Football | 2/25/2010 12:00:00 AM

McPherson, Kan. – Interim head coach Joe Bettasso has been named the head football coach at McPherson College. The announcement was made official Wednesday afternoon at a meeting with the current Bulldog football players and coaching staff.

“We are pleased to have Joe assume the head coaching responsibilities,” said McPherson athletic director Jenni Richardson. “He is well respected by the players and will have great support staff in place. The team is excited and focused on next season and looks to continue building on the foundation of success that was established with the 2009 season. We look for great things to come in the future.”

“It’s an ultimate compliment by the administration and the athletic director to promote one of my former players and coaches to continue with the program and the foundation that was started three years ago,” said former McPherson head coach Brian Ward. “Joe knows this program, the philosophy, and scheme inside and out. He is the perfect man for the job right now. I am very proud of him and how far he has come. The administration knows what they are doing and wants to win. They did the right thing.”

Bettasso has been the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at McPherson the past two seasons. In just two seasons, Bettasso turned a defense that ranked no better than fifth in the KCAC into a unit that ranked amongst the top 30 nationally in rushing defense per game (8th), opponent third down conversion (9th), sacks (20th), total defense per game (26th) and scoring defense per game (29th).

As a recruiter, Joe has been a key part of the growth of the McPherson College football team. Since 2006, the program’s squad size has increased from a little over 80 to more than 90 players wearing the McPherson College uniform Saturday afternoons.

Prior to McPherson, Bettasso spent one season as a defensive backs coach at Missouri Southern State University.

Bettasso was a three-year starter at Missouri Southern, lettering four times under the direction of former Lions coach Bill Cooke and the late John Ware. During the 2004 season, he finished third on the team with 59 tackles, including a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss. He ranks tied for ninth all-time on the Lions single game sacks list with a 2.5 sack performance against Bacone College on August 23, 2003.

Bettasso is a native of Joplin, Mo., and currently resides in McPherson.