Ted Kessinger
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ted Kessinger is a former American football
coach. He served as the head football coach at Bethany College
in Lindsborg, Kansas
from 1976 to 2003, compiling a record of 219–57–1 for a winning percentage of . He is among the college football coaches with the most wins and the highest winning percentage.
Kessenger was the head coach of the first American football team to play in Sweden
, and he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 2010. His son is Kent Kessinger
, the head coach at Ottawa University
.
in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
and the South Dakota Coyotes
in Vermillion
.
in Lindsborg, Kansas
from 1976 until 2003, where he posted a record of 219 wins, 57 losses, and one tie. While at Bethany, he took his team to the NAIA
playoffs ten times and achieved a top 25 ranking 20 times. His teams never posted a losing season during his entire coaching tenure.
In 2000, his team won the American Family Charity Bowl, defeating the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes
by a score of 20-3.
Kessinger was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003 as well as the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
in 2005.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. He served as the head football coach at Bethany College
Bethany College (Kansas)
Bethany College is a small liberal arts college located in Lindsborg, Kansas and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . The college's mission is to educate, develop and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead loves of faith, learning and service...
in Lindsborg, Kansas
Lindsborg, Kansas
Lindsborg is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,458. It is known for its association with Swedish heritage and the biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest...
from 1976 to 2003, compiling a record of 219–57–1 for a winning percentage of . He is among the college football coaches with the most wins and the highest winning percentage.
Kessenger was the head coach of the first American football team to play in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2010. His son is Kent Kessinger
Kent Kessinger
-Coaching career:Coach Kessinger is the current head college football coach for the Ottawa University Braves located in Ottawa, Kansas. He has held that position since the 2004 season and is the 29th football coach at the school...
, the head coach at Ottawa University
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is a private, non-profit, faith-based liberal arts college located in Ottawa, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 and is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA...
.
Assistant coaching
Before becoming a head coach, Kessinger worked as an assistant coach at Augustana CollegeAugustana College (South Dakota)
Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The campus makes the school the largest private university in South Dakota...
in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
and the South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota Coyotes
The South Dakota Coyotes, also known as the USD Coyotes , are the athletic teams for the University of South Dakota. Their team colors are vermilion and white. They have been members of The Summit League of the NCAA's Division I since the 2011-12 season...
in Vermillion
Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the tenth largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. Vermillion lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.The area has been home to...
.
Bethany
Kessinger was head coach at Bethany College SwedesBethany College (Kansas)
Bethany College is a small liberal arts college located in Lindsborg, Kansas and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . The college's mission is to educate, develop and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead loves of faith, learning and service...
in Lindsborg, Kansas
Lindsborg, Kansas
Lindsborg is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,458. It is known for its association with Swedish heritage and the biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest...
from 1976 until 2003, where he posted a record of 219 wins, 57 losses, and one tie. While at Bethany, he took his team to the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
playoffs ten times and achieved a top 25 ranking 20 times. His teams never posted a losing season during his entire coaching tenure.
In 2000, his team won the American Family Charity Bowl, defeating the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes
Kansas Wesleyan University
Kansas Wesleyan University is a private four-year Methodist college founded in Salina, Kansas in 1886. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
by a score of 20-3.
Kessinger was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003 as well as the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, dedicated to preserving the history of sports in the state of Kansas. The museum provides exhibits, archives, facilities, services, and activities to honor those individuals and teams whose achievements in sports brought...
in 2005.