The Coach and Coordinator podcast focuses on interviewing the best coaches at every level, and our small college guests are proving that. Keep an eye on these teams and coaches in the NCAA Division II, III and NAIA playoffs. They begin this weekend.

Over the next three days we will highlight some of the best college coaches who have appeared on the podcast. Today we begin with NCAA Division II.

No. 1 Minnesota State’s offensive coordinator Joe Beschorner has the Mavericks at a near 50-50 balance on run and pass (242.6 rush/233.6 pass). On the podcast, Beschorner talked about attitude, effort and the RPO.

Notable numbers in 2018:

#2 3rd Down Conversion – .529

#6 Scoring Offense – 44.8 ppg

#12 Total Offense – 476.4 ypg

#19 Rushing Offense – 242.7 ypg

Full article with Beschorner on the podcast here: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5760/podcast-coach-and-coordinator-ncaa-leaders-joe-beschorner-3-13-18

No. 5 Minnesota Duluth’s defensive coordinator John Steger produced a defense that was No. 1 in total defense in 2018. On the podcast, Steger talked about developing yourself as a coach and his defensive strategies.

Notable numbers in 2018

#1 Total Defense – 199.3ypg

#1 Rush Defense – 58.8 ypg

#1 3rd Down Defense – .224

#4 Passing Yards Allowed – 140.5 ypg

#5 Sacks – 3.64 per game

Full article with Steger on the podcast here: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5421/usafootball.com/coaches-notes/

No. 13 LIU Post won the Northeast 10 Conference Championship. 22-year veteran offensive coordinator Brian Hughes provides the consistency as the leader of their offense. At 31.6 points per game and 4,084 yards (1,554 rush/2,536 pass), the offense compliments a staunch defense that only allows 12.2 points per game. Hughes joined the podcast to talk about his development as a coach, culture on offense and third down.

Full article with Hughes on the podcast here: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5583/streaming.usafootball.com

No. 15 Texas A&M Commerce looks to defend its National Championship with its new defensive coordinator Scott Power. Power was the 2016 NAIA Football Scoop Coordinator of the Year, and he is proving to be one of the best in D-II as well. On the podcast he talked to us about preparing a defensive game plan.

Full article with Power on the podcast here: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5494/usafootball.com/nc19podcast

No. 17 Lenoir Rhyne wide receivers and tight ends coach Tim Foster came to the Bears from NAIA Reinhardt. While L-R is a run-focused offense, Foster’s receivers average an explosive 17.78 yards per completion. Foster touched on a number of topics on the podcast including, building culture around the concept of "finishing," teaching and technology and the Wing T.

Notable numbers in 2018:

#3 Yards Per Completion – 17.78

#4 Rushing Offense – 293.4 ypg

#10 4th Down Conversion – .662

#14 Total Offense – 469.5 ypg

#22 Red Zone Offense – .862

No. 18 Northwest Missouri State head coach Rich Wright has the perennial powerhouse back in the playoffs. He talked about a wide range of topics on the podcast including 3rd down defense, teaching, building culture and emphasizing special teams.

Notable numbers in 2018:

#2 3rd Down Defense – .253

#3 Rush Defense – 66.0 ypg

#11 Total Defense – 267.1 ypg

Full article with Wright on the podcast here: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5610/podcast-coach-and-coordinator-ncaa-leaders-rich-wright-2-20-18

No. 22 Ohio Dominican did not make it to the bracket but had an outstanding 2018 campaign finishing No. 1 with an astounding 73.5 percent completion rate. Cris Resiert played QB for the Panthers and now leads one of the most efficient passing offenses in the country. He talked about using tight ends, protecting the ball, teaching functional knowledge, RPO and game planning on the podcast.

Notable numbers in 2018:

#2 Passing Efficiency – 176.82

#17 Passing Offense – 282.5 ypg

#22 3rd Down Defense – .452

#29 Total Offense – 439.1 ypg

Full article with Resiert on the podcast here: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/5421/usafootball.com/coaches-notes/

Speaking of the best, the 2019 USA Football National Conference includes some of the best coaches at every level. This year’s line-up features coaches from the NFL, FBS, FCS and high school levels. Check it out here: https://nationalconference.usafootball.com