 Koehler comes to Illinois State after serving as the offensive
coordinator and quarterbacks coach at NCAA Division II Grand Valley
State in 2012. Koehler spent five seasons on the Lakers coaching
staff and worked with ISU offensive coordinator George Barnett on
the GVSU staff from 2008-09. He spent the last three seasons as the
team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"Eric and George worked together at Grand Valley State, and I
think it's very important for a coordinator to have a quarterback
coach he is comfortable with," Spack said. "George told us he
thought Eric was an outstanding coach, and after we interviewed him,
we agreed with that assessment. He's recruited the Midwest and the
city of Chicago very hard, which are areas that we also recruit
heavily. So, we know he has a strong track record as a recruiter,
and we have an idea of the work ethic he brings to the position. All
those qualities made him a great fit for our staff at this time, and
we look forward to working with him."
Koehler, a native of Fowler, Ind., fills the spot left by former
quarterbacks coach Luke Huard, who recently took a similar position
at Georgia State.
"I'm very excited for this opportunity to work with the Illinois
State football program," Koehler said. "I think this is a great
opportunity for me to work with a great staff, led by coach Spack
who has a great reputation within the coaching profession. I also
get to work alongside coach Barnett, who I worked with at GVSU. ISU
has a chance to accomplish some unique things in the very near
future, after coming off a playoff appearance and with the stadium
being built, and I am excited to be a part of the Redbird football
program."
Koehler's offensive unit led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletics Conference and ranked No. 6 in the country in scoring
offense in 2012, as the Lakers averaged 41.9 points per game. GVSU
also ranked second in the conference and No. 13 in the country in
total offense (474.5 ypg), and quarterback Isiah Grimes led the
country with a pass efficiency rating of 178.1.
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A promoter of a balanced offensive attack, Koehler guided a
Lakers offense that led the GLIAC in rushing (226.4), total
offense (467.5) and scoring (42.3) in 2011. GVSU, which ranked
sixth nationally in scoring and No. 10 in total offense,
averaged 48.2 points in its last seven games, all wins. Koehler
tutored first-year starting quarterback Heath Parling to an
impressive debut, as he completed 154 of 249 passes for 2,415
yards and 34 touchdowns, and his pass efficiency rating of
180.35 led the nation.
Koehler guided an offense that averaged 216.3 yards per game
rushing and 221.3 yards per game passing in 2010. He was also a key
contributor to a GVSU offense that ranked ninth nationally in
rushing (237.3 ypg), No. 11 in total offense (455.1 ypg) and No. 12
in scoring (36.8 ppg) in 2009. Koehler tutored quarterback Brad
Iciek during the 2008 and 2009 campaigns, helping the Lakers signal
caller earn first-team all-GLIAC plaudits and GLIAC Offensive Back
of the Year honors in 2009. Koehler also tutored the 2008 GLIAC
Offensive Back of the Year in running back James Berezik, as well as
all-GLIAC performers Blake Smolen and P.T. Gates. The Lakers ranked
No. 10 in the nation in scoring (38.5 ppg), No. 14 in rushing
(228.4) and No. 25 in total offense (429.0) that season.
Prior to arriving at GVSU, Koehler spent six years at Wartburg
(Iowa) College, including the final two years as head coach.
Koehler led Wartburg to a 16-4 overall mark in his two years at
the helm, including a 13-3 mark in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference. The Knights were 8-2 in 2007 and ranked as high as No.
10 in the 2007 American Football Coaches Association DIII poll
during the season. Wartburg also finished 8-2 under Koehler in 2006.
Including his tenure as an assistant, Wartburg was 52-13 overall
with three NCAA DIII playoff appearances.
Wartburg ranked among the leaders in every offensive category
with Koehler directing the offense. His 2002 and 2003 offensive
units led the ICAC in total offense and scoring offense. In
addition, the Wartburg offense ranked among the national leaders in
DIII in both rushing and passing.
[Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University] |
