Goeser Resigns, Morgan Returning to NDSU as Defensive Tackles Coach

Zachary Lucy

Football
7/2/2025 10:00:00 AM

FARGO, N.D. – A familiar name will be returning to the North Dakota State University football program to replace veteran assistant coach Nick Goeser, who stepped away from coaching on Monday, June 30, after spending 15 seasons with the Bison.
 
NDSU’s new defensive tackles coach will be Kody Morgan, who spent seven seasons at NDSU from 2016 through 2022 under head coaches Chris Klieman and Matt Entz. He spent the past two seasons as the safeties coach at Kent State and was the defensive coordinator in 2024.
 
Morgan was at NDSU in the offensive quality control position for 2016 and 2017, served as cornerbacks coach and punt return coach from 2018 to 2021, and was special teams coordinator and safeties coach in 2023. He coached defensive line at Wisconsin-Stout in 2014 and 2015 before coming to NDSU, and he also coached defensive line at the University of Mary as a graduate assistant in 2013.
 
Morgan was part of four national championships and five conference championships in his first stint at NDSU. The Bison led the FCS in passing yards allowed in 2019, and Morgan coordinated the punt return unit that ranked first nationally in yards per return during the 2020-21 season. He helped develop five professional players – Destin Talbert, Jayden Price, Marquise Bridges, Michael Tutsie and Josh Hayes.
 
Goeser was the only coach on staff for all 10 of NDSU’s FCS national championships and he was part of 15 straight NCAA playoff teams at North Dakota State. He came to NDSU in 2010 as defensive tackles coach, was named defensive line coach in 2022, coached the defensive ends in 2023, and was elevated to co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach in 2024. He also spent time as the recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator, and pro scout liaison.
 
During Goeser’s tenure, the Bison led the nation in scoring defense five times, including three straight years from 2011 to 2013 and again in 2019 and 2021. He coached four All-Americans at NDSU, including defensive tackles Matthew Gratzek in 2010, Ryan Drevlow in 2013 and Eli Mostaert in 2024, and defensive end Spencer Waege in 2022, who was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.