Coach ,

As we continue our Champions series we focus on NCAA DIII and Coach Pete Fredenburg and the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. 

The Crusaders defeated North Central 57-24 in the Stagg Bowl to finish their undefeated season as NCAA Division III National Champions.  

Head Coach Pete Fredenburg earned the honor of Division III Coach of the year for 2021, and has built one of the most dominant programs in the entire country.  

Coach Fredenburg takes pride in how they do things and while every position is filled with talent, the Crusaders pay attention to detail in every aspect of the game.   

To illustrate this, Coach Fredenburg shared how they play defensive line at UMHB at the Texas HS Coaches Association Convention. He started by covering the essentials of defensive line play and his philosophy on how his team needs to be coached. He wants his linemen to attack the line of scrimmage and be successful with technique. As he states, it’s about winning in a one-on-one environment. (Click image for video).

Video: Defensive Line Play at UMHB

Along with developing sound fundamentals, defensive linemen need to be great at block recognition. It helps them diagnose a play to better do their job. Coach Fredenburg illustrates that in this video:

Video: Block Recognition for Edge Players

Of course, pass rush is essential for championship defense. Coach Fredenburg teaches 2 pass rush techniques - the speed rush and the power rush as well as the aiming points of the pass rusher onto the quarterback (click on image for video).  

Video: Fundamentals of Pass Rushing

Coach Fredenburg has built a perennial powerhouse at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. From their culture to the way everything is coached, the expectation is that it is done at an extremely high level.  It’s what has brought UMHB to the top in 2021!

Congratulations to the University of Mary Hardin Baylor on their historic season and a National Championship!

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski