With spring football practice in full swing, Stetson head coach Roger Hughes has filled an opening on his coaching staff by naming Brian Boerboom offensive line coach.

Boerboom replaces Tim Holt, who left Stetson to take a position with the Oakland Raiders.

“Tim Holt did a fabulous job for us and he was rewarded for that with an NFL contract,” Hughes said. “I see Brian in the same light because he has the same demeanor type and he has expertise. I was looking for both.”

Prior to joining the Stetson staff, Boerboom spent eight seasons as the offensive line coach at Southeast Missouri State where, in 2010, the RedHawks became the first team in OVC history to have four first team All-Ohio Valley Conference players in the same season. He also mentored two All-Americans and one player who earned the FCS Rimington Award as the top lineman in the nation.

“Brian Boerboom brings a wealth of experience,” Hughes said. “He played at the highest level for a team that I am very familiar with. The values that he brings from that program – how he is going to treat the players and how he is going to coach them – he clearly believes in the same fundamentals that I believe in. He made a big impression on me in the interview because he uses football to teach kids about life.”

A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., Boerboom played collegiately at the University of Nebraska for coach Tom Osborne. He was an All-Big Eight selection in 1991 and played in both the Fiesta Bowl and the Orange Bowl while at Nebraska.

Boerboom spent the 1992 season on the practice squad for the Cincinnati Bengals and also played for the Connecticut Coyotes of the Arena Football League.

He started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Greenville College and Colorado College. He spent time coaching at several high schools in Colorado before landing the head job at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Va., where he coached from 2003-05.

He joined the coaching staff at Southeast Missouri State in 2006, and his efforts helped the RedHawks become the top rushing team in the OVC in each of his last three seasons.

“He is a very good recruiter and has experience as an offensive coordinator, which will help from an organizational standpoint,” Hughes said. “Our staff is thin in full time positions, so all of us have to wear a lot of hats. Having someone who has been through the 'wars' at a number of different places, and who has played at the highest level, he brings an expectation and a sense of what we need to do to get to that level.”

In addition to his collegiate efforts, Boerboom has been an instructor at a number of summer camps, including at N.C. State, the University of Virginia, the University of Nebraska, the University of Illinois, Colorado College and F.C.A. football camp in Cuba, Mo.

Boerboom earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Nebraska in 1992 and master's degree in physical education from Trinity College in 2002.

He and his wife, Stacy, are the parents of six children, Zach, Jake, Sarah, Jared, Mary and Nathan.

The Hatters will continue with spring practice with sessions on Friday afternoon at 3:45 and again on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The squad will hold its first of three scheduled scrimmages next Saturday, March 28, at 12:45 p.m. All practices are held at the Athletic Training Center and are open to the public.

Spring practice will culminate with the Green & White Spring Game on Friday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.