PELLA—Former Minnesota State University, Mankato assistant Tim Lydon is the new defensive line coach for the Central College football team.
           
Lydon spent the past season as cornerbacks coach at Mankato following a year as special teams quality control coach and video coordinator at the University of South Dakota. He was also a graduate assistant defensive line coach at Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) from 2020-22 and assistant linebackers coach there in 2019.
           

After starting his playing career at North Dakota State University, Lydon spent three seasons as a fullback for Division III Saint John's University (Minn.). An Edina, Minnesota native, Lydon received a bachelor's degree from Saint John's in elementary education and served as a kindergarten teacher at Hmong College Prep Academy in St. Paul during 2018-19.

He received a master's degree from Concordia in 2022.
           
"We feel like Coach Lydon will be a really good fit with our defense," coach Jeff McMartin said. "He's a very knowledgeable coach and has a proven track record of success in recruiting. We've been impressed with him."
           
Lydon has joined the team for spring drills, which began last week.
           
With the addition of Lydon, McMartin has also reshuffled the staff coaching responsibilities. New offensive coordinator Michael Chorowicz will work with quarterbacks. Veteran assistants Eric Jones and Drew Sikkink continue to work with the offensive line. Tanner Schminke, a former all-American wide receiver for the Dutch, takes over as receivers coach along with Jeff Bollard after previously working with the defensive line. Logan Huinker is running backs coach and McMartin will work with tight ends.
           
New defensive coordinator Ben Hodges is also the linebackers coach. Max Race is the cornerbacks coach while also serving as special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator and Matt Paulsen continues as safeties coach.
           
The Dutch open the 2024 campaign at home against Illinois Wesleyan University Sept. 7. Central was 8-2 last fall and ranks as the fourth-winningest NCAA university or college team since 1975 and hasn't had a losing season since 1960.