Football Hires Mitch Collicott as Special Teams Coordinator

CHADRON, Neb. – Former Chadron State football player and coach Mitch Collicott is returning to his alma mater as the program's new special teams coordinator and defensive line coach, Chadron State Athletics, Head Football Coach Jay Long and Athletic Director Mannie Reinsch announced Monday.

"This is a special day for our program because we're welcoming an Eagle back home," Long said. "We're extremely excited to have Mitch back and know he will make an immediate impact on our players and our program." 

Collicott replaces Wes Coomes, who left the coaching profession to join the United States Marine Corps. His first day on the job is Monday, February 16. With his addition, head coach Jay Long and all three coordinators (offensive coordinator Micah Smith, defensive coordinator Clint Sasse and Collicott) are now former Chadron State football players. 

"I am honored to come back to the place where it all began for me," Collicott said. "Chadron State is a special place that shaped me into the person and coach I am today. I want to thank Coach Long, Coach Sasse and Mannie Reinsch for this opportunity. I'm excited to continue developing great players and even greater young men and I'm ready to get to work and represent this program with pride."

A McCook, Nebraska native, Collicott returns to Chadron State after spending one season as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach at Minnesota State University, Mankato (DII) and three seasons on staff at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (DIII), where he was a co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.

"Mitch Collicott was a great player for us, then a great young coach on our staff," Long said. "Since leaving, he has continued to grow and refine his craft at two outstanding playoff-caliber college programs, gaining valuable experience and perspective."

During his one season in Minnesota, the Mavericks went 8-3 in the regular season while competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and won two games in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

"Mitch will bring strong football knowledge, energy and professionalism to our staff, but just as importantly, he also understands our culture and our standards," Long said. 

Collicott was previously at Chadron State from 2013-2022, spending five seasons as a player and four seasons on the coaching staff. He was a two-time All-RMAC honoree as a defensive tackle, winning Second-Team All-RMAC honors while serving as a team captain in 2017 and earning Honorable Mention All-RMAC plaudits in 2016. 

Collicott began his coaching career at CSC, serving as a coaching assistant on the defensive side of the ball from 2018-2021. During that time, he ran position meetings for the defensive line, assisted with scripting and practice planning, created scouting reports and also assisted with special teams, helping with the punt, field goal and field goal block formations. 

In 2022, Collicott took a co-defensive coordinator job at Wisconsin-La Crosse. In three seasons, his program won two conference titles while his field goal block unit swatted eight kicks. In his final season with UWL, his defense led the conference in sacks and fumbles recovered. 

At Mankato, Collicott developed and conducted special teams install, practice review and game plan meetings and oversaw all academic resources for the football program. 

Chadron State football is coming off an 8-4 season that saw the Eagles advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. The Eagles went 8-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play and were in contention for the league title until the season's final day.