Coach Jasper Leaving Bethel

McKENZIE (December 20) — After six seasons as head coach of the Bethel University Football program, Coach Michael Jasper (44-20) has announced he is departing the university to become the head coach at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. The Hatters are a NCAA Division I program competing in the Pioneer League.

The Wildcats had 11-win seasons in 2022 and 2023. Jasper was Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year in 2022. After leading Bethel to a conference title, the program’s first 11-0 regular season and a No. 4 ranking in the NAIA national poll in 2022, he was NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. Bethel qualified for the NAIA playoffs twice under Jasper’s guidance, in 2022 and 2023.

“I am deeply grateful for the memories we’ve made, the lessons we’ve learned, and the victories on and off the field. Thank you for your support, trust, and incredible journey,” stated Coach Jasper.

“McKenzie, Tennessee will forever hold a special place in our hearts as it has provided so many ‘firsts’ for my family. The love and support we have felt in the best-kept-secret kind of town has been immeasurable.”

Jasper was the 2022-23 Mid-South Conference Male Coach for Significance. Bethel Interim Director of Athletics Dave McCulley said, “Today is a bittersweet day for the program and school. We are happy for Coach Jasper and this opportunity for him and we appreciate all he has done to elevate Bethel University’s football program. He did a marvelous job, and the team was exciting to follow. The excitement around the program these past few years has been phenomenal. We wish him and his family the very best.”

Before serving as head coach, Jasper was the assistant head coach and coached the defensive line. He previously served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator and also oversaw the strength and conditioning program. Jasper also served as the associate athletic director of internal operations, a post he had held since 2022.

Before Bethel, Jasper was the offensive and defensive line assistant at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. He spent three years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.

Coach Jasper played for the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2005 and 2006 and was a starter on their 2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship team. After redshirting at Middle Tennessee State University, Jasper joined the Bethel Wildcats and was an offensive and defensive lineman from 2008 to 2010. He was the first-ever Wildcat drafted to the NFL in 2011 with his selection by the Buffalo Bills.

He is a graduate of Bethel University with an MBA along with his bachelor’s in university studies.

Assistant Coach Chris Springer will serve as the interim head coach. Springer enters his eighth season on the Bethel football staff in 2024-25. He is the defensive coordinator and serves as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

Springer played at Bethel University and Lindenwood University where he was a four-year letterman and served as captain as a defensive back. Springer graduated from Lindenwood in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in sports recreation and administration from Western Kentucky University in 2017. Springer is a native of Bartlett, Tenn., and resides in Lexington with his wife Megan and daughters Chandler and Sydney.