Northern State University Athletics

The 26th head coach in Wolves football history, Tom Dosch enters his tenth year at the helm of the Wolves and 28th year of collegiate coaching in the fall of 2019. In his tenure the Wolves have gone 47-52. 

2018 brought a 4-7 overall record for the Wolves with seven NSIC All-Conference honorees including first team recipient, Noah MacPherson and the NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Dakota Larson. The Wolves continued their consistent success in the classroom with 21 student-athletes named to the NSIC All-Academic team. Of those 21, 11 earned the Team of Excellence honor, holding a GPA above a 3.60. 

In his eighth season at the helm, Northern went 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC North finishing third overall in the division. Six Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams, with one first team selection in senior running back Nicholas Truen. In addition, 25 student-athletes were named to the NSIC All-Academic team, posting a GPA of 3.20 or better. 

In 2016 the Wolves finished 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC North. A total of 13 Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams including first teamers Conner Doherty, Tyler Robel, Channing Barber, Chad Stoterau, and Nathan Shaw. The career accolades continued for Doherty, Barber, and Stoterau as the trio was named to the Don Hansen All-Region teams. Barber and Doherty notched their second straight All-American honors, while Doherty and Stoterau were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans®. In preparation for the 2017 season, Dosch signed the largest class of his NSU career in February of 2016 with 44 additions. 

In his sixth year with the program, in 2015, Dosch led the Wolves to a 6-5 record and a share of the NSIC North Division Title. Two Wolves were named NSIC Players of the Week in Adrian Krupka and Channing Barber. A total of ten Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference Teams including first team honorees Conner Doherty, Tyler Robel, Channing Barber, and Chad Stoterau. The Wolves also led the league off the field with a conference leading 31 student-athletes on the NSIC All-Academic Team. The conference high was the fourth consecutive honor for both Dosch and the Wolves. Conner Doherty and Channing Barber were also named to the Don Hansen All-America Second and Honorable Mention Teams. 

In 2014, Dosch was named the NSIC Coach of the Year after leading Northern to its best season since 1999, with an 8-3 record overall, including a 6-1 mark in the NSIC North Division and 5-1 record in road contests. The Wolves finished second in the North and fourth overall in the league, their best finish since 2005.

A total of nine student-athletes were named All-NSIC in 2014, including four first team selections in Conner Doherty, Jared Jacobson, Tyler Robel and Chad Stoterau. Doherty was an All-Super Region Three honoree by multiple publications and Jacobson was named all-region by the Don Hansen Football Committee.

In 2013, the Wolves went 4-7 and had seven student-athletes named All-NSIC, including first team selection Doherty. Dosch tallied his first winning season in 2012, going 6-5 overall, with a third-place finish in the division. He also coached seven NSIC All-Conference performers that season, including first team selections Logan Dosch at defensive back and Mark Hanley at wide receiver.

Dosch's teams have continued to excel not only on the field of play but in the classroom as well. The Wolves have led the NSIC All-Academic selection from 2012-16 and compiled a team GPA above a 3.0 for eight consecutive semesters as well. 

Prior to his time at Northern, Dosch spent two seasons at Southern Illinois University, overseeing the inside linebackers and special teams for the Salukies, who won the Missouri Valley Conference title both years. SIU qualified for the NCAA Division I-Football Championship Sub-Division (FCS) playoffs in both 2008 and 2009, finishing the 2008 season ranked eighth in the nation. The Salukies were also ranked No. 1 in two national polls at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

Dosch opened his head coaching career at Jamestown College, where he compiled a record of 25-17 through four season. Under his direction, the Jimmies qualified for the NAIA playoffs twice and were ranked as high as sixth in the nation in 2007. He also coached players to 14 All-America honors and 18 Academic All-America accolades in those four seasons.

Before taking over at Jamestown, Dosch spent eight years as the defensive line/outside linebackers coach at the University of North Dakota. The Sioux won five North Central Conference titles (1993-94, 1999, 2001 and 2003) and made two national title game appearances (2001 and 2003) in that span, winning the Division II national crown in 2001. Dosch was also a graduate assistant for the Sioux for the 1993-94 seasons. All told, the Sioux compiled a record of 97-27 with 20 all-conference picks and nine All-Americans in his ten seasons on staff.

A 1992 graduate of Dickinson State University, Dosch was a 4-year letter-winner and a 2-year starter and is a current member of the school’s Hall of Fame. He also earned two letters as a member of the basketball squad. Following his playing career, he spent the 1991 season as the wide receivers coach for Dickinson State.

Dosch’s teams – as a player, head or assistant coach – have won 12 conference championships and advanced to the national playoffs 14 times, including two national title games. His family has some familiarity with the university including his father, Al Dosch, who is a 1969 graduate of Northern State. He retired as the winningest high school football coach in North Dakota history with a record of 238-65-4.

He and his wife, Tina, have a daughter named Lauren and son named Matthew.