The Truman State Bulldogs didn’t have to look very far for their next coach. After Gregg Nesbitt announced his retirement on February 14, the university named his son Kellen Nesbitt as the head coach in 2024. While the promotion is currently on an interim basis, Nesbitt has coached with his father for the past 14 seasons with the Bulldogs, recently serving as their defensive coordinator.
With Gregg Nesbitt retiring in what is considered as later in the college football off-season, Truman State had to come up with a plan of action pretty quick. Giving the keys of the program to Kellen Nesbitt made perfect sense with spring practice coming upon us soon. Making this move helps the Bulldogs maintain their current course with most of their systems remaining intact. Players will stay in a system that they’re comfortable with, and there won’t be a lot of personnel shakeups.
The Bulldogs finished the 2023 college football season with a 9-2 record. They finished second in a competitive Great Lakes Valley Conference, and defense was a big contributor to that. Truman State ranked 17th in NCAA football in total defense in 2023. Kellen Nesbitt gets a lot of that credit, and the Bulldogs should continue their current trends. His defense has been at to top of the GLVC in rushing yards and points allowed in nine of the past eleven seasons. They have also been ranked in the top 25 of rushing yards allowed in eight of their past nine seasons.
Kellen Nesbitt may have some big shoes to fill by following in his father’s footsteps. Greg Nesbitt leaves Truman State with an 89-59 record. The Bulldogs also haven’t finished worse than third in the conference in the past six seasons. But it’s safe to say that Nesbitt has been groomed for this opportunity by the best person possible that can help him. We’ll see what the Truman State Bulldogs can do in 2024, and if we can say like father like son.