Coaching Staff

Head Coach
Dennis McCulloch begins his 19th year at Valley City State and his 16th as the head football coach.
The Vikings finished last year’s campaign 9-2, and qualified for the NAIA Football Championship Series. After posting 9 straight victories, the Vikings finished the regular season ranked #12 in the country. Coach McCulloch also added another DAC championship to his tenure finishing 6-0 in Conference. Along the way the Vikings earned 15 DAC and Association of Independent Institutions (AII) Player of the Week awards including eight for offense, six for defense, and one for special teams. The team also led the DAC with eight all conference awards including most valuable player (LeTheo Proctor), most valuable senior (Jordan Maher), and coach of the year. Proctor and Maher were also named the top offensive and defensive players respectively of the AII as 2 of the 8 Vikings named to the All-Conference team, while McCulloch added another Coach of the Year honor from the Conference in 2011. The two wins over Jamestown College broke a five-game losing streak to the Jimmies dating back to 2007, also marked the return of the ‘Paint Bucket’ travelling trophy.
The 2005 Vikings captured the Dakota Athletic Conference crown by posting a 6-1 record, sharing the title with Dickinson State. McCulloch earned DAC Coach of the Year honors in 2005.

McCulloch's 2000 and 2001 Vikings completed impressive 9-2 seasons, capturing a share of the 2000 DAC-10 championship and making the NAIA National Playoffs in both seasons. As a result of his efforts, McCulloch was named the DAC-10 Coach of the Year in 2000.

Prior to becoming the head coach, McCulloch compiled a 9-1 regular season record and a NDCAC championship in his third season as the defensive coordinator with the Vikings in 1996.

A native of Milbank, SD, McCulloch received his Bachelor's Degree from Northern State and went on to receive his Master of ScienceDegree from NSU in 1989. In McCulloch's time at Northern State he developed a diverse background of experience while coaching linebackers, defensive line, defensive backs and working as the recruiting coordinator.

In 1993, McCulloch became the head football coach at Frazee (MN) High School and before coming to VCSU as the defensive coordinator in 1994. McCulloch's 1996 defense finished the season ranked #2 in NAIA scoring defense, captured a conference championship and qualified for the NAIA Playoffs.

McCulloch became the 22nd head football coach in Valley City State history in December of 1996. The Vikings have amassed a 85-67 record in McCulloch's sixteen seasons at the helm.

In his tenure, 11 Vikings have earned NAIA All-American honors while 21 players have been named NAIA All-American Scholar-Athletes. McCulloch enters the 2007 season second on the all-time victory list behind only VCSU Hall-of-Fame coach Jim Dew's 116 career victories.

Dennis and his wife Lisa, have 3 children, Ryan a VCSU and NDSU alum, Meghan a VCSU Senior, and Alexa.


- Career Coach Records -

Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Gregg Horner begins his 19th year in the Viking program, serving as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.

Horner’s defense helped the team to a 9-2 record in 2011. Coach Horner tutored defensive lineman Jordan Maher who earned the DAC’s most valuable senior award and also the Defensive MVP award for the AII.

As a coach at VCSU, Coach Horner has been a part of four conference championships and four national playoff appearances. His defenses have finished #1 in both scoring defense and total defense in the DAC-10 2000 and 2001 and have produced 32 All-DAC performers, nine NAIA Scholar All-Americans and four NAIA All-Americans.

Since becoming the defensive coordinator, the Horner-led defense has set 16 team or individual school records.

The Fargo native is a 1990 graduate of VCSU and a member of the 1988 squad that captured a NDCAC title and an NAIA Playoff berth. Gregg was also selected as the VCSU Student Senate President in 1989. He spent one season as a student assistant coach at VCSU working with the defensive line under former head coach Jim Dew.

Following graduation, Gregg moved on to spend two years as an assistant coach and social science teacher at Gardner-Edgerton High School in Gardner, Kansas.

Getting the opportunity to get back into the college game, he earned his Masters degree while serving as a graduate assistant coach at South Dakota State from 1992-94.

In 1994, Gregg returned to VCSU where he served as the defensive line coach and Director of Student Activities.

In 1996, he was named the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Football Coach.

Gregg is also a lecturer in the Health Physical Education department at VCSU. Gregg and his wife Kathleen have two children, Iain and Maren.

Linebackers
Rausch Joins Viking Legends

How does an individual become an icon? Well, the progression is something like this: become a starting linebacker, become an All-American, lead your team to an undefeated 9-0 season, be named All-American again, join the coaching staff, become inducted into the VCSU Vikings Hall of Fame, and have your number retired. The icon in reference here is Dave Rausch. “Rouper” has been involved with the Vikings for over 30 years as a player, supporter, and coach.

The West Fargo native came to VCSU in the fall of 1974. Dave earned All-American honors as a linebacker for the Vikings in 1976 and 1977. During the 1976 season Rausch helped lead VCSU to an undefeated 9-0 season and a trip to the NAIA playoffs. That same year, Rausch logged 122 assisted tackles which still stands as the top single season performance all time. In 1977, he logged 147 placing him currently in fourth place for assisted tackles. Rausch’s 163 total tackles in 1976 places him second all-time for total season tackles. From a total career perspective, Rausch is fourth all-time with 310 total tackles and first all time with 230 assisted tackles. Under his guidance, Rouper saw linebackers Ben Aarestad, Josh Kasowski, and Kevin Strang break his school record for tackles in a career eclipsing his record of 310.

Rausch would graduate in 1978 where he took employment at Grotberg Electric where he was an accountant until 1997. Shortly after his departure from Grotberg Rausch opened his own branch of Raymond James Financial Services Incorporated.In 1986, Rausch also began roaming the sidelines for the Vikings coaching linebackers. Dave is currently in his 25th season with the Vikings coaching staff. In addition, Dave was inducted into the VCSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.

In his 25 year his tenure has survived three coaching changes. Coach Jim Dew, who Rausch played for, was the 1st head coach “Roop” experienced. Dew, the all-time winningest coach in Viking history commented, “Dave Rausch is the most dedicated athlete I have ever coached. A leader on and off the field, Dave benched 410 lbs. the first day of practice in 1977. That year he was first team All-American linebacker and the first Defensive Player of the Week ever selected by the NAIA. I think you could truly say that Dave Rausch has devoted his life to Viking Athletics by giving his time, talents and resources over the past 34 years.”

Dennis McCulloch inherited the infectious Dave Rausch as part of his staff in 1997. “Every day we are blessed to have Coach Rausch’s energy and dedication within our program. Whenever I think of Viking Pride, I think of “Roop”, said McCulloch.

30 years ago Dave was the first ever NAIA Defensive Players of the Week and in a ceremony on September 28, 2007 Dave Rausch became the first VCSU Football player to ever have his jersey retired. Dave also currently serves as the president of the VCSU 12th man club that is responsible for raising thousands of dollars each year for football scholarships.

Offensive Coordinator
In Costello’s first season with the Vikings he was co-offensive coordinator and QB coach. In 2011, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and coached the offensive line. With Costello at the helm of the offense, he helped the team to a 9-2 record in 2011. Coach Costello tutored receiver LeTheo Proctor who earned the DAC’s Most Valuable Player award, and also the Offensive MVP award for the AII. LeTheo was joined by four other members of the offense last season on the All-DAC team (OL - Major Hopp, QB Tommy Zinke, TE, Ken Eliacin, RB AJ Pfeifer). Last season the Vikings’ offensive line only allowed seven sacks in the regular season. The offensive line also helped pave the way for A.J. Pfeifer to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark rushing the ball by finishing the season with 1,115 yards. Pfeifer was named to both the All DAC and AII teams along with . For the 2012 campaign, Coach Costello will once again return to coaching the quarterbacks and the tight ends.
Prior to coming to Valley City, Costello spent 3 years coaching the Offensive Line at Truman State University (Mo.). During his time at Truman, Costello was also the team's strength coach and equipment manager.
Costello spent the first few months of 2007 at Lindenwood (Mo.) University as the team's offensive line coach.

In 2005, Costello moved to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) where he was the Wildcats offensive coordinator for two years.

In the 2000 season, Costello was named offensive line coach at Univ. of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Returning back to Bemidji to complete his graduate work, Costello served as the team's running backs coach and strength coordinator. After graduating with his masters degree, Costello moved to Dana College (Neb.) and was the team's offensive line coach, run game coordinator and the school's strength and conditioning coordinator.

Coach Costello played collegiality for Bemidji State (Minn.) from 1995 until a career-ending injury ended his playing days in 1998. He then moved to the coaching side of football serving as student-assistant offensive line coach at Bemidji the next two years. Marty is married to Jenny (Bartz) Costello.

Offensive Line
Coach Charbonneau begins his first season with the Vikings, serving as the offensive Line coach.

Charbonneau comes to Valley City after spending the last three seasons coaching at Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania. While at SFU he helped develop one of the most potent offenses in school history as the run game coordinator coaching the running backs his first two seasons and adding the offensive line during his last season. The Red Flash set single-season school records in 2011 for points, touchdowns and rushing yards. Saint Francis also boasted the most efficient offense in the Northeast Conference in the red zone.

Running back Kyle Harbridge was named an All-American (3rd Team), and both he and offensive lineman Jordan Kelly were placed on the All-NEC Teams. Harbridge also set single season school records for rushing yards, touchdowns, and points. He also set the school record for single game rushing yards, racking up 367 yards on the ground and 457 all-purpose yards vs Morehead State (KY) . The offense was ranked 20th nationally rushing the ball, averaging 204 yards per game.

Prior to his time at Saint Francis University, Charbonneau coached at the University of North Dakota. In 2006 he was the assistant offensive line coach and the team finished the season 11-2 making it to the National Quarterfinals. He was named tight ends coach prior to the 2007 season and in each of his two years in that position he mentored an all-conference tight end: senior Blair Grover was named to the All-Great West Conference first team in 2008 and senior Troy Ott earned All-North Central Conference second team honors in 2007. The UND football team finished the season 10-2 making it to the second round of the national playoffs.

Before his stint at UND, Charbonneau served as the head football coach taking care of both offensive and special teams coordinator duties of the Manitoba provincial champions St-James Rods in 2005 going undefeated. Prior to that, Charbonneau spent three years as the offensive line coach at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada.

Charbonneau has also been invited to guest coached in the Canadian Football League (CFL) five times, assisting the offensive line coach.
2011 Saskatchewan Roughriders , with Coach Steve Buratto
2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders with Coach Tom Freeman
2009 Saskatchewan Roughriders with Coach Bob Wylie
2008 Winnipeg Blue Bombers with Coach Bob Wylie
2007 Winnipeg Blue Bombers with Coach Bob Wylie

An Ottawa, Ontario, native, Charbonneau received his bachelor’s degree from Mount Allison University, where he was an offensive lineman for the Mounties. Paul and his wife Lindsay have a daughter, Makenzie, and they are expecting another baby in November.

Wide Receivers
Coach O Day begins his second year at Valley City State. This season he will be in charge of coaching the wide receivers after serving as the running backs coach for the 2011 campaign.

In 2011, O Day mentored A.J. Pfeifer to both the All DAC and AII teams. Pfeifer capped off his career with the Vikings as he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on the season rushing for 1115 yards.

Prior to joining the Vikings football program, John spent the previous six years coaching with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse while he finished his degree. While at La Crosse, John coached a variety of positions including wide receivers, kickers, linebackers, and defensive backs. UW-La Crosse finished the2010 season with the number two ranked defense in the WIAC. In 2006, UW-La Crosse qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs. He also served as the video coordinator during his tenure with La Crosse.
Coach O Day began his coaching career in 2004 at his alma mater, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School. After spending one season coaching at the high school he moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin to finish his bachelor s degree.

Along with coaching at VCSU, John will also work in the housing department as a Head Resident.

Defensive Assistant
Nate Pecoraro is entering his eighth year at Valley City, after spending 2001 to 2005 as a player he returned to the City of Bridges to begin his coaching career. He is now entering his third year coaching the defensive line for the Vikings. Nate is originally from Minnesota and played high school football at Big Lake, where he was an All State football player. During his tenure as a player, Pecoraro was a four year starter and member of the 2005 Conference Championship team. Nate is a graduate of the physical education program here at VCSU.

Offensive Graduate Assistant
Randy joins the Viking staff as a graduate assistant coaching the running backs.

Elenberger graduated from North Dakota State University in December 2011 with a BS in Sport and Recreation Leadership, and is presently attending graduate school there pursuing a Masters in Leadership in Physical Education and Sport. The past two seasons Randy was an assistant coach at Davies HS in Fargo, where he worked with both the offensive and defensive lines as well as the long snappers.

Elenberger graduated from high school from Milnor, ND in 1998 where he was an All-Conference, All-Region Middle Linebacker. He started his college career at Concordia College Moorhead. He then transferred to Minnesota State University Moorhead to pursue a degree in Athletic Training and Coaching before having to leave school due to a battle with cancer 6 years ago. Randy and his wife Katie have a 16 month old daughter, Aly, and they are expecting another girl in November.

Student Assistant
Brian Niemann is entering his second year as a student assistant with the Vikings defense.
Niemann is a 4th year Physical Education and Health Education major with a minor and coaching. After playing for the Vikings for the first 2 years at VCSU, he was diagnosed with epilepsy and decided to continue football career as a coach rather than a player at that point.