Beller joins Lawrence football staff

Mark Beller has joined the Lawrence University football coaching staff, Director of Athletics Mike Szkodzinski announced Wednesday.

Beller comes to Lawrence from the University of Puget Sound, where he coached the offensive line in 2010.

“I am really excited to be able to work with such a great staff,” Beller said. “It will be fun to get back into the Midwest Conference and be working with Coach Howard again.”

Beller is a native of Minocqua, Wis., and is a 2001 graduate of Lakeland High School. Beller starred in football, hockey and baseball at Lakeland.

Beller attended St. Norbert College and he played football when Lawrence head coach Chris Howard was the defensive coordinator for the Green Knights. Beller played both on offense and defense during his career. A 2005 graduate of St. Norbert, Beller earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Beller went on to serve as a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State University Mankato in 2007. Beller moved to the University of Redlands and was a graduate assistant coach for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He earned a Master’s degree in higher education from Redlands in 2010.

“We are excited to get a coach with Mark’s background and familiarity with the Midwest Conference,” Howard said. “As a player and coach combination, Mark and I were 36-1 in conference play while we were together at St. Norbert. That’s where we want to be here at Lawrence.”

Lawrence opens the 2011 season on Sept. 3 when it hosts the College of St. Scholastica in a nonconference game at the Banta Bowl.