Mike Magistrelli - Head Coach

Mike Magistrelli took the reins of the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees football program in 2007 and won the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League championship in back-to-back seasons in 2007 and 2008. In his five years at the helm, Magistrelli has compiled a 34-19 record. He also coaches the quarterbacks.

St. Ambrose finished 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the MSFA in 2011, and the Bees finished the year ranked #22 in the postseason NAIA coaches poll.

His 2010 team finished only 5-5, but the Bees held leads in the fourth quarter in three of the five losses.

In 2009, SAU finished 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the MSFA Midwest League. In 2008, the Bees were 8-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play. The season ended with a 28-0 loss to eventual national champion Sioux Falls in the NAIA playoffs. In his initial year at the helm, Magistrelli guided the Bees to an 8-3 mark and a perfect 7-0 record in the MSFA Midwest League.

A two-time all-conference quarterback at Coe College, Magistrelli began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at St. Ambrose from 1997-99.

He returned to Coe in 1999 and served as the quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons. In 2000, his quarterback set the single-season Iowa Conference record by throwing for 2,275 yards. Magistrelli was promoted to defensive coordinator at Coe in 2001, and the following year, the Kohawks won their first conference championship in school history.

After five seasons at Coe, Magistrelli came back to St. Ambrose in 2004 as the defensive coordinator under head coach Todd Sturdy. He remained the defensive coordinator through the 2006 season before taking the helm in 2007.

“My goal is to prepare the student-athletes for success on the field, but more importantly for the world that is ahead of them when they leave,” Magistrelli said. “It’s a tremendous honor for me and an awesome responsibility that I enjoy.”

Magistrelli received his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Coe in 1997 and his master's in Post-Secondary Disability Services from St. Ambrose in 1999.

He currently resides in Bettendorf, Iowa, with his wife Lisa and their four children.

Contact Information
Phone: 563-386-1355
Email: MagistrelliMichaelJ@sau.edu

Jeff Girsch - Defensive Coordinator

After a one-year hiatus in 2007, Jeff Girsch returned to the Fighting Bees coaching staff in 2008 and made an immediate impact by being named a co-MSFA Midwest League Assistant Coach of the Year that season.

During his tenure at St. Ambrose, Girsch has coached defensive backs and wide receivers, and now serves as the defensive coordinator.

Girsch is a graduate of SAU, where he excelled as a four-year starting wide receiver. He currently ranks fourth in career receiving yards (1,617), eighth in career touchdown receptions (11), and tenth in career pass receptions (94) at St. Ambrose.

After graduating from St. Ambrose in 1994, Girsch joined the Fighting Bees football coaching staff in the fall of that year. He coached the wide receivers from 1994-98. Girsch returned to the staff and coached the defensive backs from 2000-03 before again coaching the defensive backs from 2004-06.

In 2007, Girsch coached receivers and tight ends at Bettendorf High School, where the Bulldogs won the Iowa state championship. He returned to SAU in March of 2008 for the start of spring practice.

Girsch currently resides in Davenport, Iowa, with his wife Erin, an admissions counselor at St. Ambrose, and their daughters, Jamee Kay and Jill.

Contact Information
Phone: 563-322-1156
Email: GirschJeffreyT@sau.edu

Matthew Drinkall - Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line

Matthew Drinkall joined the St. Ambrose coaching staff in 2008. After coaching the wide receivers in 2009, he coached the offensive line in 2010. He was named the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line coach in 2012.

The MSFA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011, Drinkall coached first team all-American Carl Meister and three all-conference offensive linemen (Meister, Nick Hauge and Nick Avery). The line led the way for the MSFA's leading rusher and helped the Bees rush for at least 100 yards in nine of 10 games. The Bees also rushed for 400 yards in a game for the first time in the Magistrelli era. Two players also earned Capital One Academic All-District honors.

Drinkall coached three linemen to all-conference honors in 2010. The Bees rushed for 300 yards in a game twice, the first two times the team has done that with Magistrelli as the head coach. SAU averaged more than 400 yards of total offense per game in 2010, also the first time that has happened under Magistrelli.

In 2009, Drinkall coached a pair of all-conference wide receivers in Billy Rembold and Jacob Rohde. In the final game of the year, Beau Foiles set school and conference records for single-game receiving yards (294) and touchdown catches (4).

As the special teams coordinator, Drinkall coached second team all-American return specialist James Hannah-White and all-conference punter Scott Langel. The Bees also led the nation in punt returns in 2009.

Before arriving at SAU, Drinkall coached tight ends at Western Illinois University for two years. During that time, the Leathernecks were one of the nation’s top rushing offenses. In 2007, starting tight end Matt Warner finished second on the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. In 2006, Drinkall guided former Penn State linebacker J.R. Zwierzynski to 2006 Gateway Conference All-Newcomer honors.

Drinkall came to Western Illinois from Bettendorf High School, where he served as the strength and conditioning coordinator and coached defensive backs and wide receivers from 2003-06. He was a member of a coaching staff that helped Bettendorf to a No. 13 national ranking by USA Today and an undefeated Class 4A Iowa state championship in 2004. Bettendorf compiled a 30-4 overall record during his tenure.

Drinkall was a wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes before an injury ended his playing career prematurely. He played his prep football at Bettendorf High School where he was one of only two players in program history to have both 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving. Drinkall earned his Master’s degree in 2007 and his undergraduate degree in 2006.

Drinkall resides in Davenport.

Contact Information
Phone: 563-322-8556
Email: DrinkallMatthewD@sau.edu

Vince Fillipp - Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator

Vince Fillipp joined the coaching staff as the junior varsity defensive line coach in 2009 after a successful playing career with the Fighting Bees. He became a graduate assistant in 2010 and will continue coaching the defensive line in 2011.

Fillipp was a two-time all-conference selection and was chosen as one of the Top 8 Defensive Linemen in the country in 2008.

Fillipp graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. The 2009 season marked his first year of coaching. A native of Cary, Ill., Fillipp currently lives in Davenport.

Contact Information
Email: FillippVincentM@sau.edu

Jeremy Mercer - Running Backs

Jeremy Mercer was added to the St. Ambrose football coaching staff in 2010. He coaches the running backs and assists with the strength and conditioning program.

While rehabbing an injury in 2004, Mercer got his first coaching experience at Green Mountain High School coaching linebackers. He resumed his player career at Mesa State College and in 2007, he helped lead the Mavericks to a 10-2 record and a Division II playoff berth while earning all-RMAC honorable mention as a running back.

At the conclusion of his playing career, Mercer joined the Mesa State coaching staff as the running backs coach in 2008, when he helped Bobby Coy become an all-conference performer, Mesa State’s all-time leading rusher, and a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist. Before joining SAU, Mercer coached the running backs at Rochester Community and Technical College. At RCTC, Mercer coached an MCAC first team all-conference selection in Brian Schroeder and aided the Yellow Jackets to a North Star Bowl berth and a 10-2 record.

In June 2010, Jeremy married his wife Lianne of Longmont, Colo.

Contact Information
Email: MercerJeremyL@sau.edu

John Michaletti - Defensive Backs

John Michaletti, the school’s first recipient of the Bob Jurevitz Award, joined the SAU football coaching staff in 2012 and will coach the defensive backs.

In an honorable mention all-conference senior campaign, Michaletti finished third on the team with 63 total tackles and two interceptions. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and returned five kickoffs for 152 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown return against Waldorf. In his SAU career, he played 25 games and made 136 tackles.

Michaletti received the Jurevitz Award for best exemplifying the characteristics the late Bob Jurevitz displayed both on and off the playing field.

Contact Information
Email: MichalettiJohn@sau.edu

Nick Trout - Tight Ends

Nick Trout joined the SAU football staff as the tight ends coach in 2011.

Originally from Manteca, Calif., Trout played at San Joaquin Delta Community College before transferring to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In his three years at UMD as a tight end and long/short snapper, he helped the Bulldogs win two NCAA Division II National Championships and an overall record of 42-2.

Trout graduated from Minnesota-Duluth in 2011 with a degree in Exercise Science. During spring practices in 2011, he served as a student assistant, coaching the offensive line.

Contact Information
Email: TroutNickB@sau.edu

Kyle Wantland - Wide Receivers

In 2012, Kyle Wantland joined the Fighting Bee football coaching staff in charge of the wide receivers.

Contact Information
Email: WantlandKyleJ@sau.edu

Rick Fountain - Linebackers

Rick Fountain rejoined the Fighting Bees staff as the inside linebackers coach in 2010 after previously coaching the Bees from 1994-99.

Fountain was a four-year starter at inside linebacker for St. Ambrose. The three-time all-conference pick was a team captain and an honorable mention all-American as a senior.

Fountain, a native of West Branch, Iowa, graduated from St. Ambrose in December 1993 with a degree in both Criminal Justice and Psychology.

Rick is married to Jeanie and resides in Le Claire, Iowa. He has four children - Tristan, Tylar, Ashley and Kayla.

Russ Monk - Offensive Line

After a standout career, Russ Monk remained with the St. Ambrose football team as a student assistant coach in 2008 and 2009, coaching tight ends and running backs. He returned in 2011 as the offensive line coach.

Originally from Monticello, Iowa, and Monticello High School, Monk was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Fighting Bees. He earned first team All-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League honors in 2007.

Monk has played professionally as a fullback since his playing career with the Bees ended. He spent two seasons with the Quad City Steamwheelers of the af2 and led the 2008 team in rushing. Monk then moved to the AFL and was with the Cleveland Gladiators in 2010 and 2011 before spending the 2012 season with the Chicago Rush.

Monk earned his degree in Elected Studies from St. Ambrose. He lives in Davenport, Iowa, and works at West High School.

Ed Morrissey - Outside Linebackers

Ed Morrissey joined the Fighting Bees football coaching staff in 2007. He coaches the outside linebackers. Morrissey was the head coach at Pleasant Valley High School for 28 seasons and currently teaches physical education there.

Morrissey received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa and went on to earn his master's from Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, he served as a football graduate assistant for two seasons. Morrissey also served as an assistant coach at Davenport Assumption High School for three years.

Morrissey currently resides in LeClaire, Iowa, with his wife Carol. They have five children - Mike, Erin, Joe, Katie and Jim.

Mark Schlichting - Cornerbacks

Mark Schlichting returned to the SAU sidelines in 2010, coaching the defensive backs. He previously was the defensive line coach at St. Ambrose from 2002-06.

A native of Davenport, Iowa, Schlichting played for the Bees from 1990-92. He earned a degree in Business Administration from SAU in 1992 and received a Masters of Educational Administration from Western Illinois University in 2004.

Schlichting also has 10 years of high school football coaching experience at Davenport Central. He has coached 14 years of baseball at Central and Davenport West, coached 15 years of high school and middle school wrestling, and coached six years of middle school track.

Schlichting served in the 1st Cavalry Division of the U.S. Army from 1986-88 and was the 1st Cavalry Post Wrestling Champion at Ft. Hood, Texas.

He has taught Computer Education in Davenport Middle Schools for 16 years and is currently at Williams.

Schlichting has two children - Kolton and Kayla. He resides in Davenport.

Greig Spuhler - Tight Ends

Greig Spuhler joined the St. Ambrose University football coaching staff in 2011. Spuhler spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Mansfield University, and spent the 2010 season as the team’s defensive coordinator. He coached four first team all-league selections.

A native of Canton, Ohio, Spuhler was a four-year starter at MacMurray College. He earned his degree in History from MacMurray in 2008.