Todd Hickman
Head Coach
Running Backs Coach
Co-Offensive Coach

Todd Hickman (“Hick”) is entering into his third season as the head football coach of the Cougars.  He has compiled a mark of 7-11 over two seasons at the helm. Born and raised in Morris, Minnesota, Hickman was a four-year starter for the Cougars as a running back/return man from 1981-1985.

Hickman’s coaching career spans over 20 years and includes stints at NCAA Division II and III colleges, as well as coaching terms at the junior college and high school levels.

Hickman started his coaching career at St. Cloud Apollo High School where he was the JV football coach under head coach Mike Carr. 

Hickman’s then returned to UMM, serving under head coach Stan Zweifel as the running back and defensive line coach. 

In 1991, “Hick” accepted a graduate assistant position at the University of Nebraska-Kearney as the offensive line coach. Upon completion of his master’s degree, Hickman returned back to UMM as the running back coach under head coach Mick Caba and later Jay Mills.

Hickman accepted the head coaching post Hibbing Community College in 1994, where he also served as the head women's basketball and softball coach.

In 1996, Hickman returned back to UMM for a third tour as the offensive line coach under John Parker.  Parker's successor, Ken Crandall, named Hick the defensive coordinator and later appointed him as offensive coordinator. 

Upon Crandall's departure, Hick became the 16th head coach of UMM football when he was hired in February 2007.

Todd and his wife Karie (UMM '90) live north of Morris with their five children Cody, Cassey, Calley, Correy and Cortney.

Coaching

1988-89, Apollo High School – Assistant
1989-90, University of Minnesota-Morris – Assistant
1991-92, University of Nebraska-Kearney – Graduate Assistant
1992-93, University of Minnesota-Morris – Assistant
1994-96, Hibbing Community College – Head Coach
1997-06, University of Minnesota-Morris – Assistant
2007-,  University of Minnesota-Morris – Head Coach

Education

1981, Morris Senior High School
1981-85, University of Minnesota, Morris
1991, St Cloud State University (B.A., Elective Studies)
1993, University of Nebraska-Kearney (M.Ed)

Raven Battle
Linebackers Coach
Defensive Coordinator
Strength Coordinator

Raven will be coordinating the defense for a fifth season at UMM. He also oversees the linebackers and has worked as defensive line coach in the past.

Under Battle last season, the Cougar defense was ranked first in the conference.

Before coming to UMM, Raven coached defensive line and defensive backs at Western Washington University. Prior to that Raven served as a graduate assistant at Idaho State (his alma mater) working with tight ends.

Battle was a four-year standout player at Idaho State, named team captain his senior year and making all-conference for his play.

Raven is married to Nikki Battle, his college sweetheart. They have three children: Olivia (7), Raven Jr. (4), and Tori (3).

Education

1996-2000, Idaho State Univeresity (B.A., Physical Education)

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Matt Johnson
Quarterbacks Coach
Co-Offensive Coordinator
Recruiting Coordinator

Matt Johnson enters his sixth season as an assistant coach at UMM.  He coached the offensive line for five years and this season moves to quaterbacks coach and will co-coordinate the offense with Coach Hickman.

Coach Johnson also coordinates football's recruiting program.

Prior to joining the staff at UMM, Matt was a four-year starter and two-year captain for the Cougars football team from 1999-2003.  He started all 44 games of his college career on the offensive line, and received the Men’s Honor Athlete Award in 2004.

Matt and his wife Abbey (Starzecki), a former Cougar soccer player, live in Morris.

Education

1999-2003, Bachelor of Arts, Social Science.  University of Minnesota, Morris (BA)

2008, Master of Education. University of Minnesota, Duluth (M.Ed)

Grant Harding
Defensive Back Coach
Coverage Coordinator
Equipment Coordinator

Coach Grant Harding is a native of Sandstone, Minnesota where he played football for his father, Bruce Harding, and was named Athlete of Year at East Central high school.

At Hamline University, Harding competed in football and baseball. After graduating he stayed on as a graduate assistant for football, coaching defensive backs, two of whom would be named all-conference in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Following Hamline, Harding came to UMM for a season coaching defensive backs.

Harding then accepted a graduate assistantship at Minot State where he coached defensive backs, and helped produce one all-American and three all-conference performers.

After two years at Minot State, Harding became the defensive backs coach at Dakota State University one year before moving back to Urbana University to become the video coordinator and running backs coach.

At Urbana Coach helped produce one all conference performer.

Coach Harding then returned to University of Minnesota Morris, now in his third season back, to coach defensive backs and serve as equipment coordinator.

Education

1997-2001, Hamline University (B.A.)
2009, Minot State University (M.Ed, pending thesis)

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Mark Ekren
Special Teams Coordinator
Wide Receiver Coach

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Mike DuFrane
Defensive Line Coach
Video-Film Coordinator

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Matt Hanson
Offensive Line Coach

Hanson is a former UMM player (2001-2004) where he started on the offensive line for four years. He joined the Cougar coaching staff in 2006, overseeing tackles and tight ends for two years. In 2008, he moved to coach wide receivers and this season is back to coaching his own position: the offensive line.

Education

B.A., University of Minnesota, Morris, Finance (2005)

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Brandon Lorenz
Student Coach--Offensive Line

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Nate Copeland
Student Coach--Defensive Line

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Blair Elliott
Student Coach--Linebackers

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Jim Jarvis
Strength and Conditioning

Jarvis joins the athletics staff with a wide range of coaching experience. Most recently he worked with athletes at the North Idaho College and high school athletes in the Coeur D'Alene area.

Jarvis will work with Morris student-athletes in every sport. He is certified as Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also regcognized by USA Weightlifting as a Sports Performance Coach.

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Andrew Martin
Equipment Manager