December 13, 2007

Beck Elevated to Assistant Head Football Coach;
Pierce Adds Recruiting Coordinator Duties

    PITTSBURG -- Pittsburg State University athletic director/head football coach Chuck Broyles announced today (Dec. 13) that Tim Beck has been elevated to Assistant Head Football Coach and John Pierce has added the role of Recruiting Coordinator to his position on the Gorillas football staff.
    Beck recently completed his 14th year as the Gorillas’ offensive coordinator and his 20th season as a member of the Pittsburg State University coaching staff, while Pierce completed his 20th year as a member of the Gorillas’ coaching staff -- his 11th year since returning to his alma mater in 1997 after a two-year absence.
    Pierce takes over the recruiting role previously held by Bill Kroenke, who left the coaching staff to become Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions at PSU. Beck will continue to serve as the staff’s offensive coordinator, while adding the role of assistant head coach to his title.
    “Tim continues to assume more duties associated with our football program,” Broyles said. “The addition of this title to his job description is long overdue considering the depth of Tim’s commitment to the football program and to Pittsburg State University.
    “John is a highly organized individual and we expect the transition to him coordinating our football staff’s recruiting efforts to be a smooth one.”

Beck Biography
    During Beck’s 14 seasons as offensive coordinator, the Gorilla offense consistently has been ranked among the finest units in NCAA Division II. In 2004, Beck’s offensive unit established itself as the most prolific squad in the history of NCAA football. PSU shattered a 118-year-old scoring record, scoring an amazing 837 points (55.8 ppg). His squad also set the NCAA all division records for rushing (5,320 yards) and total offense (8,976 yards).
    Beck’s teams have led Division II in scoring in two of the last four years (2004, ’06) and ranked in the top two nationally in total offense three times in the last four seasons (2004-06). His squads have ranked among the national rushing leaders every season, leading Division II in 1995 (318.8 ypg) and 2004 (354.7 ypg).     Beck’s “multiple choice” option attack also has compiled 11,509 passing yards (221.3 ypg) and 105 aerial touchdowns during the last four years.
    Pitt State has averaged a staggering 39.6 points and 443.9 yards of total offense per game during his tenure as offensive coordinator.
    Prior to assuming the offensive coordinator’s role, Beck served two years as Pitt State’s defensive coordinator (1992-93). He became a full-time assistant on the Pitt State staff in 1989, after serving first as a student assistant (1987) and then as a graduate assistant (1988).
    During his tenure on the PSU staff, Beck has coached 17 All-Conference players and eight All-Americans.
    Beck was a two-year football letterman at Pittsburg State, playing defensive back for the Gorillas from 1985-86. He earned All-CSIC honors both seasons and was an NAIA All-District 10 pick as a senior. Beck also was a team captain in 1986.
    Beck, a Ness City, Kan., native, played football at Dodge City Community College for two years before joining the Gorilla program. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from PSU in 1988 and a master’s degree in physical education from PSU in the summer of 1989.

Pierce Biography
    Pierce has served as running backs coach at his alma mater for the last 11 seasons (1997-2007), after returning to Pitt State after a two-year stint as head football coach at Columbus High School (1995-96).
    Pierce previously served as a part-time assistant on the PSU coaching staff from 1989-94 and was responsible for running backs (1989-91) and then wide receivers and special teams (1992-94).
    During his tenure on the Pitt State staff, Pierce has coached 17 All-Conference players and five All-Americans.
    A native of Manhattan, Kan., Pierce was a three-year letterwinner (1977-79) on the Gorilla football team. He then served as a student assistant coach at PSU from 1980-82 while earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education from Pittsburg State University.