as an assistant coach with the Columbus (Ohio) Destroyers in the Arena Football League, under Earle Bruce, in 2004.
Ball posted a 98-83-1 record in 16 years as a head coach at Western Illinois (1990-98) and Missouri State (1999-2005)
The winningest coach in Western Illinois history with 64 victories, Ball was also the nation’s winningest I-AA coach from 1996 to 1998, taking the Fighting Leathernecks to three NCAA playoff appearances.. Ball’s WIU tenure was capped in 1998 when the Leathernecks recorded their best-ever I-AA finish, beating Montana and Florida A&M before losing at top-ranked, top-seeded and unbeaten Georgia Southern in the semifinal round. Western Illinois’ 31 wins were more than any other I-AA school from 1996 to 1998.
Jeter joined the Drake coaching staff in 2003, handling the defensive backs as well as serving as the recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs.
“Since my hiring, Matt Jeter has impressed me with his thoroughness and grasp of the challenges facing the Drake program during this time of transition,” said Loney. “It quickly became apparent to me that he has the respect of the players and is ready for the defensive leadership position on this staff. I am excited to watch his talents unfold.”