Last updated July 19, 2013
Brian Mohnsen is in his third year as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Southeast.
Mohnsen, otherwise known as Coach “Moose,” joined the Redhawks staff in February, 2011.
In his first year, Mohnsen coached three linebackers who ranked among the team’s top-five leading tacklers. Blake Peiffer, who was named to multiple All-America teams, headlined that group as the Redhawks only First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honoree in 2011. Peiffer broke Southeast’s all-time single-season record in tackles with 151.
Most recently, Mohnsen coached his first OVC Defensive Player of the Year when Peiffer earned the coveted honor in 2012. Peiffer became only the third Southeast player to be named OVC Defensive Player of the Year and first since 1997.
As a team, Southeast ranked second in the OVC in pass defense during Mohnsen’s first two years as defensive coordinator.The Redhawks gave up 244.8 yards per game through the air last season. Southeast also finished third in the conference in turnover margin (+7) during the 2012 campaign.
A native of McCook, Neb., Mohnsen coached the linebackers (2006) and defensive line (2007-09) at the University of Buffalo before joining the Redhawks staff. He also coached the defensive line at Minnesota State-Mankato.
At Buffalo, Mohnsen helped lead the Bulls to back-to-back Mid-American Conference East Division Championships (2007 Co-Champions, 2008 Outright Champions). Buffalo made its first-ever trip to a bowl game in 2008 (International Bowl). Mohnsen coached standout defensive ends Steve Means and Trevor Scott, and linebacker Ramon Guzman during his time at Buffalo. Means was named to Phil Steele’s All-Freshman First-Team, Scott was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2008 and Guzman signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006.
Mohnsen was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Northwest Oklahoma State in 2004, where his defense ranked second nationally in total defense and pass defense, third in rushing defense and fifth in scoring defense.
Mohnsen spent 12 years at Nebraska (1992-2003), serving as director of the Cornhuskers video scouting department.
A former letterman for the Husker football team, Mohnsen graduated from Nebraska with a degree in secondary education in 1991. During Mohnsen’s collegiate career, he has been part of three National Championships (1994, 1995, 1997) and 13 Conference titles. In addition, Mohnsen was teammates with current Southeast offensive line coach Brian Boerboom and defensive backs coach Kenny Wilhite at Nebraska.
Mohnsen and his wife, Kerri, have a daughter, Madison, who is a member of the Southeast Missouri Sundancers.
