Valpo Football Set to Kick Off First Fall Camp Under Head Coach Andy Waddle
The moment Andy Waddle stood behind the lectern on Dec. 11, making his opening remarks at his introductory press conference as the head coach of the Valparaiso University football team, a series of “firsts” ensued.
First team meeting, first offseason workout, first signing day, first spring practice, first spring game. As the first day of the first fall camp of the Waddle Era takes place on Wednesday, the Beacons are counting down to the “first” that everyone has been waiting for – the first game. Exactly one month from Wednesday, Valpo will welcome Virginia Lynchburg to Brown Field on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.
“The guys are ready to get to work and we think we have the opportunity to exceed some people’s expectations of us,” Waddle said. “I think that guys have been very receptive to the messaging that myself and our staff have given. We have a unit that I think believes in each other and what we’re trying to accomplish. I’m expecting that we’ll surprise a few people.”
While there is naturally some roster turnover after a coaching transition, numerous players from the 2024 squad are back for 2025 and enthusiastic about simultaneously continuing the Valpo football tradition while embracing a new era. Four starters return on offense – quarterback Caron Tyler, preseason all-conference running back Michael Mansaray, offensive lineman Niko Paic and offensive lineman Noah Kline.
“We’re a close-knit team,” Paic said. “Those are my brothers for life. I wouldn’t have wanted to be any other place. Those are my guys and I didn’t want to leave them. Talking to the coaches, I really enjoyed my conversations with them and those things led me to coming back. There’s an excited vibe around the team; it’s been very high energy all summer. We’ve had one of the best summers since I’ve been here. That shows how great we can be and how our leaders can step up and show the standard. It shows our efforts of trying to become a great team and turn it around.”
The Beacons have three starters (started over 50 percent of the team’s games in 2024) back on the defensive side of the ball – defensive back Nic Lendino, defensive back Mark Johnson and defensive lineman Isaiah Fowler.
“Everybody is hungry to make a name for ourselves and make a name for Valpo,” Fowler said. “We saw the preseason poll and we were ranked second to last, and that puts a chip on our shoulder to prove everyone wrong. A lot of people don’t think we’re going to be good, but we’re hungry to prove people wrong and show them that we’re going to be an improved team this year.”
Fowler had 25 tackles on the defensive line last season, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
“I’ve definitely changed a lot in my time at Valpo,” he said. “I played mostly o-line in high school, and with my size I had to go to defensive line, which is a lot more technical of a position. My freshman year, I was technically bad, but these past few years, I’ve really worked on it and tried to be a perfectionist. I’ve gotten a lot more athletic than I was my freshman year, but I’ve also gotten very technically sound at the defensive line position. I’m obsessed with being one of the best people out there.”
The start of camp marks the official beginning for a new-look coaching staff under Waddle. Offensive coordinator Reed Florence, defensive coordinator Zach Feltrop, wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Terry Geiger, offensive line coach Peter Nank, defensive backs coach Michael Joseph, tight ends coach Connor Vierstra and quality control coach [defensive line] Davie Busch have all joined the fold.
Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator/defensive line coach RJ Ghilarducci and running backs coach/specialists coach Evan Matthes return from last year’s staff along with Director of Football Operations Sarah Hacker. In addition, Waddle has added a pair of recent Valpo football alums to the staff with Colin Graves serving as safeties coach and Danny Files as assistant offensive line coach. A pair of familiar faces are leading the sports medicine and performance areas in popular Director of Sport Performance Luke Campbell and Head Football Athletic Trainer Nicole Mioduski, who enters her eighth season at Valpo.
“I love Coach Waddle; he’s a very inspirational guy,” Fowler said. “He’s a guy who you want to do your best for. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, he’s very straight up and honest and real. He knows how to inspire us to play our best and call us out when we’re not performing to the standard. What helped me continue to stay at Valpo was Coach RJ (Ghilarducci). He is an amazing position coach and a person who will invest in you and your talent. To see that he was still here made the decision a lot easier for me to stay. When I’m being coached by Coach RJ, I know I’m going to improve a lot as a player.”
Fowler, a Gary native and Chesterton High School product, and Paic, a graduate and native of Crown Point, are two of the closest-to-home Beacons. Season tickets are available by clicking here. Check out our preseason hype video by clicking here. More coverage of the 2025 Beacons is on the way before the season kicks off. The 2025 roster will be available soon, media day is set for Aug. 10 including a preseason press conference that will be published on ValpoAthletics.com and full season preview content will be available leading into Week 1.
“We’re going to be fun; we’re going to be exciting,” Paic said. “It’s a new era. We’re going to be able to go out there this fall and surprise a lot of people. It’s a great team; we have a lot of talent and the coaches are awesome to work with. We’re excited.”
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