Summer 2011 - Austin College Magazine

74443 Austin College_Layout 1 6/24/11 1:38 PM Page 48Mel Tjeerdsma: A Familiar Face ReturnsMel Tjeerdsma, head football coach of the Austin College Kangaroos for 10 seasonsbefore beginning a record-breaking career in Division II coaching at NorthwestMissouri State University, will join the Development team in the Austin CollegeInstitutional Advancement Division this fall, leading fundraising efforts for athleticsenhancement in addition to other responsibilities.“I am thrilled that Coach Tjeerdsma will join our team,”said Brooks Hull, vice president for InstitutionalAdvancement. “His leadership and reputation among theAustin College family is well known. ‘Coach’ will be anincredible asset to our efforts, and it is great to have himback home at Austin College.”From 1984 to 1993, Tjeerdsma guided the Austin College’Roos to three TIAA championships and holds the recordfor coaching wins in the program. The ’Roos were 59-38-4in the decade of his career and twice made trips to NAIADivision II playoffs. Tjeerdsma earned three TIAA Coach ofthe Year Awards.“I’m so pleased to be returning to Austin College,”Tjeerdsma said. “The folks at Austin College gave me myfirst opportunity to be a head college football coach, and the experience of beingpart of the Austin College family has stayed with my wife, Carol, and me. Eventhough we’ve been gone for 17 years, we feel we’ve still been a part of that family. Welook forward to being a daily part of that again.”The coach has been back at Austin College many times in the intervening years,including a stop for the Legends athletics award event last summer when hereceived the College’s 2010 Coach Joe Spencer Award for Lifetime Achievement andMeritorious Service in Coaching.The legendary coach has one more assignment on the field before the move toSherman. He has been selected to coach the U.S. team in the 2011 InternationalFederation of American Football world championships in Austria in July. The U.S.team won the competition, held every four years, in its first appearance in 2007.Homecoming 2011F Make plans to join your fellow ’RoosF Reunion celebrations for the classes of1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996,2001, 2006Homecoming Extras!F 100 Years of Science at Austin CollegeF ’Roo Sweethearts BreakfastF International Education ReunionF Distinguished Alumni Recognition DinnerF Homecoming Reunion/Anniversary Concertwith students, faculty, and alumni—and much more!Go to www.austincollege.edu/homecoming for the latest information.46 | Austin College Magazine Summer 2011