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University names new football coach

Aaron Krepps replaces Denny Dorrel

Aaron Krepps from Ada, has been promoted to head football coach of the Bluffton University Beavers.

He replaces Denny Dorrel who resigned after four season to become the Athletics Director at Franklin County High School, his alma mater, in Brookville, Ind. Krepps previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Beavers.

Krepps takes over at the helm following Bluffton’s best four-year stretch (23-17 and 20-12 HCAC) since joining the Heartland Conference in 1998. There were three Beavers named All-North Region by D3football.com the past four seasons, including three consecutive Heartland Conference Defensive Players of the Year, an Honorable Mention All-American and the all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

“I am very happy to announce that Aaron Krepps, current offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, has been promoted to the position of head coach of the Bluffton University football program with Coach West and Coach Davis continuing in their respective roles,” said Phill Talavinia, athletics director.

“I appreciate Denny’s approach to this transition as it provided us time to have important conversations with the coaching staff. We want to ensure that there is a smooth transition and keep the momentum going that the team has built these past four seasons.

"We recognize that the Bluffton football family is critical to the team’s success in the year ahead. We will be searching for a new assistant coach to replace the open position.”

Krepps' background
Coach Krepps joined the Beavers last year after two seasons as an assistant at Ohio Northern University where he coached the receivers and served as special teams coordinator for the Polar Bears.

Prior to his time at ONU, he was the running backs coach at Alderson Broaddus University (W.Va.), and held coaching positions at Adrian College (Mich.), at his prep alma mater, Belle Vernon (Pa.) High School and as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University. In all of these roles his players received conference, region, national and academic and All-American honors.

He was a four-year letterman as a receiver and kick returner at Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.). Aaron was a two-time All-American wide receiver, an honorable mention All-American kick returner, a 3-time All-President's Athletic Conference honoree and was named the ECAC & PAC Player of the Year as a junior in 2004.

He is a 2006 graduate of Washington & Jefferson, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was selected to represent Team USA in the All-American Aztec Bowl in 2005 and helped the Americans defeat Mexico 53-15 in Toluca, Mexico.

Coach Krepps signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League in 2006 where he played in two preseason games. Aaron and his wife, Lauren, and infant daughter, Harlow, reside in Ada.

“I want to share my deep appreciation to Coaches Krepps, West and Davis for their excitement to continue the work to achieve the Bluffton football program goal of becoming conference champs,” said Talavinia.