Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced updates to his 2025 coaching staff today.
Earning promotions are Tim Schaffner (to head assistant coach), Tyler Harris (to offensive coordinator) and Nate Wills (from graduate assistant to full-time status) and joining the Lopers are Colten Gaines (graduate assistant) and Courtney Ledyard (part-time assistant).Schaffner is the Lopers defensive coordinator and secondary coach. His defense has ranked among the MIAA's best each of the past two years with end Quillan Felton earning 2024 All-American honors. The former Butler (Kan.) C.C. d-coordinator and head coach replaces Colby Ellis in the HAC position. Ellis left the Lopers in the spring for a position at his alma mater, Oklahoma State.
"Coach Shaffener is a great coach, and this new title will help me as a head coach in many ways continue to grow our program to new heights," said Held.Harris came to UNK last season after a successful tenure coaching receivers at his alma mater, Emporia State. He also leads the Loper receivers and saw his group have 122 catches for 1,496 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. In 2025, he'll have room full of newcomers and led by veterans Tyler Perry (Trenton, Fla.), Zane Schawang (Waverly) and Tavis Maloy (Douglasville, Ga.). "Tyler is an up-and-coming rising star in the profession, and I felt he could to this role and help grow our offense to be much improved in 2025 and beyond," said Held.
Willis has spent the past two years as one of UNK's graduate assistants and leading the corner backs. He'll continue to coach a position group that had five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 117 tackles last fall to help the Lopers rank third in the MIAA in scoring defense. In 2023, the former Kentucky Wildcat saw Armani Webster earn All-MIAA honors with Kendall Brewer being one of the MIAA's best in 2024. "Coach Willis is another rising star in the profession, and I felt we needed him to be full-time and help grow and mentor the defensive back room," said Held.
Next, Gaines comes to UNK from FCS-member Tennessee-Chattanooga where he worked in video operations and recruiting the past two seasons. At Knoxville Catholic High School, he was a quarterback for the Fighting Irish and led the team to the 2022 state Division II-AA semifinals. He'll work with the Loper tight ends; Riley Myers (running back) returns as UNK's other GA. Finally, Ledyard will be an assistant defensive line coach working under Jake Mandelko. The Cleveland, Ohio, native was a defensive lineman and both Highland (Kan.) C.C. and Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State where he played for current Loper linebackers coach Ruzell McCoy. He totaled 58 tackles (12.5 TFL's) over 21 games for the Bulldogs.
UNK will have two other part-time assistant coaches in Reagan Jones (quarterbacks) and Corey Hoelck (offensive line). Jones moved from player to coach this past winter with Hoelck, a former Loper All-American and professional player, once again a member of the staff. They work under Held (QB's & TE's) and Nate Baker (offensive line).The Lopers report to fall camp on Aug. 1 with the 2025 season opener set for Aug. 28 (Thurs.) at Wayne State. It'll be the first regular season meeting with the Wildcats since 2011; the two held a spring scrimmage in 2022.