Defensive Coordinator Mike DuFrane returns for his second season on the St. Scholastica football staff in 2020.
In his first season guiding the defense, the Saints finished 12th in NCAA Division III with four defensive touchdowns and led the nation with 17 fumble recoveries. Senior Eric Soderberg finished second in the country, averaging 13.7 tackles per game. The defensive set a program record with four fumble returns for touchdowns.
DuFrane came to CSS from Marietta College (Ohio) where he had been the Defensive Coordinator the previous three seasons. In his time at Marietta, the team was 3-7 in his first year and finished 7-3 in 2018. As also the Recruiting Coordinator for the Pioneer program, the roster size grew from 73 players in 2016 to 120 players in 2018.
Prior to Marietta, DuFrane was part of the inaugural staff at Lyon College (Ark) of the NAIA ranks where he was the Defensive Coordinator in 2014 and 2015. He also had previous NCAA Division III coaching stops at Lawrence University (Wis.), Carthage College (Wis.), Loras College (Iowa) and the University of Minnesota Morris.
DuFrane played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was a starting defensive tackle on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 2007 NCAA Division III National Champion team. He was also a member of Whitewater’s national runner-up team in 2008.
DuFrane graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Communications and Broadcasting. He completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Carthage College in 2015.
Dufrane is married to his wife Jillian and have three children; Jordy, Reese and Remi.
