Football

 

                                  

Steve LaLonde

Head Coach

Steve LaLonde was named head football coach at North Iowa Area Community College in June to replace Scott Strohmeier. He had previously been head football coach for three years at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, a program that competed under Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS), Canada’s collegiate division of athletics. After serving as an assistant, LaLonde took over a program that had several winless seasons and helped the Mounties reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Last season, the Mounties were among the top offenses in the CIS, with quarterback Kelly Hughes ranking seventh in passing yards and wide receivers Gary Ross and Jonathan Dyer ranking in the top 10 in yards per catch.

LaLonde played wide receiver in the Canadian Football League for the Ottawa Roughriders and the Edmonton Eskimos and played arena football professionally as well. A native of Canada, he was an All-Conference collegiate player for Bishop’s University in Quebec while earning an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Master of Education degree from American Intercontinental University in Hoffman Estates, IL.

While most of his coaching experience at the collegiate level occurred in Canada, LaLonde was head coach at Nichols Prep in Buffalo, NY, and offensive coordinator at Lafayette High School. While coaching at Lafayette, he served at Mount St. Joseph, a prep school, he was dean of students, athletics director and physical education department head. He also was head coach of a high school team in Ottawa after his professional football career ended. LaLonde is married and he and wife Michelle have two sons, Chase and Dylan.

Phillip Quick

Assistant Coach

Defensive coordinator Phillip Quick is in his first year at NIACC after assisting Steve LaLonde at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick last fall. A native of Athens, WV, Quick played collegiately at Mesa Junior College in San Diego, earning All-Foothill Conference honors. He then transferred to NCAA Division II institution Concord University in his hometown, playing two years as an offensive lineman and earning honorable mention All-Conference honors during his senior year. Before coaching at Mount Allison, Quick served as graduate assistant at his college alma mater for two years. Quick will also serve as housing director at NIACC.

 

 

Marcus Hagedorn

Assistant Coach

After serving as a student/coaches assistant for four years at NIACC, Marcus Hagedorn returns to the football program, along with serving as the school’s equipment manager. A native of Dickens, IA, Hagedorn graduated from Spencer High School after playing varsity football for two years. He played at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls and played one year there before transferring to NIACC.

James Watts

Assistant Coach

After earning All-Conference three times during college, James Watts joins the NIACC staff after serving as a student football assistant at his alma mater, Concord University in West Virginia. Aside from working with the offensive line, Watts concentrated on strength and conditioning for the program. A native of Staunton, VA, Watts played at Robert E. Lee High School, earning All-City and All-County honors as a tight end before heading to Concord and moving to the offensive line. As a college sophomore, he earned first-team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors and was second-team All-WVIAC as a junior. In his senior year, he earned honorable mention All-WVIAC plaudits for the Mountain Lions.

Kyle Barnes

Assistant Coach

First-year coach Kyle Barnes comes to NIACC after serving last season as a student assistant at Concord University in West Virginia. Along with his work with tight ends, Barnes served as a video coordinator and headed up the gameday operations for the program. Barnes played for the Mountain Lions from 2003-2006 as a tight end and running back before finishing his undergraduate education. He’s from Fredricksburg, VA, and played center at Massapona High School, earning All-District honors and being named Offensive Lineman of the Year in his area. Along with his work in football, Barnes has done extensive work for nationally-renowned Habitat for Humanity and participated in volunteer service with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the South.

Rodney Hughey

Assistant Coach

A student assistant at Concord University last season, Detroit, MI, native Rodney Hughey comes to NIACC as an assistant coach, working primarily with defensive backs and serving as special teams coordinator. An honorable mention All-WVIAC player twice while with Concord, Hughey captained the Mountain Lions during the 2006 season and finished his college career with fellow NIACC coaches James Watts and Kyles Barnes. In high school, Hughey starred at Ferndale High School, earning All-State honors as a junior and senior as a running back/linebacker. He played at Riverside Community College in California, earning Special Teams Player of the Year honors, before transferring to Concord.

Jacob Kinskey

Assistant Coach

A first-year assistant coach at NIACC, Jacob Kinskey served as student at University of Northern Iowa the past three seasons after graduating from the school with a degree in Chemistry Marketing. He will oversee the receivers and serve as video coordinator. He is also pursuing a Masters degree in Sports Psychology at UNI. A native of Dike, IA, Kinskey played at Dike-New Hartford High and earned first-team All-District honors.

Mark Tigges

Assistant Coach

After playing with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, Mark Tigges has been an assistant coach with the Trojans’ football program, overseeing offensive line play, since 1988. Tigges graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL after transferring from NIACC, earning All-America honors. He then signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the now-defunct United States Football League before playing with the Bengals.

Torrince Ruth

Assistant Coach

A graduate assistant coach at Concord University in West Virginia the past two seasons, Torrince Ruth is a first-year assistant coach for NIACC. He is a native of Lakeland, FL, where he earned All-City and All-County honors as a running back. A four-year letter winner at Concord, Ruth earned honorable mention All-Conference honors as a running back and return specialist. He graduated from Concord University in 2005 with a degree in Business Administration.

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