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Brad Pole
Head Football Coach
Rocky Mountain ’79
brpole@dwu.edu
605-995-2852

J. Brad Pole enters his third season as the head football coach at Dakota Wesleyan University. Pole became the 31st head coach in the history of the DWU football program when he was hired in December 2004.

Last season, Pole guided the Tigers to a 4-6 overall record, three wins more than the previous season. He had 14 players earn All-GPAC honors in 2005 and had one player earn NAIA All-America Honorable Mention by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Two players were named GPAC Player-of-the-Week and one was named National Player-of-the-Week by the football gazette. In addition, his 2006 team was honored as the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award by the NAIA.

In his first season at the helm of the Tiger football program, Pole guided the Tigers to a 1-9 overall record. DWU lost four games by three points and had five losses that were one touchdown or less. His first victory as the Tiger football coach came on Oct. 15 when he led DWU to a 17-13 win at Doane College.

Overall Pole has a 25-55 (.313) record in eight seasons as a collegiate head coach.

Pole came to Dakota Wesleyan from NCAA Division II Augustana College, where he served as the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach for two seasons. It was his second stint at Augustana after having been in the same position for two years earlier in his career (1986-87).

Pole’s only previous head coaching experience came at NCAA Division III Luther College, where he held the head coaching position for six seasons. While at Luther from 1996-01, he compiled a 20-40 overall record, breaking several school records. His team scored 74 points in one half, which still stands as an NCAA record.

Before his position at Luther, Pole was the offensive coordinator at Concordia College-Moorhead for four seasons. He helped lead the Cobbers to the MIAC Football Championship and the 1995 NCAA-III National Playoffs. He also served as an assistant baseball coach.

From 1988-90, Pole was the defensive coordinator at Moorhead State University, leading the Dragons to the 1988 and 1989 NSIC Championships and two trips to the NAIA National Playoffs.

His first coaching experience was at the University of Sioux Falls, where he served as the defensive coordinator for four seasons. He helped guide the Cougars to the 1984 SDIC Championship and four consecutive winning seasons for the first time in school history.

Pole graduated from Rocky Mountain College in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. While at Rocky Mountain, Pole was a four-year starter at linebacker. He earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Minnesota in 1982.

He teaches leadership classes in the summer and is a board member of the Fellowship of Christian Sportsmen. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, the South Dakota Football Coaches Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Pole and his wife, Rhonda, the director of internships at DWU, live in Mitchell and have three grown children.

Paul Lasley
Offensive Line Coach
Augustana '94
palasley@dwu.edu

Paul Lasley is in his second season as a full-time assistant football coach at Dakota Wesleyan University. Lasley will work with the offensive line this season.

Lasley came to DWU from Peru State College in Peru, Neb., where he was the assistant head football coach for four seasons.

Before his stint at Peru State, Lasley served as the running back/quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division II Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Lasley spent the 1998 and 1999 seasons as the offensive coordinator at NCAA-II Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. He started his career as an offensive coordinator at Westmar College.

Lasley spent two seasons as the graduate assistant at the University of South Dakota during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. At USD, Lasley earned his Master of Arts degree in education with an emphasis in athletic administration.

His first coaching experience was at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine. He coached the defensive backs at Maine Maritime for one season.

Lasley earned his bachelor’s degree with a double major in education and business from Augustana College in 1994. He is a native of Redwood Falls, Minn.

Lasley and his wife, Tricia, have one son and reside in nearby Alexandria.

Blake Waddell
Co-Defensive Coordinator
Northern State '99
blwaddel@dwu.edu

Blake Waddell is in his second season as the top assistant track and field and assistant football coach at Dakota Wesleyan University. He will serve as co-defensive coordinator this season after coaching outside linebackers in 2006. He returns to the football coaching staff at DWU after coaching in 2003 and 2004.

Waddell was a member of the football and track and field teams at NCAA-II Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Northern State University in 1999.

The Rapid City, S.D., native currently serves on the Mitchell Aquatic Club Board of Directors. He is also a junior achievement classroom mentor and is a volunteer to promote solid habits for youth in the Mitchell area.

Waddell and his wife, Melissa, the head volleyball coach at Wesleyan, live in Mitchell and have three children.

Bob Sprang
Co-Defensive Coordinator

Bob Sprang is in his second season as a member of the football coaching staff. He will serve as co-defensive coordinator this fall. Sprang spent seven seasons as a member of the DWU coaching staff from 1994-2000.

Coach Sprang has more than 35 years of teaching and coaching experience. Sprang taught for 20 years in the Mitchell School District and served as head football coach from 1987-93.

Before coming to Mitchell, Sprang was the head football coach and a teacher in De Smet, S.D. He is a graduate of Huron College and earned his master’s degree in physical education from South Dakota State University.

Sprang serves as an assistant professor of health and physical education at Dakota Wesleyan, and he is also the director of lifelong learning at DWU.

Bob and his wife, Marlys, have two adult children.

Zeke Prado

Zeke Prado begins his third season as the wide receivers coach at DWU.

Before returning to DWU, Prado spent two seasons as the quarterbacks coach at San Gabriel High School in California.

He returns to DWU where he spent two seasons as a receiver for the Tigers. During his two-year career, Prado caught 88 passes for 1,078 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also was a kick and punt returner both seasons. Before coming to DWU, Prado was at Glendale College, where he played receiver.

Prado earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from DWU in May 2006.

Andrew Schmaltz
Graduate Assistant Coach

Andrew Schmaltz enters his first season as a graduate assistant football coach at DWU after enjoying a four-year playing career for the Tigers.

Schmaltz was a two-time All-GPAC Honorable Mention running back during his playing career from 2003-06. He finished his career with 10 rushing touchdowns and eight receiving TDs. He was also a two-year member of the DWU wrestling team.

The Mission, S.D., native graduated from DWU with a degree in physical education in May 2007.