ST. PAUL, Minn. – This Thursday night at 7 p.m. when Concordia-St. Paul opens the season against Minot State for Day of Heroes on the NSIC Thursday Night Football Game of the Week televised on MidcoSN, head coach Shannon Currier will have a new coordinator running the defense.

Sort of.

It's a familiar face for Currier and Concordia University, but defensive coordinator Craig Stern is new to everyone else in the locker room.

Stern called the defensive shots when Currier was head coach the first time around from 2000 to 2003, and when Currier departed CSP for Truman State in the 2004 season, Stern remained in Minnesota and built a strong defensive coordinator resume at St. Olaf College before assuming the head coach position for the Oles.

As Currier mounted at least 4,000 yards of total offense per year culminating a school record 5,598 yards in 2003 (466.5 per game) and racked up at least 296 points peaking at 399 in 2003 (33.3 per game), Stern was doing his part on defense to help the team register records of 7-3, 8-3, 9-2 and 8-4 by ensuring opposing offenses didn't eclipse the 30 point barrier.

In those 44 contests, Currier and the offense rolled to 30-plus points 26 times and produced a 24-2 record in the process.

Meanwhile, the defense only allowed opponents to top 30 points 10 times and held a record of 22-1 when holding opponents to three touchdowns (21 points) or less.

The 2003 team still holds the single season for most sacks (41.5) and its 19 interceptions in 2003 was five shy of 1983's school record and still stands as the second most in a season.

Stern's defensive backfields had 65 interceptions during the 2000-03 run, grabbing at least 14 each season. The pressure certainly played a role as the team had 134.5 sacks over the four year span, getting at least 27.0 each season.

The Currier/Stern duo goes back to their childhood roots as they both hail from Cosmos, Minnesota as chronicled in part one of the four part season preview.

As they look to reclaim early 2000's success in the 2017 season, Currier is excited for what Stern brings to the table.

"I love the defensive system. We're going to be more multiple with more movement involved and we're developing a tougher mentality. We've upped our expectations on the physicality and the overall culture of the defense under coach Stern," said Currier.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Northern Sun has mirrored the NFL in recent seasons with prolific and efficient passing offenses becoming more common.

Last year, 10 teams averaged at least 245 passing yards per game and five topped 290 per contest. It resulted in nine teams averaging at least 33 points per game including four that were able to compile 39 points or more per contest.

Concordia is countering the trend by inserting talent, speed and depth into the secondary. Starting at the boundary cornerback will be Dion Wallisch, a transfer from Minnesota Crookston who was fourth on the 2015 team in tackles with 56 including 4.5 for loss, six pass breakups and an interception.

"Dion brings experience and we've been impressed with his physicality and tackling ability. He can cover, but he'll put the pop on you. He's a phenomenal special teams player, will be part of our kick return unit, will be on the punt block and kickoff coverage units as well. He's been a huge addition," said Currier.

Wallisch also returned kicks in 2015 for UMC, producing 333 yards and averaging 23.8 per return with a long of 45.

While Wallisch holds down one corner spot, senior captain Andrew Capirchio will man the other. In his first year as a transfer in 2016, Capirchio played in all 11 games and earned four starts down the stretch. He compiled 17 total tackles including 13 solo stops to give CSP a pair of players on the outside who can tackle in space. Capirchio also had four pass breakups and an interception.

"He's one of our leaders and has great work ethic. Andrew is poised for his senior season."

With the starting corners providing veteran leadership, the backups will provide the youthful energy as redshirt freshman Desmond Hudnall and true freshman Lorenzo Kendricks have impressed in the fall to earn key secondary roles.

The safeties also bring a strong mix of experience and youth with senior Breon Hoosier as the starting strong safety leading the unit. He's played in 29 career games and had multiple starts every year in the program before missing the 2016 season. He enters the year with 101 career tackles, three for loss and six pass breakups.

"Breon has experience as a cornerback which is huge for our secondary. We need more speed and cover guys with the way this league's offenses operate and Breon will be an asset in slowing opponent passing attacks down."

He'll be flanked by sophomore Brian Szutkowski who saw action in all 11 games as a reserve and special teams standout in 2016 as a redshirt freshman as he compiled 10 tackles.

"Brian has been phenomenal in his improvement this fall. He's worked hard, has a lot of energy and football is important to him and it shows. He's a guy you root for because of his hard work and development. On the field, his speed stands out as a strength."

Adding experience to the safety position and expected to compete with Szutkowski for playing time and provide depth is junior Brandon Russell who brings 20 games of experience and 79 career tackles to the secondary.  He's the second leading returner in tackles from the 2016 team when he produced 48 including five for loss.

"Brandon brings experience and is a guy who just makes plays. He had a great start to the camp but worked through some injuries, but he'll be a valuable player for us this season."

Backing up at the strong safety position will be true freshman Dez Bassett, "he's an athlete who can play corner or safety. He's a big corner at 6-feet tall but he'll be breaking in at the safety position for us."

With the mix of experience and first year players, Currier has a lot of confidence in the unit noting that it's played as well as any spot on the defense in camp.

LINEBACKERS
Similar to the secondary, the linebackers feature plenty of game experience across the starting spots with plenty of youth providing depth and competition.

A senior captain, Frantz Polimice will see one of the more increased roles on the team going from a junior to senior season. As a reserve in 2016, Polimice played in seven contests and made six tackles.

The time he's spent developing his game was immediately noticed by Stern.

"He made a great first impression with coach Stern to the tune of 'this guy's a starter,'" said Currier. "He's had a great spring, summer and fall and may be the leader of our defense. He's a fast, explosive playmaker."

Opposite Polimice at the SAM linebacker spot is senior Billy Brown who has 27 games played under his belt and is coming off a career-high 33 tackle campaign. Brown's career has taken him from being recruited out of high school as a quarterback but he's found his calling at the Division II level as a linebacker with his strength and athleticism.

"Billy is an athletic kid and his measurable are as good as anyone on the team with his size, speed and strength. He's explosive and is able to play faster. We're expecting a big senior year from Billy.

With 30 career games played and one of the top single game tackles performances in school history, senior JJ Przybylka is projected as the starting MIKE linebacker. Just two tackles shy of 100 for his career, Przybylka is coming off a career high 56 tackles and is the team's top returning tackler. He had a team season high 17 tackles, fourth most in a game in team history, in a road win at Minnesota Crookston last year.

Competing with Przybylka for the starting spot and key game action is junior Mitch Zillman who had been working through injuries during camp but brings 19 games of experience to the mix.

The two experienced MIKE linebackers will be pushed by freshman Jake Portz who has quickly put himself into the mix at the position.

Junior Isaiah Walker played in 10 games in his first year with the team last year and is expected to be part of the mix at the outside linebacker spot behind Brown after transitioning from safety a year ago. True freshmen Gabe Nkumu and Blake Evans have also factored into key roles during fall camp.

With three freshmen, one at each of the linebacker positions poised to be part of the travel roster, Currier was confident they'd help the team immediately, noting that they'd each play "in some capacity."

DEFENSIVE LINE
In order for the secondary to hold its coverage and create turnovers and for the linebackers to be free to track down ball carriers, the defensive line will have to do its job in pressuring quarterbacks and being a force against opposing offensive linemen in the running game.

Senior fourth year starter Chazz Roberts has played all 33 games during his career and compiled 97 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He'll occupy the nose tackle position on the interior line.

"Chazz is nicknamed 'War Daddy' and has been voted the toughest player on the team. He's battled through injuries to have a good camp this fall and we're looking forward to a big year from him," said Currier.

Next to Roberts will be the 3-technique defensive tackle Cole Riemer at a position that features strong depth. Riemer played in 10 games as a true freshman, producing 21 tackles in his rookie campaign.

He's joined by junior Adam Miller who's played in 21 games with 42 career tackles and sophomore Kelly Pierce who led the team with four sacks and was second on the defense with 6.5 tackles for loss last year as a redshirt freshman.

"All three are very quality players who have been making plays in a good fall camp. Our depth at this position allows us to have a more versatile defensive line if we're able to move them around."

The defensive ends are returners Dylan Wood and Jackson Dobbs. Like Riemer, Wood played a key reserve role as a true freshman last year and made 23 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while playing all 11 games.

Dobbs played a significant role in 2015 as a breakout player, making 45 tackles with 6.0 for loss in 10 games to go with 1.5 sacks. He's expected to miss part of the season as he works his way back from injury during fall camp.

"Wood has been productive and keeps getting better after a good freshman year. We will also see Pierce playing at the spot. Dobbs brings leadership to the line and is a playmaker up front and is a guy who has proven himself at this level."

With Dobbs out for the early part of the season, true freshman Chris Garrett should find himself in a key role. "Chris is a very explosive football player and we hope someday he'll be like Zach More. He's fast, physical, explosive and will cause havoc on the quarterback."

Senior DeAnthony McKinley will also factor into the defensive line rotation, noted as being a physical presence by Currier.

Adding youth to the trench will be redshirt freshmen Rahiem Ladson and Malik Patterson and true freshman Neal Kallen.

"Rahiem will play a key role at the nose tackle spot behind Chazz and he's been noticed as one of our best scout team players as a true freshman when he wreaked havoc on the offense. He keeps getting bigger and stronger and will have a significant role."