Bethel University Athletics

Steve Johnson as at the helm of the Bethel program for 35 years after announcing his retirement effective at the end of the 2023 season. Under Johnson’s leadership, Bethel’s football program has risen to national prominence and has become a perennial contender for the MIAC championship.

Bethel University’s football program was based on the core values of being GRATEFUL for everything, TOUGHNESS in discipline and work, and DEVOTED to our brothers and the King.

AT BETHEL
• Amassed 252 career wins and a .694 winning percentage
• Was the all-time wins leader among active NCAA Division III coaches in his final season (2023)
• Ranks as the 12th all-time winningest college football coach in Division III at the time of his retirement
• Ranks 35th all-time in win among all divisions
• 2016 Inductee into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame
• 2022 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III National Coach of the Year
• Seven-time MIAC Coach of the Year (1989,1996, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2023)
• Three D3football.com West Region Coach of the Year (2007, 2010, 2022)
• Three American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region Five Coach of the Year Awards (1996, 2013, 2022)
• Finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award in 2010 and 2011
• Minnesota Football Coaches Association 2011 Man of the Year
• Six MIAC Championships
• Advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs 12 times in the 22 seasons
• Two NCAA West Region championships ('07, '10)
• Four Elite Eight appearances ('07, '10, '13, '18, '22)
• Completed the home schedule undefeated 11 times with a 127-39-1 (.763%) record at home
• 29 consecutive non-losing seasons
• Finished season ranked within the D3.football.com Top 10 five times and 11 times in Top 25 since 2003
• 108-39 (.735) overall record since 2010, including 80-24 (.769) in MIAC play
• 13-12 record in NCAA playoff games

MIAC INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES UNDER COACH 'J'
• Quarterback Erik Peterson 2013 MIAC MVP
• Running Back Logan Flannery 2010 MIAC MVP
• Quarterback Ben Wetzell 2007 MIAC MVP
• Outside Linebacker Kirby Carr 2006 MIAC MVP
• Running Back Mike Johnson 2001 MIAC MVP
• Running Back Chris Wiens 1992 MIAC MVP
• Defensive End Zach Danielson 2006 Mike Stam Award Winner (Lineman of the Year)
• Wide Reciever John Kilde 2002 MIAC All-Purpose Player of the Year
• Offensive Tackle Chico Rowland 1999 MIke Stam Award Winner (Lineman of the Year)
• Quarterback Jaran Roste 2022 MIAC Offensive Player of the Year
• Defensive Back Devin Williams 2022 MIAC Rookie of the Year
• 199 MIAC First Team All-Conference Selections
• 99 players recognized as Academic All-Conference since 2010
• 90 first team All-Conference and 56 second team All-Conference performers since 2010
• 15 AFCA All-American selections
• 27 D3football.com All-American selections

OTHER RECENT BETHEL FOOTBALL INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES
• Quarterback Jaran Roste named a semifinalist for the 2021 and 2022 Gagliardi Trophy and a member of the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team
• Defensive End Kyle Kilgore named 2018 AFCA Second Team All-American, D3football.com Honorable Mention All-American, Cliff Harris Award Finalist, and a member of the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team
• Gavin Maurer ('12) and JD Melhlhorn ('13) were both recipients of CoSIDA Academic All-American honors and the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
• 16 Bethel Royals have been named to the all-division 22 member Allstate Good Works Team, including each of the last 10 years
• J.D. Mehlhorn awarded the 2013 Bob Stein Scholar Athlete Award by the Minnesota chapter of the National Football Foundation
• Offensive lineman Mitch Elliot ('11), linebacker Cory Svihla ('10), linebacker Seth Mathis ('13) wide reciever Mitch Hallstrom ('13), and defensive end Kyle Kilgore (,18) were all invited to participate in Minnesota Vikings Rookie Camp following the completion of their standout careers and strong safety Dawson Brown ('18) was invited to Atlanta Falcons Rookie Camp
• Quarterback Josh Aakre ('11) played two seasons of professional football in Germany

NOTED SPEAKER/CLINICIAN
• Presented multiple times at the MFCA Minnesota Football Clinic and Glazer Clinics
• Frequent speaker and clinician for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddles and camps including the Minnesota Vikings FCA Football Camp
• Volunteer for the Union Gospel Mission summer football camp
• Speaks regularly at Minnesota Teen Challenge and the Hospitality House

PERSONAL LIFE
• Married to wife Susan with three grown children; Cornell and twin daughters Maddie and Katie and four grandchildren

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT COACH JOHNSON
"Steve did what was at the time a daunting task; build Bethel into a consistant winner. The student athletes are a reflection of him, play with passion and conduct themselves with class."
-- Mike Max, WCCO TV & Radio

"Steve Johnson is a great leader of men, a person of integrity and a Godly man. He is someone that I would be proud to say my son played for Coach Johnson."
-- Leslie Frazier, former Minnesota Vikings Head Coach, current defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills

"Coach Johnson brings a unique blend of humor, authenticity, love for his players and a steadfast faith in the Lord. He's able to relate to his players in a very genuine way and on many different levels, be it as a collegiate football player, father, husband or follower of Christ. Football only lasts four years but the application of countless lessons learned from 'Coach J' will be leveraged over a liftetime."
-- Kirby Carr, 2006 MIAC MVP, 4-time All-MIAC OLB