Coach Profiles: Cody Robertson

Throughout the season we profiled each of our 14 senior players and now that we've entered the off-season, it's time to meet each member of our coaching staff. We'll spotlight one coach each week, proceeding, as we did with the seniors, in alphabetical order.

Next up is offensive line coach, Cody Robertson!


Name: Cody Robertson
Hometown: Lafayette, CO
Alma Mater: Colorado College
Family: Dad (Greg), Mom (Kathy Jo), Step-Dad (Andy)
Position/Title at Grinnell: Assistant Football Coach, Offensive Line

What brought you to Grinnell?
I had the opportunity to coach in a system I was familiar with, having played for Coach Hawsey. I also love being involved with a program that is trying to create a new winning tradition.

What do you enjoy about coaching at Grinnell?
My greatest joy comes from working with the players. The things they accomplish here at Grinnell simply amaze me.

What is your favorite memory here at Grinnell?
Our victory this past year vs. Lawrence. After a tough start to the year, we came out as a team and played a complete football game. The big smiles all the players had on their faces after the game was very rewarding!

Why did you choose your alma mater? What drew you there?
CC offered me the two things I was looking for in a school: the opportunity to play football and a unique academic experience in the Block Plan. I also was energized by the chance to build a program into a winner.

How would you describe yourself as a coach?
I believe that a coach's true goal is to get players to accomplish something they didn't know they could accomplish before they started.

Favorite movie: It's probably a tie between Die Hard, The Searchers, and Bloodsport

Favorite book: Wild at Heartby John Elderage

Favorite food(s): I love all kinds of food

Favorite travel location: Texas, it has a little bit of everything

Hobbies and Interests: Hunting, music/concerts, reading, watching The Office, working out

List at least one random or interesting fact about you: I was the Geography Bee Champion of my school in 8th grade and I still believe that one day Wile E. Coyote will catch the Road Runner

Winter Break!

Friday was the last day of final exams around here and it's now officially winter break! The students won't be back on campus until January 23rd, so it's sure to be quiet around the athletic complex until then. There will be limited, if any, postings here on the blog until shortly after the first of the year.

In the meantime, we want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Go Pioneers!

2009 Highlight Video!

Coach's Profiles: Jeff Pedersen

Throughout the season we profiled each of our 14 senior players and now that we've entered the off-season, it's time to meet each member of our coaching staff. We'll spotlight one coach each week leading up until Christmas, proceeding, as we did with the seniors, in alphabetical order.

Next up is defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Jeff Pedersen!


Name: Jeff Pedersen
Hometown: Kremmling, CO
Alma Mater: Grinnell College '02
Family: Wife - Jordan Esbrook '01, daughter - Frances Belle Pedersen, 10 months
Position/Title at Grinnell: Defensive Coordinator, Fitness Center Director, Interim Head Women's Track and Field Coach

What brought you to Grinnell?
As a student I chose Grinnell because of the great education they offered, as well as the chance to play two sports. I was also excited about the opportunity to contribute right away. I knew I would be getting on the field at least for special teams, as a freshman. As a coach, the opportunity to come back to my alma mater was very exciting. Also, as a student here I really enjoyed not only the campus but the town of Grinnell as well. It was a great place for me as a student and it is going to be a great place for me to raise a family.

What do you enjoy about coaching at Grinnell?
I still love the competitive aspect of athletics. It is much different as a coach than it was as a player, but it is definitely still there. I also love the relationships with the players. I love getting to know the guys and hopefully having a positive impact on them. Most times I hope they learn as much from me as I do from them.

What is your favorite memory here at Grinnell?
I'm going to cheat on this question! As a player, my favorite memory of one specific time was clinching the conference championship with a victory over Lawrence my freshman year. I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have at the time, I didn't know how much it really meant and how hard it really is to win the conference championship. My other favorite memory of playing at Grinnell are the friendships I made with my teammates. There are too many to mention them all, but I was lucky enough to play with a few of my high school teammates and my brother, so that was very special to me. As a coach, we won my first game as an offensive coordinator with a pretty dramatic comeback. We beat Ripon, who has traditionally been a very good team, with a 93 yard scoring drive, scoring with about 30 seconds left in the game. I can still remember pretty much every play of that drive, especially the first play which should have been an interception to end the game!

Why did you choose your alma mater? What drew you there?
See above.

How would you describe yourself as a coach?
A few years back I read the Dean Smith biography "The Carolina Way". In it Smith outlined his philosophy of "play hard, play smart, play together". That really struck a chord with me, as it put words to how I had always approached the game as a player. So, I have adopted that philosophy as my own as a coach. I feel like it is the coach's responsibility to make sure that the team plays smart, that is the responsibility of the players to make sure they play hard, and that it is the responsibility of everyone associated with the program to make sure that we play together. I like to take this same approach to every aspect of the program, from lifting weights to recruiting, whatever it may be.

Favorite movie: "Spies Like Us" or "The Princess Bride"

Favorite book: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Favorite food(s): Duck with wine and blue cheese sauce

Favorite travel location: I love going back home to visit my family in Colorado. Also, though I've only been there once, the Outer Banks in North Carolina were amazing.

Hobbies and Interests: Hunting and fishing are my biggest hobbies. I also love watching the Cubs.

List at least one random or interesting fact about you: My grandfather Leo changed the spelling of our family name from Peterson to Pedersen during World War II. There were quite a few Peterson's stationed near him and he wanted to make sure he stood out. My name has been spelled wrong a countless number of times, but it always reminds me of him every time.

Coach's Profiles: Nino Parker

Throughout the season we profiled each of our 14 senior players and now that we've entered the off-season, it's time to meet each member of our coaching staff. We'll spotlight one coach each week leading up until Christmas, proceeding, as we did with the seniors, in alphabetical order.

Next up is running backs coach, Nino Parker!


Name: Nino Parker
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Alma Mater: Grinnell College
Position/Title at Grinnell: Pioneer Fund Assistant/Running Backs Coach

What brought you to Grinnell?
I came to Grinnell to pursue an undergraduate degree from one of the top schools in the nation.

What is your favorite memory here at Grinnell?
My favorite memory is winning the last game that I played as a student here. I can still remember how happy I felt and I enjoy coaching because I get a chance to help current students pursue that feeling each Saturday in the fall.

Why did you choose your alma mater? What drew you there?
I was drawn to Grinnell because of its academic reputation. Playing football here just made my experience better.

How would you describe yourself as a coach?
Work hard, have fun.

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans, Boyz in da Hood

Favorite book: Catch a Fire

Favorite food(s): Hot wings

Favorite travel location: Belize

Hobbies and Interests: Football, basketball, cooking, music, religion

List at least one random or interesting fact about you: I didn't play football until my second year at Grinnell.

Coach's Profiles: Tim Hollibaugh

Throughout the season we profiled each of our 14 senior players and now that we've entered the off-season, it's time to meet each member of our coaching staff. We'll spotlight one coach each week leading up until Christmas, proceeding, as we did with the seniors, in alphabetical order.

Next up is assistant head coach and defensive line coach, Tim Hollibaugh!


Name: Tim Hollibaugh
Hometown: Logansport, IN
Alma Mater: Hanover College - 1990
Family: Wife - Alison, Children - Ryan (11), Blake (9), and Lindsey (6)
Position/Title at Grinnell: Associate Professor and Assistant Football and Head Baseball Coach

What brought you to Grinnell?
The ability to work at a great school at the Division III level while doing the things I love to do (coach and teach).

What do you enjoy about coaching at Grinnell?
By far the student-athletes.

What is your favorite memory here at Grinnell?
Going 10-0 and winning the Midwest Conference in football in 1998.

Why did you choose your alma mater? What drew you there?
I chose Hanover because I could play two sports while receiving my degree.

How would you describe yourself as a coach?
I am a demanding coach who treats his players as adults. If you cannot give effort while being self-motivated to succeed then you should look to do something else. Team success is far more important than individual success.

Favorite movie: Gladiator

Favorite book: The Lance and the Shield: The Life and Times of Sitting Bull

Favorite food(s): Seafood

Favorite travel location: Yellowstone

Hobbies and Interests: Hunting, Fishing, and Dogs

List at least one random or interesting fact about you: I love to travel!

Pioneer Awards Announced

This past Sunday night, the 2009 Grinnell Pioneer football team gathered together for one final time at the team banquet. Along with great food and some bad jokes, the 2009 Pioneer football awards were announced.

Dick Ullrich '33 Award (Most Valuable Offensive or Defensive Back): Marquis Bradley '11.

Abe Rosenbloom '34 Award (Most Valuable Offensive or Defensive Lineman): Mike Tricoli '10

Special Teams Most Valuable Player: Ryan Boehm '10

Steve Kriegel Award (for dedication, desire, and determination): Chad Christoff '10

Troy Barboza Award (Most Inspirational Rookie): Cody Weber '13

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mike McCabe '13

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Kevin Hwang '13

Congratulations to all the honorees and to the entire 2009 Pioneer team. It was a memorable year and we continue to work towards making 2010 even better!

Coach Profiles: Max Hawsey

Throughout the season we profiled each of our 14 senior players and now that we've entered the off-season, it's time to meet each member of our coaching staff. We'll spotlight one coach each week leading up until Christmas, proceeding, as we did with the seniors, in alphabetical order.

Next up is me-head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach.

Name: Max Hawsey
Hometown: Elysian Fields TX

Birthplace: Monroe LA

Alma Mater: Austin College, Sherman TX

Family: Wife- Sara Townsend, 3 kids: Marion- 6; Hunter-4; Natalie-2

Position/Title at Grinnell: Head Football Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator

What brought you to Grinnell? Opportunity to be the head coach at one of the most recognized liberal arts college in the nation and rebuild the football program at a place that has all the ingredients to compete for a MWC championship- one of the best athletic facilities in the nation, unbelievable academic resources and great people!

What do you enjoy about coaching at Grinnell? The players! We have extraordinary young men on this football team who come from all over the nation and have very diverse backgrounds. Each player is unique in his own way and I enjoy the day to day interaction with our players because of this.

What is your favorite memory here at Grinnell? It has to be our game at Lawrence in 2008. The second half was unbelievable. We kept getting interception after interception (6 total for the game). The whole trip was a great experience especially on the way home after a big WIN!

Why did you choose your alma mater? What drew you there? I looked at colleges in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. I chose Austin College because it was the best academic school I got admitted into. I liked the fact that it was a small private liberal arts college and that I would get a chance to PLAY a lot of football and not stand on the sideline for a few years. I really liked the coaches as well- Mel Tjeersdma (currently at Northwest Missouri State) was the head coach at the time- he was great. Two assistant coaches at the time- Vance Morris and David Norman- were very personable and showed me they truly cared about me both as a person and a football player.

How would you describe yourself as a coach? I’d like to think of myself as a teacher of the game of football and I always try to relate football to lessons in life. I take a very competitive, no nonsense yet personable approach to coaching. Discipline, attention to detail and hard work are virtues I try to instill in the players. I think there’s an appropriate time to give players a pat in the back and also a time to coach them hard.

As far as my style of coaching football, I want to be fundamentally sound, at times unconventional, and aggressive. I believe in blocking, tackling, taking care of the football on offense, and getting turnovers on defense. I believe in mental and physical toughness, but at the same time making football an enjoyable experience. I like to be creative and unconventional in all three phases- it keeps it fun for the players.

Favorite D1 college team: I’m a huge LSU fan!

Favorite NFL team: Saints- finally a good year to be a Saints fan!

Favorite movie: I have a lot of them, but I’d have to say Indiana Jones- Raiders of the Lost Ark. Pretty much anything with Harrison Ford or Denzel Washington.

Favorite book: I don’t really have one favorite- I do like reading coaches autobiographies. I’ve read books on Lou Holtz, Tom Osborne, Urban Meyer, and Mike Shanahan to name a few.

Favorite food(s): It’s definitely sea food. I really love fried shrimp! Although I also love southern biscuits and gravy for breakfast! You can’t go wrong with beans, rice and cornbread either!

Favorite Travel location: There are a number of them- I really loved Colorado (lived there 5 years). Also Charleston, South Carolina (my wife is from South Carolina), but I really had a great experience at my wife’s family reunion in Washington in a town called Sequim near Seattle. It was a memorable experience.

Hobbies and Interests: Outside of coaching, I don’t have a lot of time for much other than spending time with my family. I enjoy playing with my three kids. I love to watch movies with my wife. I like being outdoors, and working out. I’m sort of a car guy- I owned a 1966 Buick in high school and college- it was pretty sweet!

List at least one random or interesting fact about you: I’m a distant cousin to John David Crow- the 1957 Heisman trophy winner at Texas A & M. My older brother- Rex Hawsey is the chief of police in Waskom TX. My daughter, Marion, beat me 17 out of 18 times at the card game "Memory Match" over Thanksgiving weekend!

Ten Footballers Named Academic All-Conference

On Wednesday, 10 Pioneer football players were named to the Midwest Conference Academic All-Conference team. These 10 stellar student-athletes helped Grinnell land the most honorees from the fall sports on this list with a combined 84 among all the sports.

Congrats to Ryan Boehm, Mike Bogard, Trenton Bush, Chad Christoff, Ryan Fletcher, John Hereford, Marc Heronemus, Ben Johnson, Joe Sinnwell, and Jake Thompson on this terrific honor!

See the MWC release here.