Courtesy of HutchCC Sports Information
With spring drills beginning Monday for the Hutchinson Community College football team, head coach Drew Dallas has announced a reshuffling of coaching duties on his staff for the 2024 season.
The reorganization was prompted with the hiring of two new assistants for the upcoming season.
The new hires to the Blue Dragon staff are Matt Wallerstedt and Conner Lierz.
Wallerstedt is a veteran coach at all levels of college football, including Kansas State. He will become the Blue Dragons’ new defensive coordinator and linebackers’ coach.
Lierz is a familiar name to Blue Dragon football. He is a former offensive lineman who played at Hutchinson Community College in 2018 and 2019. Lierz is the new tight ends coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach
“We are certainly excited about the two new additions to our staff this offseason," Dallas said. "Coach Lierz is a former player who is from the state of Kansas and has great energy and an understanding on what we are all about here at Hutch. Coach Wally is also another Kansas guy. His experience and knowledge are a welcomed addition as we try to continue to elevate our program.”
The other six coaches on staff were with the Blue Dragons last season during a year the Dragons went through the regular season undefeated and won the Jayhawk Conference championship posting a 10-1 overall season.
Dallas has made some changes to some of their duties as well.
Dallas will continue to serve as the Blue Dragon quarterbacks’ coach. Dallas will be in his fifth season as head coach and has posted a four-year record of 38-4.
Matt Martin returns for his third season with the Blue Dragons. Martin is the Dragons’ assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and co-special teams’ coordinator.
Greg Cross returns for his seventh season and has been promoted to Associate Head Coach as well as his position duties with the running backs and as run-game coordinator.
Tony Kohling will be in his second season as Blue Dragon offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
Andrew Krause returns for his ninth season on the Blue Dragon sideline. Krause returns to the defensive side of the ball as defensive backs coach, co-special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
Former Blue Dragon player Demarcus Roberson returns for his second season on staff as the Dragons’ defensive line coach and assistant strength and condition coach.
Davin Hawkins is back for his second season as the safeties’ coach and is now the head of the strength and conditioning program.
Taylor Martin returns as a student assistant for offensive quality control and Adonis Armstrong is back as a student assistant for defensive quality control.
“This is a great group of men that are not only great coaches but guys that are professionals and determined to develop our team in every way possible," Dallas said. "Their ability to adapt to new roles, teach the game of football and work at a championship level is second to none.
"They all bring something unique and special to the table and it has been fun attacking the off-season with them up to this point. I am excited to get going on the field with them in spring practice and am looking forward to building & developing our team with them as we prepare for the ’24 season.”