# List of Buena Vista Beavers head football coaches

The Buena Vista Beavers football team represents Buena Vista University in college football. The team competes at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC). The program has had 33 head coaches since it began to play during the 1898 college football season. Since the start of the 2023 season, Austin Dickinson has served as head coach of the Beavers.

## Key

Key to symbols in coaches list :
| General | General | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Postseason | Postseason |
| No. | Order of coaches | GC | Games coached | CW | Conference wins | PW | Postseason wins |
| DC | Division championships | OW | Overall wins | CL | Conference losses | PL | Postseason losses |
| CC | Conference championships | OL | Overall losses | CT | Conference ties | PT | Postseason ties |
| NC | National championships | OT | Overall ties | C% | Conference winning percentage | | |
| † | Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame | O% | Overall winning percentage | | | | |

## Coaches

List of head football coaches showing season(s) coached, overall records, conference records, and championships :
| No. | Name | Season(s) | GC | OW | OL | OT | O% | CW | CL | CT | C% | CC |
| – | Unknown | 1898–1901 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.667 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1 | Billy Edson | 1902–1905, 1907 | 25 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 0.600 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | Marion Blankenhorn | 1909 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.500 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | Frank Harrison | 1910–1911 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0.125 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | Reyburn Rutledge | 1912 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.167 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | Arthur Hammond | 1913–1914 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0.300 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | Edward Ball | 1915 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0.643 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7 | Robert Preston | 1916 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0.625 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | A. A. Gilmore | 1917 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.250 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9 | C. White | 1918 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | V. A. Woodworth | 1919 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0.600 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 11 | George Wanner | 1920–1921 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0.536 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 12 | Jim Kelly | 1922–1925 | 31 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 0.790 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0.857 | – |
| 13 | Burton North | 1926 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0.063 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0.083 | – |
| 14 | Francis Casey | 1927–1934 | 70 | 28 | 36 | 6 | 0.443 | 13 | 25 | 2 | 0.350 | – |
| 15 | Albert Dallagher | 1935–1938 | 33 | 19 | 13 | 1 | 0.591 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0.611 | – |
| 16 | Clyde A. Drury | 1939–1941 | 33 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 0.283 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 0.214 | – |
| 17 | Jake LaFoy | 1942 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0.250 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.300 | – |
| 18 | Harland Riebe | 1946 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0.143 | Iowa Conference/DIAC 1/1 | 4/2 | 0/0 | 0.200/0.333 | – |
| 19 | Kenny Blackman | 1947 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.389 | 0/3 | 5/1 | 0/1 | .000/0.700 | 1 DIAC (1947) |
| 20 | Bob Otto | 1948–1952 | 45 | 24 | 19 | 2 | 0.556 | 10/3 | 10/0 | 0/1 | 0.500/0.875 | 1 Iowa Conference (1952) |
| 21 | Chester Anderson | 1953–1954 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 0.444 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.389 | – |
| 22 | Dean Laun | 1955–1959 | 44 | 24 | 18 | 2 | 0.568 | 20 | 16 | 1 | 0.554 | – |
| 23 | Wayne Barham | 1960 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.444 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0.429 | – |
| 24 | John H. Jennett | 1961–1962 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.444 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0.444 | – |
| 25 | John Naughton | 1963–1969 | 70 | 28 | 42 | 1 | 0.401 | 22 | 37 | 1 | 0.375 | – |
| 26 | Jim Hershberger | 1970–1982, 1984–1989 | 178 | 117 | 60 | 1 | 0.660 | 90 | 46 | 1 | 0.661 | 3 Iowa Conference (1972–1973, 1978) |
| 27 | Al Lewis (interim) | 1983 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.600 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.714 | – |
| 28 | Kevin Twait | 1990–1995 | 56 | 12 | 44 | 0 | 0.214 | 12 | 36 | 0 | 0.250 | – |
| 29 | Joe Hadachek | 1996–1999 | 40 | 22 | 18 | 0 | 0.550 | 21 | 15 | 0 | 0.583 | – |
| 30 | Steve Osterberger | 2000–2005 | 60 | 32 | 28 | 0 | 0.533 | 27 | 26 | 0 | 0.509 | – |
| 31 | Jay Anderson | 2006–2016 | 110 | 42 | 68 | 0 | 0.382 | 35 | 49 | 0 | 0.417 | – |
| 32 | Grant Mollring | 2017–2022 | 50 | 16 | 34 | 0 | 0.320 | 10 | 30 | 0 | 0.250 | – |
| 33 | Austin Dickinson | 2023–present | 20 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0.200 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0.250 | – |

## Bios
### Reyburn Rutledge

Reyburn Lorenzo Rutledge (June 29, 1888 – August 26, 1939) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1912.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall |
| Buena Vista BVers (Independent) (1912) ||||||
| 1912 | Buena Vista | 1–5 |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 1–5 |
| Total: | Total: | 1–5 |

### Arthur Hammond

Arthur B. Hammond Jr. was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1913 to 1914.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall |
| Buena Vista BVers (Independent) (1913–1914) ||||||
| 1913 | Buena Vista | 3–3 |
| 1914 | Buena Vista | 0–4 |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 3–7 |
| Total: | Total: | 3–7 |

### Robert Preston

Robert Preston was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1916.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall |
| Buena Vista BVers (Independent) (1916) ||||||
| 1916 | Buena Vista | 5–3 |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 5–3 |
| Total: | Total: | 5–3 |

### A. A. Gilmore

A. A. Gilmore was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1917.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall |
| Buena Vista BVers (Independent) (1917) ||||||
| 1917 | Buena Vista | 1–3 |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 1–3 |
| Total: | Total: | 1–3 |

### V. A. Woodworth

Vaughn Ansel Woodworth (April 7, 1887 – February 10, 1971) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1919.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall |
| Buena Vista BVers (Independent) (1919) ||||||
| 1919 | Buena Vista | 3–2 |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 3–2 |
| Total: | Total: | 3–2 |

### George Wanner

George Wanner was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1920 to 1921.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall |
| Buena Vista BVers / Beavers (Independent) (1920–1921) ||||||
| 1920 | Buena Vista | 4–2 |
| 1921 | Buena Vista | 3–4–1 |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 7–6–1 |
| Total: | Total: | 7–6–1 |

### Burton North

Burton North was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1926.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1926) ||||||
| 1926 | Buena Vista | 0–7–1 | 0–5–1 | 14th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 0–7–1 | 0–5–1 | |
| Total: | Total: | 0–7–1 | | |

### Francis Casey

Francis Casey was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1927 to 1934.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1927–1934) ||||||
| 1927 | Buena Vista | 3–5–1 | 0–4–1 | 13th |
| 1928 | Buena Vista | 5–3–1 | 3–2 | T–5th |
| 1929 | Buena Vista | 6–1–2 | 3–1–1 | T–2nd |
| 1930 | Buena Vista | 4–5 | 2–3 | 9th |
| 1931 | Buena Vista | 1–7–1 | 0–5 | 14th |
| 1932 | Buena Vista | 1–7 | 1–4 | 13th |
| 1933 | Buena Vista | 2–6–1 | 1–4 | 12th |
| 1934 | Buena Vista | 6–2 | 3–2 | 5th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 28–36–6 | 13–25–2 | |
| Total: | Total: | 28–36–6 | | |

### Albert Dallagher

Albert Dallagher was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1935 to 1938.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1935–1938) ||||||
| 1935 | Buena Vista | 4–4–1 | 2–2 | 8th |
| 1936 | Buena Vista | 7–2 | 4–1 | T–3rd |
| 1937 | Buena Vista | 5–3 | 3–2 | 5th |
| 1938 | Buena Vista | 3–4 | 2–2 | 6th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 19–13–1 | 12–7 | |
| Total: | Total: | 19–13–1 | | |

### Jake LaFoy

Jake LaFoy was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1942.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1942) ||||||
| 1942 | Buena Vista | 1–4–1 | 1–3–1 | 9th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 1–4–1 | 1–3–1 | |
| Total: | Total: | 1–4–1 | | |

### Harland Riebe

Harland Riebe was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1946 to 1947.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference / Dakota-Iowa Athletic Conference) (1946–1947) ||||||
| 1946 | Buena Vista | 1–6 | 1–4 / 1–2 | T–8th / 4th |
| 1947 | Buena Vista | 1–4–1 | 0–5 / 1–0–1 | |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 2–10–1 | 1–9 / 2–2–1 | |
| Total: | Total: | 2–10–1 | | |

### Kenny Blackman

Kenny Blackman was an American college football coach. He was the interim head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1947.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference / Dakota-Iowa Athletic Conference) (1947) ||||||
| 1947 | Buena Vista | 2–1 | 0–0 / 2–1 | T–12th / T–1st |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 2–1 | 0–0 / 2–1 | |
| Total: | Total: | 2–1 | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||

### Wayne Barham

Delbert Wayne Barham was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1960.
Head coaching record College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1960) ||||||
| 1960 | Buena Vista | 4–5 | 3–4 | T–6th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 4–5 | 3–4 | |
| Total: | Total: | 4–5 | | |

### John H. Jennett

John Howard Jennett (February 6, 1930 – October 20, 2019) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1961.
Head coaching record College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1961) ||||||
| 1961 | Buena Vista | 4–5 | 3–5 | T–6th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 4–5 | 3–5 | |
| Total: | Total: | 4–5 | | |

### John Naughton

John Naughton was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—from 1962 to 1969.
Head coaching record College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1962–1969) ||||||
| 1962 | Buena Vista | 3–6 | 3–6 | 7th |
| 1963 | Buena Vista | 4–5 | 3–5 | T–6th |
| 1964 | Buena Vista | 3–5–1 | 2–5–1 | T–7th |
| 1965 | Buena Vista | 6–3 | 4–3 | T–4th |
| 1966 | Buena Vista | 6–3 | 4–3 | T–4th |
| 1967 | Buena Vista | 2–6 | 2–5 | 6th |
| 1968 | Buena Vista | 2–7 | 2–5 | T–6th |
| 1969 | Buena Vista | 2–7 | 2–5 | 7th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 28–42–1 | 22–37–1 | |
| Total: | Total: | 28–42–1 | | |

### Al Lewis

Albert Lester "Butch" Lewis was an American college football coach. He was the interim head football coach for Buena Vista College—now known as Buena Vista University—in 1983.
Head coaching record College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1983) ||||||
| 1983 | Buena Vista | 6–4 | 5–2 | 3rd |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 6–4 | 5–2 | |
| Total: | Total: | 6–4 | | |

### Kevin Twait

Kevin Twait is an American former college football coach. He was the head football coach for Buena Vista University from 1990 to 1995 and Iowa Central Community College from 1996 to 2017.
Head coaching record College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing |
| Buena Vista Beavers (Iowa Conference) (1990–1995) ||||||
| 1990 | Buena Vista | 1–9 | 1–7 | 8th |
| 1991 | Buena Vista | 1–9 | 1–7 | T–8th |
| 1992 | Buena Vista | 2–7 | 2–6 | 7th |
| 1993 | Buena Vista | 3–6 | 3–5 | T–5th |
| 1994 | Buena Vista | 3–6 | 3–5 | 6th |
| 1995 | Buena Vista | 2–7 | 2–6 | T–6th |
| Buena Vista: | Buena Vista: | 12–44 | 12–36 | |
| Total: | Total: | 12–44 | | |