January 4, 2006
Release courtesy of Mark Adkins, Wartburg College sports information director

WAVERLY, IOWA . . . Current offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Eric Koehler has been named the 14th head football coach at Wartburg College.

Wartburg Director of Athletics Rick Willis announced the appointment today.

"Eric’s hiring helps continue the momentum of an established and successful football program,” Willis said. “He emerged from an outstanding pool of candidates as the best fit for this job. His understanding of the Wartburg culture and his existing relationships with the players and coaches will serve him well in this position. Eric has done a tremendous job in all areas throughout his time as an assistant coach. He is well prepared for this challenge.”

Koehler joined Wartburg’s staff in the summer of 2002 as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He added the head assistant duties in 2004. During his tenure, Wartburg achieved three consecutive Iowa Conference championships for the first time in school history and qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

“I’m extremely excited and appreciative to be given this opportunity,” Koehler said. “Wartburg football has a strong foundation in place. With the help of our experienced staff and the entire Wartburg community, my goal is to build upon this foundation. We will continue to provide the best possible experience for our student-athletes while striving to win the Iowa Conference championship.”

Koehler has guided the Wartburg offense to lofty heights every season. The 2003 players broke five school records and ranked at the top of the Iowa Conference in total offense and scoring offense. They finished the season ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation in total offense (24th), scoring offense (19th) and passing efficiency (third).

Koehler’s prior coaching experience includes stints at Rose-Hulman (Indiana), The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Worcester Polytech (Massachusetts) and Hanover College (Indiana). He was Rose-Hulman’s offensive coordinator/quarterback coach and the offensive coordinator/wide receiver coach at UW-Platteville. At Worcester Polytech and Hanover, Koehler coached the wide receivers.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Hanover in 1997 after being a three-year letterman in the Panther program. During his four years as a player and one year as an assistant, Hanover College had two 10-0 seasons and was invited to two NCAA playoffs. Koehler completed a master’s degree in education at UW-Platteville in 2000. He and his wife, Heidi, an engineer at the John Deere Company in Waterloo, reside in Waverly.

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