Joe Beschorner joined Minnesota State as the Mavericks' offensive coordinator in the spring of 2015 after seven seasons at Simpson College.
Beschorner's first season as the interim offensive coordinator saw the Mavericks rewrite the record book. The Maverick offense went on to score 499 points in 2015, which is the third-highest single season tally in program history. MSU also rushed for 2,672 yards and passed for 2,752 yards, which ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in a season at MSU. Minnesota State's 5,424 yards of total offense were the fifth-most in a season at MSU as well.
Beschorner's first year as a Maverick also saw several Maverick student-athletes receive multiple honors, including seniors Connor Thomas and Herschel Prater who claimed All-American accolades. Thomas received CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, while Prater took home All-American accolades from D2Football.com, Don Hansen and the CCA. The Mavericks also boasted five All-NSIC selections, including three NSIC First Team honorees.Â
The Maverick offense once again worked its way into the record books during the 2016 season. MSU quarterbacks boasted a 63% completion percentage, which set a single-season record. The Maverick quarterbacks also threw 34 touchdown passes, which were the second most in a season, and their 2,693 passing yards were the ninth most in a season in program history. MSU’s 366 points scored and 4,558 yards of total offense ranked eighth and ninth in a season at Minnesota State, respectively.
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The 2016 season also saw the three members of the Maverick offense go on to receive All-NSIC accolades, including Sam Schrauth and Erik Fuller who received All-NSIC First Team honors. Both Fuller and Schrauth went on to receive Don Hansen All-Central Region Third Team honors.
In 2017, the Maverick offense fired on all cylinders as it established a single-season rushing record with 4,036 yards. MSU also tallied 562 points, 6,524 yards of offense and 34 passing touchdowns, all of which were the second-most in a season in team history. On the individual level, tailback Nate Gunn set an MSU single-season rushing record record with 1,550 yards, while wide receiver Shane Zylstra tied the MSU single-season in touchdown catches with 15.
A total of 16 Mavericks received All-NSIC honors in 2017, including eight members of the offense. Nate Gunn, Evan Heim, Tyler Schmidt, Sam Schrauth and Shane Zylstra all claimed All-NSIC First Team honors. Zylstra also garnered NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Gunn boasted NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors.
The Maverick offense proved dominant again in the 2018 season as MSU tallied 55 points, 6,454 yards of total offense, both of which are the third most in a season in team history. MSU tallied 3,345 rushing yards, to go along with 3,109 passing yards. Nate Gunn broke the MSU single-season rushing record with 1,705 rushing yards and 22 touchdown carries, while Shane Zylstra set an MSU single-season record with 1,261 receiving yards. A total of 13 Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors during the 2018 season, including five from the offense. Nate Gunn, Evan Heim, Hunter Toppel and Shane Zylstra each claimed All-NSIC First Team honors.
The 2019 season saw the Mavericks rewrite the record books as they established several team single season records including points scored (712), rushing yards (4,246), rushing attempts (713), rushing touchdowns (59), total offense (7,766) and all-purpose yards (9,063). Eight members of the Maverick offense would go on to receive All-NSIC honors, including Jared Gossen, Evan Heim, Nate Gunn, Tyler Schmidt and Shane Zylstra who all received All-NSIC First Team accolades. Beschorner was also named the FootballScoop NCAA Division II Coordinator of the Year also.
The Mavericks finished the 2019 season ranked in the top-10 of several offensive categories in Division II including total offense (4th/517.7), rushing offense (5th/283.1), scoring offense (1st/47.5) and first downs (1st/375).
In total, the MSU offense has seen 29 Mavericks claim All-NSIC honors during Beschorner's tenure as offensive coordinator. He has also coached seven All-Americans in Connor Thomas, Herschel Prater, Jake Porter, Hunter Toppel, Evan Heim, Nate Gunn and Shane Zylstra.
As a member of the Simpson football staff, Beschorner served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator during his first two seasons with the Storm, Beschorner helped mold the Storm into one of the best rushing attacks in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In 2008, the Storm led the IIAC in rushing and ranked second in 2009.
Beschorner coached Simpson quarterback Taylor Nelson who went on to claim IIAC Offensive MVP honors as the Storm ranked second in the league in passing from 2011-13. Nelson also set numerous school records under Beschorner including career passing yards, completions, touchdowns and total offense per game.
Prior to his time at Simpson, Beschorner spent five seasons as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of South Dakota. He also served as a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State under former head coach Dan Runkle during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.
The Lohrville, Iowa native is a 2000 Simpson graduate (BA), as well as a 2002 Minnesota State graduate (MA).
Beschorner and his wife Dr. Beth Beschorner have four children, including three daughters Olivia, Shea and Piper, and son, Mack.
