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– Jamestown College stayed within the Jimmie family when finding its new head football coach. The college named defensive coordinator Shawn Frank its new head coach Monday afternoon after a brief search following Bud Etzold’s resignation in late December.
Frank has served as assistant coach for the Jimmies the past eight seasons and was defensive coordinator for the past four years. He succeeds Etzold as head coach after Etzold announced his resignation on Dec. 28.
The college made the announcement Monday during a press conference at the Reiland Fine Arts Center.
“There’s a lot of tough work ahead of us,” Jamestown College President Robert Badal said Monday. “So we wanted someone who had the intense desire to be successful, and we think we have that person in Shawn Frank.”
Frank characterized himself as an emotional person during Monday’s press conference, and said he was proud to take over the program.
“I am extremely proud to be head football coach of Jamestown College,” he said. “It is something that my coaching staff and I will embrace in an everyday manner… We’re certainly going to hit the ground running, roll up our sleeves and we’re going to work hard and get after it. That’s something I pride myself on, that’s how I was raised, and that’s how we’re going to coach.”
Frank also served as recruiting coordinator and managed the Athletic Republic Speed and Acceleration program during his time as an assistant coach. His main position group with Jamestown College was the secondary, where he coached two First Team All-Americans: Gary Thomas in 2007 and Dustin Erbes in 2011. The Jimmie secondary has consistently been one of the top units in the conference in passing yards per game and interceptions.
Frank said he will remain defensive coordinator, saying there will be little change on the defensive side of the ball.
“We will continue to play our brand of football defensively,” he said. “I can guarantee you we’re not going to change our colors much on that side of the ball.”
Frank said they are currently searching for an offensive coordinator.
Prior to taking the assistant coaching job at Jamestown College eight years ago, Frank coached for 10 years in his hometown of Hettinger, N.D. He was head coach for nine seasons, compiling a 49-32 record at Hettinger High School. Under his direction, Hettinger qualified for six state playoffs, won the 2000 Region 4 title, and had two regional runner-up finishes.
Frank has a bachelor of science degree in physical education from the University of Mary. He was a two-time first-team all-conference selection as a defensive back at Mary.
Etzold coached the Jimmies for nine seasons, from 1995 to 1999 and 2008 to 2011. He compiled a 43-45 career record, including a 20-20 record in his latest stint as head coach. Under Etzold, the Jimmies won conference championships in 1997 and 1998 while advancing to the NAIA playoffs. The Jimmies also achieved a No. 1 national ranking in 1998.