January 17, 20078

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State University Director of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb has announced that head football coach Jeff Tesch has agreed to a four-year contract extension to keep him at the helm of the Beaver football program through the 2011 season.

"This commitment adds a tremendous amount of stability and security to our program and continues the legacy that coach Tesch has established here at BSU," commented Goeb. "We look forward to the four years that lay ahead."

In his 12 seasons with the Beavers, Tesch, the 1998 and 2006 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year, has accumulated an overall record of 78-51 (.602). His teams have posted seven or more wins in eight of the last nine seasons and account for 10 of the school's 29 winning campaigns. His 2006 squad matched a school record nine wins while posting a perfect 8-0 mark in league play to earn the team's first outright regular-season conference title in more than 40 years. To cap that momentous season, Tesch lead the Beavers to the first post-season appearance in school history as the team received a bid to participate in the Mineral Water Bowl.

During his tenure, Tesch has worked his way to the top of all the major coaching categories at BSU. With 129 games coached, he has patrolled the sidelines more than any of the 14 coaches to proceed him in the position. His .602 winning percentage is the best in BSU history. He has 58 victories in NSIC play to top the list at BSU and, maybe the most significant, October 30, 2004 he surpassed H.J. Erickson (1938-54) to become the winningest coach in BSU history--a record he stretches with every victory.

Tesch, the 15th mentor of a BSU program that got its start in 1928, grabbed the reigns of his first head coaching position prior to the 1996 season. Prior to his arrival at Bemidji State, Tesch had 15 years of collegiate coaching experience as an assistant coach with 12 of those coming at perennial NCAA Division II powerhouse University of North Dakota.

“I am excited to be at Bemidji State for an additional four years to build upon the success we have had and hopefully take it even farther,” Commented Tesch.

Tesch and his wife Susan reside in Bemidji with their daughter Tara and son Vincent.

Bemidji State in coming off a season in which it finished 7-4 overall and took fourth place with a 6-3 mark in NSIC play.

The team will open the 2008 schedule at Minot (N.D.) State Aug. 28 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

--bsu--