Football | Coaches

Faculty/Staff Phone Number Featured Image Body Featured Image Nid Email Address Position/Job Title
Larry Wilcox 913.360.7542 public://coachlarrywilcox_0.jpg

EMAIL: lwilcox@benedictine.edu

 

Since the fall of 1979, the Ravens have been guided by one of its own - head coach Larry Wilcox. During his tenure as head coach, the Ravens have compiled an overall record of 229-125.

Coach Wilcox is one of only seven coaches in the history of the NAIA to achieve 200 career wins. With 220 heading into this season, he is only one of three active coaches in the NAIA with more than 200 wins and is fifth on the all-time NAIA wins list.

He has been named Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year four times. The Ravens have earned five HAAC titles and qualified for the NAIA playoffs 11 times, which includes a run of nine straight seasons from 1995-2003.

A 1972 graduate of Benedictine College and the Ravens football program, Coach Wilcox began his coaching career at his alma mater when his playing days ended serving as an assistant coach until called on to lead the Ravens.

Just seven years after his graduation, Coach Wilcox was named the 13th coach in the history of the St. Benedict’s/Benedictine College football program and is the program’s all-time win’s leader.

 911 lwilcox@benedictine.edu Head Football Coach
Charlie Gartenmayer 913.360.7583 public://coachcharliegartenmayer_0.jpg

Since 1979, defensive coordinator Charlie Gartenmayer has served alongside Coach Wilcox.

Four years ago, after retiring from many years of service to the Atchison public school system, Coach Gartenmayer was asked to take over as the school’s Athletic Director.

 

His duties as Athletic Director in addition to his coaching responsibilities allowed him to become a full-time member of the Athletic Department staff. Before taking over as the AD, he was the Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services after his retirement from USD 409 in the spring of 2007.

A former Raven himself, Coach Gartenmayer was a key member of the Ravens 1974 squad that finished the season as the top-ranked defense in the NAIA. The 1974 Ravens defense surrendered just 164.7 yards per game that season.

Along with his many years of dedication to the Raven football program, Coach Gartenmayer was also recognized in 2000 as the top assistant coach in the NAIA, earning the distinguished AFCA-NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year award.

 964 cgartenmayer@benedictine.edu Athletics Director/ Defensive Coordinator
Dennis Murphy 913.360.7375 public://coachdennymurphy.jpg

Wide Receiver coach Dennis Murphy also began his run with the Ravens in 1979 with Coach Wilcox and Coach Gartenmayer.

Coach Murphy became the second Raven assistant to earn the honor of being named an AFCA-NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008. Coach Murphy has coached several All-America receivers, most recently 2008 AFCA-NAIA All-American Conor Walsh.

For many years, Coach Murphy was a key coach in molding the Ravens of the future as he headed up the junior varsity program.

Coach Murphy, like Coach Gartenmayer, also wears another hat for Benedictine College. When he’s not leading the Ravens receivers, Coach Murphy teaches in the HPER department at BC and is also one of the school’s five fully certified athletic trainers.

 10665 dmurphy@benedictine.edu Assistant Football Coach
Fran Johnson 913.360.7543 public://coachfranjohnson.jpg

Fran Johnson starts his fifth year as the quarterbacks coach and his second season as the Ravens offensive coordinator.

Coach Johnson was a quarterback for the Ravens from 2001 to 2004 and under his guidance, recent graduating QB Ryan Kelly was able to surpass several records established by Coach Johnson.

Before returning to campus full time, Coach Johnson spent several years playing indoor football, wrapping up his career with the Corpus Christi Sharks of the AF2 league.

 10667 fjohnson@benedictine.edu Assistant Football Coach, FCA Moderator
George Papageorgiou 913.360.7582 public://coachgeorgepapgeorgiou.jpg

Offensive line coach George Papageorgiou has been with the Raven coaching staff for 12 years. Coach “Pops” will be coaching the offensive line for the sixth year after serving as the Ravens running backs coach. He has been a key recruiter of some of the Ravens top transfer athletes during his tenure as an assistant coach.

One such success was running back John Willits, who led the NAIA in rushing during the 2004 season and is currently ranked 10th all-time on the Ravens rushing list.

 10668 gpapa@benedictine.edu Assistant Head Football Coach
Nic Stillwell 913.360.7543 public://coachnicstillwell.jpg

Runningbacks coach Nic Stillwell returns for his fifth year with the Ravens.

 

Coach Stillwell is a business teacher at Atchison High School and resides with his wife, Jodie, in Atchison.

 

He played college football for Baker University from 2001-04 where he was named a NAIA-Daktronics Scholar Athlete.

 

Along with coaching the running backs, Coach Stillwell is also involved in the production of the Raven game film, which the players and staff use each week in preparation for their weekly opponents.

 10670 nstillwell@benedictine.edu Assistant Football Coach
Mike Kersley public://coachmikekersley.jpg

Coach Mike Kersley has become a true player’s coach while spending the past 17 seasons with the Ravens.

Coach Kersley has taken great pride in producing some of the best tight ends and specialists in the HAAC over his time with BC.

Under his watch Benedictine has produced some of the top kick returners and punt returners in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

This season, he will put his years of experience into coaching the Raven outside linebackers and will no doubt continue to help the Raven football program succeed.

 10669 mikersley@sbcglobal.net Assistant Football Coach
Jon Stammers 913.360.7585 public://coachjonstammers.jpg

After spending 25 years on the Ravens coaching staff, Jon Stammers has also played a key role in the success of the Ravens.

In charge of the Ravens strength & conditioning program, Coach Stammers is charged with keeping the Ravens in shape during the season and off-season workouts.

After two years of coaching the Ravens outside linebackers, Coach Stammers is now charged with guiding the Raven defensive front as he will coach the defensive ends and nose guards. Those two positions will have a major impact in the success of the 2011 Ravens.

Coach Stammers is also an instructor in Benedictine’s HPER department.

 10666 jstammers@benedictine.edu Assistant Prof of HPER, Assistant football coach
Larry Harless public://larryharless2010.jpg

The “Dean” of the Ravens coaching staff, Larry Harless has spent over 40 years coaching football - the past 18 with the Ravens.
        
Coach Harless is a straight-forward thinking football coach and is an example of what it takes to become successful. His enthusiasm for the game of football is contagious to his fellow coaches, players and fans.

 13285 cgartenmayer@benedictine.edu Asst. Football Coach