Jensen Takes Over as Defensive Coordinator at DC

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College and head coach Rob Taylor have announced the hiring of Nate Jensen to join the football coaching staff. Jensen played for the Jackets on the gridiron from 2000-2003 and will return to serve as the defensive coordinator for the Purple and Gold.

"We are very excited that Nate has returned home here to Defiance College," stated Taylor. "He is a great addition to our staff and is a tireless worker, great recruiter and someone who possesses a tremendous knowledge of how this program is run."

Taylor was on the DC sidelines for all four years of Jensen's playing career at Defiance, serving as his defensive coordinator from 2000-2002 and his head coach in 2003. During that time, Jensen was a three-year starter at the defensive end position and started on DC's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship team in 2001.

Jensen played in 27 games for the Yellow Jackets and earned All-HCAC honors after setting career highs with 32 tackles, 7.5 hits for lost yardage and four sacks as a senior. When his playing career ended, Jensen completed his degree in mathematics from Defiance in the spring of 2004.

Jensen is expected to hit the ground running in his return to Defiance and was ready for the chance to return to the program. "I am excited to come back where everything started for me in the college game," Jensen said. "It is a great opportunity to return to Defiance College and to work for coach Taylor."

Defiance College's director of athletics, Dr. Dick Kaiser, echoed the sentiments of Taylor and Jensen, saying, "It is always a good thing when you are able to hire one of your own. Nate has prepared himself for this very opportunity. He has matured as a coach, he knows the HCAC, he knows our school and he is very deserving of this coaching opportunity."

Kaiser then added, "Nate was a very good football player here at DC but more importantly, he was a student of the game and a good person. We are extremely excited to have coach Jensen back as a Yellow Jacket. He is well respected on campus and around the HCAC and we are fortunate to have him on our staff."

Jensen has spent the last five seasons on the coaching staff at Manchester College, where he coached the defensive line before specializing with the Spartan linebackers in 2007 and 2008. During that time, Jensen saw 12 of his players garner All-HCAC honors as MC turned into one of the top defenses in the conference. That trend continued in 2008, when the Spartans ranked among the top three teams in the HCAC in multiple defensive statistics.

Along with his coaching experiences at Manchester, Jensen has also gained valuable experience by working multiple camps and clinics. Jensen's list is highlighted by time helping at camps hosted by Ball State, Manchester and the Indiana High School Athletic Association.