Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Email: mikeg@tabor.edu
Phone: 620-947-3121 ext. 1602
Length of time at Tabor: Since 2007
Athletic background
Mike
was an all-conference QB at Elkhorn, H.S. in Elkhorn Nebraska (?79 ).
The Antlers were conference champs that year. Working for his Uncle,
Bob Gottsch Feedyard, he turned down a scholarship to play at Sam
Houston State, TX. In ?83 he decided to pursue his college career.
Playing at Moorpark JC in Semi Valley, CA. Moorpark JC now has one of
the best win percentages in CA. JC football. During the 84/85'season,
he was voted team captain his Sophomore season where he started at QB
vs. Santa Monica JC. The victory secured a conference championship for
the ?85 Raiders and landed Moorpark in the Brahma Bowl. Mike was
offered a full-ride scholarship to DI Moorhead State in Kentucky, but
as fate had it, he went to Tabor. His Jr. year at Tabor Mike was an
Academic/All-Conference QB where he led the league in TD passes. During
his Sr. season he tore his
ACL. He then stayed on his 5th year and
coached QB's at Tabor. From Tabor he went to Chadron State in Chadron,
NE. He was a graduate asssistant where he coached QB's and special
teams. Chadron qualified for the National Playoffs during his 2 year
stint there. In between the 89'- 90' seasons Mike played for the West
London Aces. A semi-pro team in England where he was Offensive
Coordinator and QB. Mike received his MS degree from Chadron. His first
coaching job came in 91' when he became the head football coach for the
Henderson Huskies in Henderson, NE.
While the Head
Football Coach (HFC) at Henderson H.S. in Nebraska his team finished
ranked in the top 10 during his last 3 seasons there ( 94-95-96 ). Mike
accepted a position at struggling Colby H.S. in Colby, KS. While HFC
at Colby H.S. in KS the Eagles won it's first District Title in 20
years ( 97 ) and also won back to back Big School Conference Titles
(2000 - 01) beating Goodland back to back seasons. In 02' Mike accepted
the Assistant Head Coach Offensive Coordinator position at Upper Iowa,
Univ. With the resignation of the head coach, Mike then accepted the
Offensive Coordinator position at Hutchinson Junior College in
Hutchinson, Kansas. The Hutch offense finished the 03' season ranked in
the top 10 nationally. The Blue Dragons competed in the "Valley of the
Sun" Bowl Game and finished ranked 13 (2003)in the nation. Mike then
accepted a H.S. position in Indiana, where he took over at Southmont
H.S. His next move brought him back to his alma-mater. Tabor is in a
rebuilding mode after 3 head coaches in 3 seasons. He expects the Blue
Jays to be very competitive now and in the future!
Family
He is married to Liz ( former Liz Dyck ) they have 3 children: Ben (16), Frances (14), and Samuel (12).
Athletic Goals
He
is in this for the long haul. He believes that championship programs
are a product of the entire college community working together and
committed to an action plan. His vision is to build a program where
one's faith, integrity, perseverance, academics, and winning are of
monumental importance. He and his staff will strive to attract and
retain top level student/athletes. He wants to be innovative in thought
and willing to step-out and take chances, in other words, he is not
afraid of change. He believes coaches can and should always be dynamic
in their profession and should always seek better ways of instructing
and teaching the game.
What is special about athletics at Tabor?
Tabor
is an inviting place. There is a sense of team everywhere you go.
People are sincerely wanting to see everyone succeed and are willing to
go the extra mile to do so. It is a pro-active place that remembers the
reason it exists - to train students to be ever mindful and servants of
the Lord. Tabor is a very fascinating place that wants to do things the
right way - ' God's Way!
How do you integrate faith into your coaching?
I believe as the HFC
one is influential in encouraging/motivating others in their spiritual
walk by practicing yours. Being a role model is a key ingredient in
helping your players to grow. Such as taking part in team prayer,
attending team devotionals, attending chapel. These are all
illustrative ways in which players are witnessing and seeing their
coach. Also the tongue is a powerful tool. It is important that coaches
be clever in what they say and when they say it. Players feed off of
every word spoken from their coach. God has provided the job, one must
always be mindful of this.
In the short time I have been
here our team has come much closer. I believe they have come to trust
each other more by opening up and positive communication with each
other. In the game of football and life their will always be times of
discord, I believe teams that communicate effectively with one another
can reduce and minimize potential problems. Spiritual growth comes from
spending time in the Word and fellowship with other believers. Those
things are being witnessed and practiced by our team routinely. It is
great to be a part of this.
Recruiting Region
Coach
Gottsch's region that he recruits is: Central Kansas, Southern
Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, New Mexico,
California. The rest of the U.S. is covered by different coaches.
