Gardner named Tabor head football coach
Three years after joining the football coaching staff, Mike Gardner, Hillsboro, has accepted the position of head football coach at Tabor College, according to athletic director Don Brubacher.
The announcement comes one week after Tim McCarty's resignation to accept the head football coaching position at East Central University, Ada, Okla.
Gardner, who gained honors as both an AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year and American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year during the 2003 season, is excited to step up to the challenge of continuing the football program's success, as well as his team's success in the classroom.
"It's been a goal of mine [to become head coach]," said Gardner. "It's an opportunity to continue at Tabor College — to continue working with the supportive administration and a group of players that are just a great group of guys to coach."
A football team meeting was held Monday evening, and according to Gardner, "the reaction from the players was extremely positive."
Gardner most recently served as assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator for the Bluejays.
"Coach Gardner has proven his leadership abilities during his time at Tabor," said Brubacher, "and we are confident he will develop our football program in the best ways possible."
The Bluejays, who finished 0-10 just a few years ago, ended their best season to date last fall with a 9-2 record and a bid to the national playoffs. They finished second in the KCAC and were nationally ranked as high as 13th in the NAIA Division II during the season.
