Copy of story from Minot Daily News (link)

Biesiot: Restore the tradition

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Sports Editor mlinnell@minotdailynews.com

Minot State Univeristy head football coach candidate Tony Biesiot meets with members of the press Friday at the Christensen Room at the MSU Dome. Biesiot, an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is one of four prospective coaches the university is interviewing on campus over the next week. Michael Linnell/MDN

Tony Biesiot said it felt good to be back on campus.

The Minot State University head football coach candidate — a former MSU assistant coach — toured the university and met with various staff members during his interview Friday.

The visit was part of an ongoing search to replace former MSU head coach Mike Sivertson, who resigned in November. Biesiot is the first of four candidates to interview in person at the university.

“It made me feel comfortable,” he said when asked about his tour. “I was very impressed with Minot State. It has changed a lot since I coached here — changed for the better.”

Biesiot coached the defensive line for one season with the Beavers during the 2003 season. He has spent the past three season's with NCAA Division II University of Minnesota-Duluth as the defensive line coach and academic coordinator.

One of the main themes for Biesiot was restoring the Beavers' tradition. Specifically, he talked about building back strong rivalries with schools like his alma mater, Dickinson State University.

“That, I think has been missing,” he said. “We need to restore the tradition. You do that by winning games. You still have to win games.”

While Biesiot is young, 29, and doesn't have as much coaching experience as the other three candidates, he has a solid pedigree. He is the son of longtime head coach Hank Biesiot at Dickinson State — both playing for and coaching with dad at DSU.

“I have talked with (his father) a little, but it has been more about what to get mom for Christmas,” he joked. “Obviously, he has been very successful. We probably talked more about the hiring process than anything.”

While the head coach deals with much more than just strategy, Biesiot's offensive and defensive philosophies mimic the offense and defense Duluth head coach Kyle Schweigert currently runs.

“Whatever it takes to win,” Biesiot said when asked about his strategy. “We run the spread offense at Duluth and a 3-4 on defense that is very aggressive. That is what I like to do. But you have to have the best athletes you can recruit to run any of that.”

Biesiot feels that MSU has the ability to contend for national championships, both with resources and with local talent.

“I have always thought Minot State was a great place to work,” he said. “A place to win a national championship.”

The university will bring in the remaining candidates after the Christmas holiday. Paul Rudolph, a St. Cloud State assistant, is on campus Tuesday, Joseph Austin, an assistant at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) is at MSU Wednesday and Robert Barnhill, an assistant at Concordia University (Wis.) tours Thursday. MSU plans on making a final decision in the first week of January.