Seven position coaches, all with college football coaching experience, have been selected to serve on the coaching staff of the 2011 U.S. Men’s National Team, assembled by USA Football. The team will compete July 8-16 in Austria among a field of eight national teams spanning four continents at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Senior World Championship.
Team USA’s coaching staff is led by former Northwest Missouri State University head coach and three-time NCAA Division II national champion MEL TJEERDSMA (pronounced “CHURCH-ma”). University of Mount Union (Ohio) head coach LARRY KEHRES (below picture) is the offensive coordinator, and former University of Illinois head coach LOU TEPPER (top picture) is the defensive coordinator.
USA Football is the sport’s national governing body in the United States and is the official football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams.
Fifty-nine (59) countries across five continents possess national football federations dedicated solely to football.
U.S. Men’s National Team Coaching Staff
| NAME | POSITION | COLLEGE |
| Mel Tjeerdsma | Head coach | Former Northwest Missouri State head coach |
| Larry Kehres | Offensive coordinator | Mount Union (Ohio) head coach |
| Lou Tepper | Defensive coordinator | Former Illinois head coach |
| Steve Bernstein | Defensive backs | Former Virginia secondary coach |
| Derrick Williams | Defensive backs | Mary-Hardin Baylor (Texas) secondary coach |
| Matt Webb | Defensive line | Southeastern Louisiana defensive coordinator |
| Erik Raeburn | Offensive line | Wabash (Ind.) head coach |
| Mickey Joseph | Running backs | Langston (Okla.) offensive line coach |
| Adam Austin | Receivers | Midwestern State (Texas) quarterbacks coach |
| Jordan Brown | Tight ends/Football Ops | Hastings (Neb.) defensive line coach |
Tjeerdsma led Northwest Missouri State to a 183-43 (.810) record in 17 seasons at Northwest Missouri State. He was among the first three coaches inducted into the NCAA Division II College Football Hall of Fame before retiring in 2010.
“These men are excellent teachers and football coaches. Our players will enjoy playing for them and I look forward to working beside them,” Tjeerdsma said. “We will be well prepared to compete against the world’s best in football in Austria.”
Forty-five (45) U.S. players will take part in a training camp June 28 to July 4 before departing for Austria. As the sport’s national governing body, participation in USA Football’s national team program does not affect NCAA eligibility. U.S. Men’s National Team players must be at least 20 years old.
The United States is part of Group A along with Australia, Germany and Mexico. Group B includes Austria, Canada, France and Japan. A round robin schedule in group play determines who will compete for gold and bronze medals.
U.S. Men’s National Team Schedule:
| DATE | GAME | TIME |
| July 8 | United States vs. Australia | 9:00 a.m. ET |
| July 10 | Germany vs. United States | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| July 12 | United States vs. Mexico | 1:00 p.m. ET |
*Games above will be played in Innsbruck, Austria
2011 IFAF Senior World Championship Medal Round Schedule:
| DATE | GAME | TIME |
| July 15 | Bronze Medal Game | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| July 16 | Gold Medal Game | 1:00 p.m. ET |
*Games above will be played in Vienna, Austria
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