Tim Rucks, Head Coach

Tim Rucks (74-63-1, 14 years at Carthage/83-96-4, 19 years overall) begins his 15th season at Carthage in 2009.  He was named American Football Coaches Association North Region “Coach of the Year” in 2004, as well as College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin “Bob Reade Football Coach of the Year” with an 11-2 conference-championship team that reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Football Championship.  From 1990 to 1994, Rucks was the head coach at North Park University, also in the College Conference of Illinois Wisconsin.  In five years at North Park, he increased the size of the football squad from 21 to 91 players, and his 1993 team’s 4-4-1 record was North Park’s best finish in 25 years. 

Rucks is a native of Waukegan, Ill., attended Waukegan West High School and played four years of football at Carthage under head coach Art Keller (177-87-7, 31 years).  As a senior in 1982, Rucks was named first-team All-CCIW offensive tackle.  He graduated in 1983 with a double major in English and political science.  Rucks was selected in the third round by the Denver Gold in the inaugural United States Football League draft before signing as a free agent with the National Football League’s New York Jets.  He played with the Jets during the 1983 season.

From 1986-88, Rucks served as an assistant football coach at Niles North High School in suburban Chicago.  He was named an assistant football coach at North Park in 1989 before the college promoted him to head coach prior to the 1990 season.  Rucks received his master’s in college administration from Northeastern Illinois University in 1994.  Since 1993, Rucks has served as a member of the NCAA Division III Football Championship Committee.

Telephone: 262-551-5929

E-Mail: trucks@carthage.edu

Glen Brittich, Defensive Backs/Strength and Conditioning

Glen Brittich begins his fourth year as an assistant coach/strength and conditioning coach in 2009.  Brittich also works with the defensive backs and serves as special teams coordinator.  A native of Croswell, Mich., Brittich graduated from Albion College in 2004 with a bachelors’ in history.  A four-year starter for the Britons as both a linebacker and a defensive lineman, Brittich was named a third-team CoSIDA All-American in 2003, as well as first-team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and MIAA “Football Defensive MVP.”  He received his master’s in health and physical education from Adams State College in 2005, where he also assisted with the football team.  He was a graduate assistant coach at Grand Valley State University for the 2005 season.

Telephone: 262-551-6659

E-Mail: gbrittich@carthage.edu

Andy Bures, Student Assistant Coach: Safeties

Andy Bures begins his first year as a student assistant coach in 2009 after a two-year playing career with the Red Men. A native of Cary, Ill., Bures played running back for Carthage in 2007 after transferring from St. Ambrose University. He moved to outside linebacker for the 2008 season. Bures graduated in 2008 with bachelors’ in accounting and business administration.

Matt Claver, Student Assistant Coach: Tight Ends

Matt Claver begins his first year as a student assistant coach in 2009. A native of Wheeling, Ill., and a sophomore at Carthage, Claver carries a double major in mathematics and secondary education.

C.J. Finn, Student Assistant Coach

C.J. Finn begins his second year as a student assistant coach in 2009.  A native of DeKalb, Ill., Finn was a defensive back on the 2006 Carthage team but missed the 2007 season with an injury.  Finn will graduate in 2010 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science.

C.J. Finn, Student Assistant Coach: Wide Reciever

C.J. Finn begins his second year as a student assistant coach in 2009. A native of DeKalb, Ill., Finn was a defensive back on the 2006 Carthage team but missed the 2007 season with an injury. Finn will graduate in 2010 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science.

Tom Fox, Video Coordinator

Tom Fox begins his fourth year as student assistant coach and his first year as video coordinator in 2009.  A native of Lemont, Ill., Fox is a senior at Carthage with a double major in secondary education and mathematics.

Tom Fox, Student Assistant Coach: Video Coordinator

Tom Fox begins his fourth year as student assistant coach and his first year as video coordinator in 2009. A native of Lemont, Ill., Fox is a senior at Carthage with a double major in secondary education and mathematics.

Nate Hughes, Student Assistant Coach: Defensive Line

Nate Hughes begins his first year as a student assistant coach in 2009 after a three-year playing career with the Red Men. A native of Antioch, Ill., Hughes transferred to Carthage in 2006 after playing his freshman year at Mount Union College. A linebacker for the Red Men, Hughes was named second-team All-CCIW in both 2007 and 2008. Hughes graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science.

Erik Keil, Graduate Assistant Coach: Offensive Line

Erik Keil will serve as a graduate assistant coach in 2009 after a four-year playing career with the Red Men from 2003-06.  Keil was named a second-team All-CCIW center in 2006, and he graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s in mathematics.

Tim Merchut, Student Assistant Coach: Kickers/Punters

Tim Merchut begins his first year as a student assistant coach in 2009 after playing for the 2008 team as a senior. A native of Bartlett, Ill., Merchut attended Bowling Green State University his freshman year and transferred to Augustana College (Ill.) for his sophomore and junior years before switching to Carthage for his final year. Merchut graduated in 2008 with a bachelors’ in economics.

Terry Peebles, Offensive Coordinator

Terry Peebles begins his second year as offensive coordinator in 2009.  A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Peebles was the offensive coordinator at Hanover College from 2003 to 2007, where also served as the head men’s tennis coach in 2004 and 2005 and an assistant baseball coach.  Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator at Waynesburg College in 2002, the offensive coordinator at Benedictine University (Ill.) in 1999 and 2000, an assistant coach at Western Kentucky University in 1997 and 1998 and an assistant at DePauw University in 1996. 

Peebles graduated from Hanover in 1996 with a bachelor’s in physical education, and he is completing work on a master’s educational technology at Waynesburg.  He was a quarterback at Hanover from 1992 to 1995.  Peebles was named the Indiana Conference “Football Player of the Year” in both 1994 and 1995 and first-team CoSIDA/Hewlett-Packard All-America in 1995.  He set or tied seven NCAA Division III single-season passing records in 1995 and set an NCAA Division III Football Championship game record with 67 pass attempts against Mount Union College.  Following graduation, Peebles played for the 1997 Wolfsburg Blue Wings in the German Professional League and the 1998 Legnano Frogs in the Italian Golden League.

Johh Sedeska, Defensive Coordinator

John Sedeska begins his second year as defensive coordinator in 2009 after a four-year playing career as the Red Men’s middle linebacker from 1995 to 1998.  A native of Racine, Wis., Sedeska completed his Carthage playing career in 1998 as the Red Men’s second-leading all-time tackle with 373 over four years.  He was named All-CCIW on three occasions, first team in both 1997 and 1998 and second team in 1995.  Sedeska graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science.  He received his master’s in education from National-Louis University in 2006.  Sedeska, who served as a part-time Carthage assistant for the 1999 and 2000 seasons, was the head football coach at J.I. Case High School in Racine from 2001 through 2007. 

John Weiser, Radio "Voice of the Red Men and the Lady Reds"

John Weiser begins his ninth season in 2009-10 as the “Voice of the Red Men” and his sixth season as the “Voice of the Lady Reds” on WRJN-AM Radio in Racine, Wis.  Weiser is a familiar voice in the Kenosha-Racine sporting community, doing play-by-play for local high school football and basketball since 1990.  He’s been with WRJN-AM since 1999.  A native of Kenosha, Wis., and a graduate of St. Joseph High School, Weiser did cable access television play-by-play for the Midwest League Kenosha Twins from 1988-1992 and radio for the Kenosha Kroakers between 1994 and 1995.  He is also the host of All-Star Bowling on WPXE TV out in Milwaukee and has served as afternoon drive co-host on ESPN radio, also in Milwaukee.  In addition to his radio duties, Weiser is the recruitment coordinator for the Carthage College School of Professional Studies and coach of the school’s club bowling team.  Weiser received his bachelor’s in business administration from Marian College (Wis.) in 1992.  He and his wife, Gina, and their 13-year old daughter, Rebecca, reside in Waterford, Wis.

Jason Atanasoff, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Outside Linebackers

Jason Atanasoff begins his fifth year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009.  A native of Kenosha, Wis., Atanasoff transferred to Carthage after his freshman year at Lakeland College and played linebacker for the Red Men from 2002 to 2004.  He graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science and  currently teaches physical education and health at the Prairie School in Racine, Wis.

Shawn Feuker, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Defensive Line

Shawn Feuker begins his first year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009,  Feuker was a four-year letterwinner with the Red Men from 1988 to 1991 as a defensive lineman.  He was named CCIW Don “Swede” Larson Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 1991 and first-team All-CCIW in 1989, 1990 and 1991.  He graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science.  Feuker served as a defensive line coach at Washington Park High School in Racine between 2004 and 2006 and was part of a state-championship team in 2005.  He owns and operates a personal-training business in Racine, Wis., where he lives with his wife, Karre.  The Feukers have four children:  Sarah (20 years old), Christian (15 years old), Morgan (4 years old) and McKinze (1 year).  He will be inducted into the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2009.

Brian Horensky, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Offensive Line

Brian Horensky begins his seventh year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009.  A native of Hollywood, Fla., Horensky was a four-year offensive lineman for the Redmen and graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s in criminal justice.  He served as the defensive coordinator at Waterford High School from 1991 to 1998 and as the defensive line coach at Westosha High School from 2000 to 2002.  Norensky works for the Kenosha Sheriff’s Department.

Henry Johnson, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Running Backs

Henry Johnson begins his fifth year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009 after serving as a student assistant coach in 2004.  A native of Sharon, Wis., Johnson had a four-year playing career with the Red Men from 2000 to 2003 and graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science.

Ryan Leonard, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Wide Receivers

Ryan Leonard begins his first year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009.  Leonard was the special teams coordinator and coached wide receivers for the Arena Football League’s Chicago Rush from 2004 to 2008.  He began his coaching career at Benedictine University in 2000, followed by stops at Waynesburg University in 2001 and 2002 and the University of Chicago in 2003.  A native of Evanston, Ill., Leonard was a four-year running back at DePauw University from 1993 to 1996, and where current Carthage offensive coordinator Terry Peebles was an assistant coach for the 1996 season.  Leonard, who now lives in Park Ridge, Ill., graduated from DePauw in 1997 with a bachelor’s in communication, and he received his master’s in business administration from Waynesburg in 2003.

Dan Spranger, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Cornerbacks

Dan Spranger begins his first year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009.  A native of Racine, Wis., and Washington Park High School, Spranger attended Ripon College where he lettered four times in baseball (1991-94) and twice in football (1990-91).  He was named an All-Midwest Conference baseball catcher in both 1993 and 1994.  Spranger, who teaches special education, mathematics and science at Washington Park, has served as an assistant football coach at Washington Park (1996-2004), as a football offensive coordinator at St. Catherines High School, also in Racine (2004-05) and as the girls basketball coach at Washington Park (2005-08).

Jeff Winden, Part-Time Assistant Coach: Inside Linebackers

Jeff Winden begins his 10th year as a part-time assistant coach in 2009 after serving as a student assistant coach in 1999.  A native of Blanchardville, Wis., Winden played on the 1995 Carthage team and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s in geography.  He is beginning his this year of teaching social studies at Bullen Middle School in the Kenosha Unified School District.