Coaching Staff

Mike Hallett

Head Coach
(419) 448-2627
mhallett@heidelberg.edu

 
On December 16, 2006 Mike Hallett was named the 33rd head coach in the 111-year history of the Heidelberg College football program.

Hallett joins Heidelberg following serving as the head coach at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky., since 2004.

Hallett brings over 15 years of coaching experience to the Berg, including five as an assistant coach at Thomas More as the team's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Hallett began at Thomas More following the 1998 season and helped to bring the Saints offense among the leaders in the nation. Hallett was instrumental in Thomas More’s second appearance in the NCAA Division III Football Championship in 2001, when the team set a new school record for wins with an 11-1 season.

As the team’s offensive coordinator, the Saints finished among the leaders in the NCAA final statistical rankings for rushing offense in four out of five seasons, including back-to-back top-20 finishes. Thomas More boasted the third-best rushing offense in Division III with an average of 301.2 yards per game in 2001 which followed an 18th place finish in 2000 with 233.6 yards per game.

Prior to his stint at Thomas More, Hallett served as the head coach at Wooster High School for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Prior to Wooster, he was the assistant head coach at Akron Coventry High School from 1994-96. Before taking over the reigns at Akron Coventry, Hallett was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Orrville High School, from 1988-89.

An Orrville, Ohio, native, Hallett was a two-time All-American defensive lineman at Mount Union College and won a national championship in 1993.

Hallett and wife, Sandy, have two children, TC (8) and Ryan (6).

Jason Bendekovic

Assistant Head Coach / Running Game Coordinator
(419) 448-2382
jbendeko@heidelberg.edu

Jason Bendekovic is in his second year on the sidelines at Heidelberg. In 2007, Bendekovic will serve as an assistant head coach and the run game coordinator.
 
Bendekovic has 14 years of coaching experience. Prior to Heidelberg, Bendekovic spent the 2005 season as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at the United State Merchant Marine Academy. Bendekovic was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Rochester from 2000-2005.
 
Bendekovic also provided assistance as the offensive line coach at Rutgers University (1999), Union College (1997-1998) and Plymouth State College (1996) following his graduation from Allegheny College in 1995.
 
While at Allegheny, Bendekovic helped lead the Gators to a 38-6 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years. He earned all-conference offensive line accolades in 1993 and 1994.
 
Bendekovic graduated from Allegheny with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology in 1995. He is a native of Monaca, Pa. and currently resides in Tiffin, Ohio.
 

Scott Donaldson

Linebackers
(419) 448-2178
sdonalds@heidelberg.edu

 
Entering his fourth season at Heidelberg is linebackers coach Scott Donaldson.
 
Prior to joining the staff at the Berg, Donaldson was the State University of New York at Brockport linebackers and defensive backs assistant coach in 2003.
 
Donaldson was an outside linebacker for the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles, leading them to the NCAA Division III playoffs in three straight seasons. 
 
Donaldson earned his bachelor of science degree in history and political science at SUNY Brockport in 2003 and a masters of arts in education from Heidelberg in 2006.
 
He is a native of Tonawanda, N.Y. and currently resides in Tiffin, Ohio.
 

Corey Fillipovich

Defensive Line
(419) 448-2142
cfillipo@heidelberg.edu

Corey Fillipovich is in his fourth season with the Heidelberg football program in 2007. Fillipovich has coached on both sides of the ball over the course of his time at the Berg, taking over the defensive line in 2006.
 
Fillipovich brings both Ohio Athletic Conference playing and coaching experience to the Berg coaching staff. A 2003 graduate of Muskingum College with a degree in history, he was a three-year letter winner with experience at multiple positions on both the offensive and defensive lines.
 
Fillipovich gained a year of coaching experience during the 2003 season as an assistant defensive line coach at Muskingum.
 
Fillipovich earned a master’s degree in education from Heidelberg in 2006. He is a native of Adena, Ohio and currently resides in Tiffin, Ohio.
 

Josh Jones

Running Backs
(419) 448-2397

In his second year on the Heidelberg coaching staff is Josh Jones. He will serve as a graduate assistant and coach the running backs. 
Jones joins Heidelberg following a successful playing career at Urbana University where he was a two-time All-Mid-States Football Association honoree at running back. He served as a team captain in his junior and senior seasons, leading Urbana into the NAIA Top-25 for the first time ever in 2005. In 2005, Urbana posted a 6-5 record, which is the most wins by the program in the modern era.
 
Jones was named to the All-Mid-States Football Association Academic Team in 2004 and 2005. He graduated with a degree in sports management in 2005.
 
A Toledo, Ohio native, Jones and fiancé Ebony have two children, Jasmine (2) and Bryson (1).
 

Rick Honaker

Tight Ends
(419) 448-2397

Rick Honaker joined the Heidelberg coaching staff in January of 2007 as a graduate assistant. He will oversee the tight ends. From 1999-2003 Honaker was a fullback under then offensive coordinator Mike Hallett at Thomas More College.
 
While at Thomas More, Honaker was a four-year starter on special teams, earning Special Teams Player of the Year on three occasions. In his senior year, he was tabbed the Offensive Most Valuable Player.
 
Prior to Heidelberg, Honaker served as the offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at Ryle High School in Union, Ky. From 2003-2006. In his final season at Ryle, he also coached the freshman team. Honaker helped guide Ryle to the 2006 Kentucky State Championship, along the way Ryle won region, district and sectional championships.
 
Honaker graduated from Thomas More with a degree in history. He is a native of Wilder, Ky. and has a son Peyton (3).

Richard Roudybush

Defensive Ends

Joining the Heidelberg coaching staff in 2007 as a graduate assistant coach is Richard Roudybush. Roudybush will oversee the defensive ends in his inaugural season in Tiffin.
 
Roudybush is a 2007 graduate of Ohio Athletic Conference foe Ohio Northern University. He was a four-year letter winner at defensive tackle for the Polar Bears. Roudybush helped to guide ONU to a 26-14 from 2003-2006.
 
Prior to graduation from ONU, Roudybush served as a recruiting assistant for the football program. Roudybush is a native of Macedonia, Ohio and earned a bachelor of arts degree in sports management at Ohio Northern.
 

Branden Jakubcin

Linebackers

In his first season serving as a student assistant coach is Branden Jakubcin. Jakubcin will help coach the linebackers.
 
Jakubcin joined the Heidelberg football program from Ohio Dominican University and earned a varsity letter in 2006 after appearing in six contests at defensive back. He earned a starting spot in the final five contests on the year, recording a career-best 12 tackles in his first start. Jakubcin finished fifth on the team a year ago with 41 tackles.
 
Jakubcin is a native of Huron, Ohio and attended Huron High School.