GARDNER ACCEPTS TABOR FOOTBALL HEAD COACHING POSITION

HILLSBORO, Kan. – Three years after joining the football coaching
staff, Mike Gardner, Hillsboro, has accepted the position of head
football coach at Tabor College, according to athletic director Don
Brubacher.

The announcement comes one week after Tim McCarty’s resignation to
accept the head football coaching position at East Central University,
Ada, Okla.

Gardner, who gained honors as both an AFLAC National Assistant Coach of
the Year and American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of
the Year during the 2003 season, is excited to step up to the challenge
of continuing the football program’s success, as well as his team’s
success in the classroom.

“It’s been a goal of mine [to become head coach],” said Gardner. “It’s
an opportunity to continue at Tabor College – to continue working with
the supportive administration and a group of players that are just a
great group of guys to coach.”

A football team meeting was held Monday evening, and according to
Gardner, “the reaction from the players was extremely positive.”

Gardner most recently served as assistant head football coach and
defensive coordinator for the Bluejays.

“Coach Gardner has proven his leadership abilities during his time at
Tabor,” said Brubacher, “and we are confident he will develop our
football program in the best ways possible.”

The Bluejays - who finished 0-10 just a few years ago – ended their
best season to date last fall with a 9-2 record and a bid to the
national playoffs. They finished second in the KCAC and were nationally
ranked as high as 13th in the NAIA Division Ii during the season.

Tabor College is a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
(KCAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).