Minnesota State defensive coordinator Jake Dickert joined the Minnesota State football coaching staff in the spring of 2014.
Boasting several years of coaching experience, Dickert spent a year as the defensive coordinator at Augustana (S.D.) prior to joining the Mavericks. Under his direction, five of the Vikings' six All-NSIC honorees came on the defensive side of the ball, including a pair of first team selections in Jake Lee and Ben Skelly. As a team, Augustana ranked in the top 20 in NCAA Division II in points per game with 19.5 points allowed in 2013. The Vikings also had the NSIC's second best pass defense and third best rushing defense.
The Kohler, Wis., native spent a season with Southeast Missouri State as the defensive backs coach where the Redhawks finished the 2012 season in the top 20 in turnovers in the FCS and also boasted the second-best pass defense in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Dickert served as the University of South Dakota's defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2011, where his squad finished second in the Great West Conference in pass defense, pass defense efficiency and interceptions.
Prior to joining USD, Dickert spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at North Dakota State and one season as a graduate assistant at UW-Stevens Point.
As a player, Dickert played four winning seasons at UW-Stevens Point. He was named UWSP's Wide Receiver of the Year in 2005 and 2006, to go along with an All-Wisconsin Athletic Conference nod in 2006.
Dickert earned his bachelor's degree in Secondary Math Education in 2007 and his master's degree in General Education in 2009 from UW-Stevens Point. He and his wife, Candice, are the parents of a daughter (Rylee) and a son (Jett).
Hoffner on Dickert: "Coach Dickert made a big splash in 2013, in his debut as a defensive coordinator in the NSIC. Jake will bring a formidable approach to sound defensive football. The attention to detail and thoroughness are a mainstay in his repertoire. We are looking forward to a productive defense this fall."
