Ted Schlafke enters his third year on Bob Nielson’s coaching staff, in charge of the quarterbacks and passing game. A former player for Nielson, Schlafke was the starting quarterback on Minnesota-Duluth’s 2008 National Championship team.
The offense made another big jump in the national rankings from year one to 2014 in all phases. The offense ranked 12th nationally in redzone offense, eighth in tackles for a loss allowed, 36th in passing offense, and 35th in passing efficiency.
The passing combination of quarterback Trenton Norvell to wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr. set records in 2014. Lenoir set the WIU season record for receptions and 100-yard receiving games, and became the only non-senior in program history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a single year. Fellow receiver Joey Borsellino surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards. Norvell had the third-most touchdown passes in a year, and fifth-most passing yards – the highest numbers by an underclassman in either category.
Four of the five players to earn All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors were on the offensive side of the ball, including First Team honors for Lenoir.
During his first year in 2013 he coached Norvell to a ‘Top 50’ national ranking in passing touchdowns in his record-setting season. Under Schlafke’s tutelage, Norvell set WIU freshman records in passing yards, completions and touchdowns as he became the only freshman in the MVFC to start every game at quarterback and finished as one of the top first-year QBs in the country. Norvell was one of three offensive players named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team.
The offense made significant improvements from 2012, jumping nearly 30 spots among the national leaders in rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and sacks allowed. A year after ranking last nationally in total offense (220 ypg) and next-to-last in scoring (9.7 ppg), Western improved its average to 333.8 yards and 21.4 points per game.
Schlafke joined Western following two years at Montana Tech as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Montana Tech. In 2011 the offense was ranked among the NAIA Division I 'Top 25' in six different categories, including: total offense (36th/366.2 ypg) and scoring offense (48th/247 points). Last season, Tech finished the year ninth nationally in passing offense (279 ypg), first downs (23.5 p/g), 17th in total offense (425.9), 23rd in scoring (32.3 ppg) and 24th in pass efficiency (134.10). Schlafke was part of the program that went from 3-8 in 2011 to an 8-3 record in 2012, winning a conference championship and NAIA national playoff berth.
His running back Pat Hansen was a two-time All-American, recording 1,556 and 1,617 all-purpose yards during his two years as the offensive coordinator, respectively. Quarterback Nick Bacer finished ninth nationally last year in passing yards per game and 11th in total offense. Montana Tech's offense had five receivers with at least 30 receptions last year.
No stranger to the Leathernecks, Schlafke worked two years at fellow MVFC member Southern Illinois as an assistant offensive line coach. During the 2009 season, Southern finished third nationally in rushing while winning the MVFC title and earning a spot in the NCAA Division I playoffs.
Schlafke was Nielson's starting quarterback during the undefeated 15-0 season in 2008, the first National Championship in Minnesota-Duluth history. He was a four-time Jim Overlie 'Most Valuable Player' award winner, three-year captain and led the Bulldogs to a 33-14 record while not missing a start in his four-year career.
Following his senior year, Schlafke was a consensus First Team All-American earning post-season honors from the AFCA, Associated Press and d2football.com. He was a quarterfinalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the Division II National Player of the Year, finishing fourth in the final voting.
Schlafke set UMD records for passes attempted (1,692), completion percentage (.624), passing yards (11,587), and touchdowns (106). His 1,055 career completions set a NCAA Division II record. He joined teammate, and fellow Leatherneck assistant coach, Tyler Yelk in representing UMD in the 2009 Cactus Bowl - an All-Star game for Division II seniors.
Originally from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Schlafke received his bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in Psychology from Minnesota-Duluth in 2008.
