Bison Football
Offensive Coaching Staff
Brent Vigan
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Brent Vigen begins his 14th season as an assistant coach at North Dakota State. He was named the offensive coordinator in January 2009 after spending the five previous seasons as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Vigen helped to develop two-time Great West Football Conference Player of the Year quarterback Steve Walker. North Dakota State was 8th in rushing offense (219.82 ypg) and 19th in total offense (400.09 ypg) in the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS statistics. In the MVFC statistics, the Bison were 1st in rushing offense (210.2 ypg) and 3rd in total offense (382.9 ypg).
Vigen worked as the running backs coach in 2003 under Coach Bohl. He was a member of former head coach Bob Babich's staff at NDSU for the previous five years, serving as a graduate assistant for three seasons (1998-2000) before becoming a fulltime coach in 2001 working with both the quarterbacks and tight ends.
A native of Buxton, N.D., Vigen played tight end for the Bison from 1993-97 and was a two-year starter. He was a member of three NCAA Division II playoff teams and the 1994 North Central Conference championship squad.
Vigen earned both his bachelor's degree (1998) and master's degree (2000) from North Dakota State. Brent and his wife, Molly, have two boys, Jake and Grant. Molly played basketball at NDSU and was a member of the 1996 NCAA Division II national championship team and three NCC title squads.
Scott Fuchs
Offensive Line Coach
Scott Fuchs begins his third season as North Dakota State's offensive line coach after coming back to his alma mater in January 2009.
A former All-American offensive guard for the Bison, Fuchs was the offensive line coach at Southern Illinois University during the 2008 season. The Salukis reached the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs and tied for the Missouri Valley Football Conference title.
Fuchs has been a part of six conference championship coaching staffs. Fuchs has coached 26 all-conference performers and six All-Americans during his coaching career. He’s helped to keep a streak intact, NDSU has had a running back rush for 1,000 yards eight straight seasons.
His extensive coaching resume also includes one season at Grand Valley State (2007), four years at Nebraska-Omaha (2003-06), three seasons at Minnesota-Crookston (2000-03), one year at Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1999) and two years at Valley City State (1997-98).
Fuchs started his coaching career as a graduate assistant working with the tight ends at North Dakota State from 1994-97. He was an offensive line coach at all stops except defensive line at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Fuchs has also worked with special teams, strength and conditioning, and camps.
A native of Minot, N.D., Fuchs earned his bachelor of science degree from North Dakota State in physical education and social science education in 1995 and his master of education degree with a specialization in physical education and athletic administration in 1997.
A member of the 1990 NCAA Division II national championship team, Fuchs earned 1993 Kodak/AFCA first team All-America honors at offensive guard and was a two-time All-North Central Conference selection. He was a part of three NCC championship teams (1991-92-93).
Scott and his wife, Emily, have three boys, Hank, Jack and Gus.
Tim Polasek
Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs/Special Teams
Tim Polasek begins his sixth season with North Dakota State University. Polasek is the recruiting coordinator, running backs coach and special teams coordinator for the Bison.
Polasek, who was promoted from graduate assistant to running backs coach in March 2007, worked with developing All-American and all-Missouri Valley Football Conference running backs Tyler Roehl, Pat Paschall and D.J. McNorton. Paschall led NCAA Division I FCS in rushing in 2009. The Bison have had a 1,000-yard rusher the past eight seasons.
Polasek was an assistant coach at Wisconsin-Stevens Point for three seasons before coming to North Dakota State. He coached the defensive backs (2005), wide receivers/tight ends (2003-04) and quarterbacks (spring 2003). Polasek coordinated special teams in 2004-05 and the passing game in 2003-04.
He played collegiate football at Concordia University in Wisconsin, where he is the school’s all-time leading passer. He set single-game, single-season and career records in TD passes, passing yards, completions and completion percentage. Polasek was the 2000 Badger-Illini Conference Player of the Year. He was a two-time first team all-conference selection in 2000-01 and second team in 1999.
Polasek graduated from Concordia in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He earned his master’s degree from Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2005.
Kenni Burns
Wide Recievers Coach
Kenni Burns begins his second season as wide receivers coach at North Dakota State University. Burns spent the previous two seasons as the tight ends coach at Southern Illinois, a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. SIU went 15-1 in MVFC play during his tenure and won a pair of conference championships. The Salukis won 20 of 25 games and made two NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) playoff appearances.
A major portion of the Saluki offense evolved around the tight ends, and Burns helped to develop a two-time all-conference selection at that position. The tight ends played a vital role opening up holes for the Saluki rushing attack that produced 1,000 yard rushers in back-to-back seasons. In 2009 the Salukis ranked 5th in the nation by averaging 221.1 yards on the ground.
A native of Springfield, Ill., Burns also played a major role in SIU’s recruiting efforts. Prior to going to Southern Illinois, he was the running backs coach at NCAA Division II Millersville (Pa.) University in 2007.
Burns played running back for four years at Indiana University (2003-06), where he lettered three times for the Hooisers. In 2004, Burns received the IU Iron Man award that is given to the player with the most snaps taken during the spring.
While attending Indiana, Burns was a member of the Indiana Student Government as the Athletic Project manager, which was the bridge between the student government and the athletic department. He helped create more student seating at football and basketball games, and helped reduce ticket prices for students.
Before arriving at Indiana, Burns attended Sacred Heart Griffin (Ill.) High School. He was a three-time all-state player and was the first ever sophomore to receive all-state honors. He also received several All-American honors his senior year. He graduated in December 2006 from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in general studies.
Tyler Roehl
Offensive Graduate Assistant
Tyler Roehl returns his alma mater, North Dakota State University, as the offensive graduate assistant. He spent the 2010 season as the running backs coach and junior varsity offensive coordinator at Concordia (Minn.) College.
Roehl, who was with the Seattle Seahawks in 2009, finished his career as the eighth leading rusher in school history with 2,512 yards. He was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America® University Division first team selection and named to the 2008 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams®. Roehl rushed for 1,053 yards and 13 TDs on 171 carries in 2008.
A 2007 Sports Network and Associated Press FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) second team All-American, Roehl rushed 207 times for 1,431 yards and 21 touchdowns in leading the Bison to a 10-1 season. He ran for a school record 263 yards in the 27-21 win over Minnesota. Roehl led the Great West Football Conference in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards.
The West Fargo, N.D., native graduated from North Dakota State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He led the Packers to a pair of North Dakota Class 3A football titles.
