Benedictine College Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer is pleased to announce the hiring of Joel Osborn as the new head football coach.

“We are excited to welcome Joel and his family to our Benedictine family,” Gartenmayer said. “He brings a great deal of success with him to Raven Football. We believe he has the characteristics to build off the legacy of Coach Wilcox while also helping our football student-athletes continue to grow academically, spiritually and compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and the NAIA.”

Osborn takes over from Larry Wilcox, who announced his retirement from the head coaching position on Nov. 17. Osborn comes to Benedictine from Northwest Missouri State University, a regular conference champion and national playoff contender. He served in several roles for the Bearcat Football program over the past 10 years, including Co-Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. While he has been on the coaching staff, NMSU won six conference championships, went to the national football playoffs 10 times, won three NCAA Div. II National Titles and two national runner-up finishes.

“It’s an incredible honor and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be the next head football coach at Benedictine College,” Coach Osborn said. “It’s humbling and I’m looking forward to getting started. Meeting all of the coaches, all of the players and developing relationships with them. Getting into the process of college football. From the academics, to the weight room, to the skill development, to the spiritual development, it’s all encompassing. I’m looking forward to the entire process.”

Osborn’s winning attitude has been on display throughout his high school and college playing days, as well as his coaching tenure. As a high school athlete, he won four state championships in four sports in 10 months. As a college football player at Northwest Missouri State University, he was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and was the starting quarterback for two NCAA Div. II National Championship games. Combined with his strong faith and devotion to family, he is the perfect choice to carry on the Raven tradition that focuses on winning within the mission.

“My sincerest congratulations to Joel Osborn on being named the next head coach for Benedictine College football,” said Wilcox. “I’m confident that he and our current coaching staff will continue to have success moving forward and I’m looking forward to seeing them succeed.”

A native of Harlan, Iowa, Osborn earned his bachelor’s degree at Northwest in 2008 and received his master’s in 2011. Osborn and his wife, Audrey, a Northwest alum and former Bearcat track and field athlete, have three sons, Jack, Colin and Isaac. You will have the opportunity to meet Coach Osborn next Tuesday, Jan. 19, during a formal introduction on Facebook, so look for more details on that event to come.