Paul Mierkiewicz enters his fourth season with McPherson and 17th overall as a head coach in 2018. He also serves as the Bulldogs offensive and passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Mierkiewicz became McPherson's 30th head coach in December 2014.
In 2017, McPherson ranked 17th in the NAIA in rushing defense per game, 21st in fourth down conversion percentage, 27th in fewest sacks allowed and 30th in scoring offense per game. Two Bulldogs were voted first team All-KCAC, while another 13 were named honorable mention.
Off the field, two Bulldogs were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Seven players were named KCAC Scholar-Athletes.
Mierkiewicz comes to McPherson after spending the 2014 season as an assistant coach at Hempstead (Iowa) High School.
Before Hempstead, Mierkiewicz spent three seasons (2011-13) as the head coach at his alma mater, Loras (Iowa).
Prior to coaching for Loras, Mierkiewicz spent 10 seasons (2001-10) as the head coach for Hastings (Neb.), where he guided the Broncos to an overall record of 65-41, accruing the third most wins in the history of the program while leading the program to two NAIA postseason playoff berths. The team's two best seasons came in 2004 and 2009. The 2004 unit went 8-2 in the regular season and then went on the road to defeat then undefeated No. 5 Lindenwood 20-19 on a last second field goal before falling to St. Francis (Ind.) in the quarterfinals. In 2009, the team finished 9-3; that squad earned NAIA All-Academic Team honors with a team Grade Point Average of 3.0.
Before becoming head coach, Mierkiewicz spent three seasons (1998-2000) as the offensive coordinator for the Broncos, helping lead the team to a 27-5 record during that time. Twelve school records were broken by the offense. Hastings spent most of the 1999 season as the No. 1 team in the NAIA. Mierkiewicz also served as the assistant to the athletic director from 1998-2001.
Mierkiewicz spent four seasons (1994-97) as the offensive coordinator and two seasons (1992-93) as the graduate assistant running backs and head strength coach with Loras.
Mierkiewicz earned a Bachelor of Arts in physical education in 1989 and a Master of Education in physical education with an emphasis in athletic administration in 1995, both from Loras.
Paul and his wife, Heather, a McPherson admissions counselor, have two daughters, Jensen and Abigail.
| Paul Mierkiewicz File |
|
| 1992-93 |
Loras College |
Graduate Assistant - Running Backs / Head Strength Coach |
| 1994-97 |
Loras College |
Offensive Coordinator |
| 1998-2000 |
Hastings College |
Offensive Coordinator |
| 2001-10 |
Hastings College |
Head Coach |
| 2011-13 |
Loras College |
Head Coach |
| 2014 |
Hempstead (Iowa) High School |
Assistant Coach |
| 2015-present |
McPherson College |
Head Coach |
| Year |
School |
Overall |
League |
Conf. |
Notes |
| 2001 |
Hastings |
8-2 |
6-2 |
GPAC |
|
| 2002 |
Hastings |
7-3 |
5-3 |
GPAC |
|
| 2003 |
Hastings |
6-4 |
6-4 |
GPAC |
|
| 2004 |
Hastings |
9-3 |
8-2 |
GPAC |
NAIA National Quarterfinals |
| 2005 |
Hastings |
4-6 |
4-6 |
GPAC |
|
| 2006 |
Hastings |
4-6 |
4-6 |
GPAC |
|
| 2007 |
Hastings |
6-5 |
5-5 |
GPAC |
|
| 2008 |
Hastings |
7-4 |
6-4 |
GPAC |
|
| 2009 |
Hastings |
9-3 |
8-2 |
GPAC |
NAIA First Round; No. 13 Final Ranking |
| 2010 |
Hastings |
5-5 |
5-5 |
GPAC |
|
|
Hastings (10 seasons) |
65-41 |
57-39 |
|
|
| 2011 |
Loras |
1-9 |
0-8 |
IIAC |
|
| 2012 |
Loras |
2-8 |
1-6 |
IIAC |
|
| 2013 |
Loras |
1-6 |
0-4 |
IIAC |
|
|
Loras (3 seasons) |
4-23 |
1-18 |
|
|
| 2015 |
McPherson |
0-10 |
0-9 |
KCAC |
|
| 2016 |
McPherson |
1-10 |
1-8 |
KCAC |
|
| 2017 |
McPherson |
3-7 |
2-7 |
KCAC |
|
|
McPherson (3 seasons) |
4-27 |
3-24 |
|
|
|
Career (16 seasons) |
73-91 |
61-81 |
|
|
