Derek Dewitt enters his fourth, season as Head Coach of the Trojan football program, having enjoyed a successful first season in 2004 in which he guided the Trojans to the NAIA playoffs where the Trojans finished 8-3 on the year. In his first season at Trinity, Dewitt earned Mid-States Football Association 2004 Coach-of-the-Year honors.

Prior to his arrival at Trinity, Dewitt coached at Waverly High School in Ohio from 2002 to 2004. During his time at Waverly, he was named North American High School Football Coach of the Year after he led the Tigers to Waverly’s first state playoff appearance in twelve years. Dewitt also worked football operations and college scouting for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Before his stint with the Indianapolis Colts, Dewitt worked with the Chillicothe City Schools in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Dewitt entered the collegiate coaching ranks in 1994 as an assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene University, where he earned his master’s degree in teaching. Dewitt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University. Dewitt also played linebacker for the Ohio University football team. Dewitt was born and raised in Pomona, California.

In the fall of 2002, Coach Dewitt received national attention for an event that took place at the end of a football game against rival Northwest High School. Dewitt's team led 42-0. Northwest Coach Dave Frantz had received permission from Dewitt to allow a special Northwest player to run one play at the end of the game, as long as the game was not on the line. The player was Jake Porter, a seventeen-year-old with chromosomal fragile-X syndrome, a common cause of mental retardation. Jake had faithfully attended games as a member of the team but was unable to play. This time he would get the ball and take a knee, and the game would end. Dewitt agreed.

But in the final seconds of a shutout game, Dewitt had another idea. When Northwest called Jake out to take the ball, Dewitt's players all stood aside, and Jake scored his team's only touchdown, cheered on by everyone on the field and in the stands. The incredible moment was dubbed by Sports Illustrated as the "Play of the Year," and Coach Dewitt has been featured on ESPN by NFL films as a result of the incident.

Dewitt is married to Keri, and they have four children. They currently reside in Lindenhurst, Illinois.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2003/002/30.69.html
http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2002/writing/over250/over250.columns.first1.html

Graduate Assistant Coach: Robbie Schomaker

Email: zwschoma@tiu.edu
Phone: 847.317.6493

Robbie Shomaker joins the TIU coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach for the 2006 campaign. Shomaker graduated from Trinity in 2005 and was a two-year starter on the Trojan football team. His junior year he fought in the trenches as the team went 8-3 and reached the NAIA National Tournament for the second time in school history and he served as a captain in his senior year. Shomaker is a great example of a Trojan football player. He is a great person, good athlete and an outstanding leader. All attributes that Coach Dewitt welcomes to his staff. He is single and will pursue his Master's at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Assistant Coaches:

Marshall Wirtz: Wide Receivers Coach

Marshall Wirtz is an MDiv student at TEDS. This is his second year coaching with the TIU football staff. He coaches the wide receivers. At Simpson College, he played offensive guard while in undergraduate studies. After he finishes at TEDS, he will be headed to Czech Republic as a missionary.

Zach Carr: Offensive Line Coach

Zach Carr hails from Grandville, MI, where he played football at Grandville High school. He graduated with his BA in elementary education from Trinity International University. Zach played offensive line for four years while at TIU. This is his first year coaching and he will be helping on the offensive line.

Dave Neuhausel

Coach Neuhausel is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played football for Milford High School. He then came to Trinity International University in 1999. He played as a defensive end for Trinity and started every game of his four-year career. He was the Trojan award recipient two years in a row and was honored by the athletic department with the Timothy award his senior year. He was an all conference player and remains the football sac record holder at TIU. Upon graduating with a degree in Christian Ministries and Biblical Studies, he entered Trinity Evangelical Divinity School to begin the Master of Divinity Program. He married his wife, Kay, in May 2006. This is his fourth season coaching with Trinity.

Josh Tooley: Linebackers Coach

Josh is a first-year coach for Trinity. He is coaching linebackers, the position he played while at Trinity. Josh came to Trinity from Libertyville, Illinois, in the fall of 2002 and played five seasons for the Trojans. He graduated in May with a degree in Sports and Wellness Management. Josh is currently working as a sports performance trainer at Elite Fitness in Vernon Hills. He plans to continue with a career in coaching or strength and conditioning training.

David Grant: Defensive Backs

David is in his first year coaching with the Trojans. He will be assisting with the defensive backs, where he played for five seasons at Trinity. David came to Trinity from Wooster, Ohio, and graduated in December 2006, majoring in History and Pre-Law. He was invited to the elite scout NFL combine over the summer. David is currently working at a health club in the area. After the season he will be putting his coaching career on hold, as he enlisted in the U.S. military, where he plans to go into the Special Forces and then law school.

“I was drawn to Trinity because of their passion for their players' lives and Christian growth, yet with a desire to excel on the field.”

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