University of Minnesota Duluth assistant coach Nick Goeser, who has supervised the Bulldogs' defensive line the past three seasons, has been hired to fill somewhat that role (defensive tackles coach) at North Dakota State University. His appointment at that FCS (formerly known as NCAA IAA) institution was officially announced today (March 11).

During his tenure at UMD, Goeser (GAY-zer) helped produce five All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference selections in ends Drew Fautsch (2008), Riley Lealos (2009), Kevin Pexa (2009), and Dustin Timmersman (2008) and nose tackle Tyler Johnson (2009).

"The years I've spent at UMD have been special," said Goeser, who turns 30 next Tuesday. "Winning the 2008 national championship and two NSIC titles are things I'll never forget. I've met a lot of great people in Duluth and it was a very tough decision to leave here. I'm extremely grateful to (former head coach) Bubba Schweigert for hiring me and for (current head coach) Bob Nielson for allowing me to grow and be part of one of the great programs in Division II football."

Prior joining the Bulldogs, Goeser served as an assistant coach in charge of the defensive ends at Augustana College (Ill.) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons -- a period in which the Vikings won two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) championships and made one NCAA III playoff appearance. He was a member of the Marietta College (Ohio) football staff the previous two years and, as a defensive line coach, helped rebuild a Pioneer team which had gone 2-8 in his debut season to a 6-4 club the following fall.

A native of Scandinavia, Wis., Goeser played his college ball at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he was a four-year starting defensive lineman and a 2002 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree.