Bethel University Athletics

Mike McElroy was named the 15th head coach in Bethel football program history on January 9, 2024. This came after serving as the Royals defensive coordinator for the seven seasons prior under legendary head coach Steve Johnson. Bethel's defense under McElroy has been a dynamic, play making unit ranking among the MIAC and national leaders in many categories. 

AT BETHEL
• Career record of 11-3 entering second season as head coach
• Led Bethel to NCAA quarterfinals in first season as head coach
• Led nation in interceptions (24) in 2024
• Led nation in sacks (66) in 2024.
• Led nation in turnovers gained (38) in 2024.
• Ranked second nationally in rushing defense (41.4 ypg) in 2024
• Led the MIAC in nine defensive categories in 2023
• Fifth in interceptions (21) in 2023
• Second nationally in red zone defense (42.3 percent) in 2023
• Third in the MIAC in interceptions (12) in 2022
• Led the MIAC in interceptions (19) in 2021
• Second in the MIAC in scoring defense, total defense, and pass defense in 2021
• Led the MIAC in scoring defense (13.5) in 2019  • Led the MIAC in sacks and defensive touchdowns (6) in 2018
• Second in the MIAC in total defense, rushing defense and interceptions in 2018
• 15 consecutive games over the 2018-2019 seasons of holding opposing quarterbacks below their season completion percentage

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AS HEAD COACH COACH
• Three D3football.com & AP All-Americans in first season as head coach
• Two AFCA All-Americans
• Seven All-Region honorees
• 16 All-MIAC selections
    • Defensive Back Nate Farm (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Safety Matt Jung 2024 Accolades
    • D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year
    • Cliff Harris Award Winner
    • AP Defensive Player of the Year
    • MIAC Defensive Player of the Year
    • Gagliardi Trophy Semifinalist
    • D3football.com All-American
    • AFCA All-American
    • D3football.com Region 6 Defensive Player of the Year
    • D3football.com All-Region
• Caden DeWall
    • MIAC Mike Stam Lineman of the Year (2024)
    • Led the nation in sacks (21.5) and tackles for loss (28.5) in 2024

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AS ASSISTANT COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
• Safety Matt Feldick a two-time All-MIAC honoree (2021, 2022) and Third Team All-Region in 2022
• Safety Nate Farm named a 2021 AFCA First Team All-American
• Farm and cornerback Tavian Swanson named D3football.com First Team All-Region in 2021 
• Safety Dawson Brown named a First Team AFCA All-American in 2018
• Defensive End Kyle Kilgore named a Second Team AFCA All-American in 2018
• Brown named Second Team D3Football.com All West Region safety in 2017 
• Kilgore named Third Team D3Football.com All West Region defensive end in 2017
• Brown (Atlanta Falcons) and Kilgore (Minnesota Vikings) were both invited to NFL Rookie Minicamps in spring of 2019
• 17 First Team MIAC All-Conference selections as an assistant coach
• Nine Second Team MIAC All-Conference selections in four seasons

BEFORE BETHEL
• Defensive Coordinator at NCAA DII Concordia-St. Paul in 2016, helping CSP lower both their total yards allowed and total points surrendered from the previous season
• Two-year assistant under Jerry Kill at the University of Minnesota from 2014-15
• Helped the Gophers defense rank No. 18 in 2014 and No. 11 in 2015 in pass defense among all FBS programs
• Minnesota improved from No. 39 to No. 24 in total yards allowed during his two-year term.

PLAYING CAREER
• Starting strong safety and two-year captain for the Southern Illinois Salukis
• Two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team pick
• Candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award (national player of the year) in 2010

PERSONAL
• Lives in St. Paul with wife Austyn and sons Asa, Ira and Caius.