Northwest Missouri State University has announced the retirement of Athletic Director and long-time football coach Mel Tjeerdsma, effective April 30th.
Under Tjeerdsma’s leadership, the Bearcats have won four NCAA Division 2 national championships since April 2013, along with 11 MIAA regular season titles and six MIAA Tournament titles. In the 2016-2017 school year, Northwest achieved an NCAA Division 2 first, winning football and men’s basketball national titles in the same academic year.
Prior to his time as Athletic Director, Tjeerdsma has the Head Coach of the Bearcat football program, leading Northwest to a record of 183-43 and three Division Two national championships between 1994 and 2010.
Tjeersdma earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern State (S.D.) College in 1967 and a master’s degree from Northwest in 1977. President Dr. John Jasinski said Northwest is “evaulating its options” in naming the next Director of Athletics at the Maryville school.