THE LORAS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | VOL. 59 | NO. 1 | WINTER 2010

Duhawks Announce New Football
Coaching Staff BY JON DENHAM (’02), SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
Paul Mierkiewicz (’89)
Head football coach
Steve Helminiak (’91)
Assistant football coach
In December Loras College tabbed Paul
Mierkiewicz (’89) as the 25th head
football coach for the Duhawks.
Mierkiewicz had been the head coach at
Hastings College (Hastings, Neb.) since
2001 and a member of the Broncos’ staff
since 1998. At Hastings he served as the
offensive coordinator and assistant to
the athletic director (1998-2001), prior
to his 10-year run as head coach. Under
Mierkiewicz’s direction as head coach,
the Broncos went 65-41.
Mierkiewicz, an alumnus of Loras
College, graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in physical education in 1989
and a master’s in athletic administration
(physical education) in 1995. He served
on Loras’ coaching staff from 1992-
1998 and was the offensive coordinator
for the final five seasons of that stretch.
“This is such a great opportunity for my
family and me,” Mierkiewicz said upon
his appointment. “Loras College is a
wonderful place with tremendous people
and tremendous student-athletes, and I’d
be lying if I said it didn’t feel like a bit
of a homecoming for me.”
Tom Kropf (’04)
Assistant football coach
Director of Athletics Bob Quinn (’86)
and Mierkiewicz finalized the full-time
football coaching staff positions in early
February. The new additions include
assistant coaches Steve Helminiak
(’91), Tom Kropf (’04) and Brent
O’Brien. Gavin McMacken (MA ’06)
will continue his role as defensive coordinator
for Loras and Josh Edwards
will continue his role as the head
strength and conditioning coach and
linebackers coach.
“It was really important to get a staff
with excellent coaches and recruiters
who understand the vision of Loras
College and the direction we want this
program to go,” said Mierkiewicz.
Helminiak was most recently the head
coach at Southern Oregon University
from 2006-2010. He had previously
worked on the football staff at Rockford
College and also was an assistant at
Loras for 11 years. Helminiak graduated
from Loras in 1991 after competing as a
member of the football team for four
seasons.
Brent O’Brien
Assistant football coach
Athletic News | Spring 2011
Kropf has had coaching stops at Culver-
Stockton College, State University of
New York - Maritime College and
Rockford College. He graduated from
Loras in 2004, was a team captain his
senior year and will coach the running
backs.
O’Brien previously coached at Fort
Hays State University, Earlham College
and Hastings College. He graduated
from Hastings College in 2005 and
played for Mierkiewicz for four years.
He will coach the defensive backs.
“I’m excited as we move forward with
this talented staff in place as we prepare
for spring workouts,” added
Mierkiewicz. “The work starts this
spring semester and while there’s plenty
to learn, our young men have already
shown great enthusiasm in getting ready
for September 3rd against Elmhurst.” �