The University of Jamestown football team, led by new head coach Tom Dosch, is set to start the 2026 season on the road at Upper Iowa University on Saturday, August 29.  
 
The 2026-27 season will be a historic one for the Jimmies, having completed the NCAA Division II expedited provisional membership process, marking the Jimmies' second year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and first as full NCAA D-II members.  
 
The Team  
 
Starting quarterback Cole Hentges returns to lead the Jimmies in his second year with the team. Named the Jimmies' Offensive Player to Watch, the transfer from the University of North Dakota completed 138 passes for 1575 yards (157.5 yds/game) and threw 13 touchdown passes in 2025. Hentges also led the team in rushing yards with 641, an average of 64.1 per game and 4.6 per carry.  
 
Three key wide receivers return for the Jimmies, including their top target, Nathan Burke. In 2025, Burke caught 31 passes for 621 yards, averaging 62.1 yards per game and 20.1 per reception. Ethan Hoffman finished last year with 26 catches for 313 yards, averaging 12 yards per reception, and one touchdown. Gage Solano will return for his fifth year after accumulating 220 receiving yards on 16 grabs in 2025.  
 
Defensively, the Jimmies return five of their top six leading tacklers from last season, including linebacker Zach Mueller, who logged a team-high 66 tackles and recovered a fumble. Fellow linebacker Evan Smith finished his 2025 season with 35 tackles, two sacks, and an interception. 
 
Defensive back Tanner Chafee also returns for his fifth year after a 24-tackle season to go along with three interceptions, which tied him for fourth in the NSIC. Trayten Johnson was selected as the Jamestown Defensive Player to Watch, with 11 tackles and a sack across five games a season ago for a team that was 4^th-highest in the NSIC in fumbles per game. 
  
The Staff  
 
With Brian Mistro taking on the role of new Athletic Director, Tom Dosch assumes the head coaching duties. Dosch, who was previously the Associate Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for UJ, has over 30 years of coaching experience including stops at the University of North Dakota, Northern State University, Southern Illinois University, and Dickinson State University. This will be Dosch's second stint as head coach of the Jimmies after leading Jamestown to a 25-17 record from 2004-07, including an 8-3 finish in 2006 with an appearance in the NAIA playoffs, and a 9-2 finish in 2007 with a share of the Dakota Athletic Conference title and another NAIA playoff appearance.   
 
Taking over Dosch's role as Special Teams Coordinator in 2026 is Tyler Wilson. Wilson played at Guilford College from 2017-21 and brings experience from his time as an assistant in various roles at Allegheny College and Quincy University.  
 
Returning to the staff is Shane Kelly (Offensive Coordinator), Shane Clancy (Defensive Coordinator), Matt Chauvin (Quarterbacks Coach), Eric Becker (Wide Receivers Coach), Josh Zimmer (Defensive Line Coach/Director of Player Personnel), Jake Lehman (Defensive Backs Coach), as well as Graduate Assistants Finn Allers, Brady Butt, and Kole Mack.  
 
The Schedule  
 
The Jimmies' 11-game schedule will commence with a non-conference tilt at Upper Iowa on Saturday, August 29 and finishes with the 10-game NSIC slate.  
 
Jamestown will play four of the seven NSIC South teams in the first part of the conference schedule. The Jimmies will have their home opener against University of Sioux Falls (9/5), then play at Winona State University (9/12) and at Wayne State College (9/19).  
 
The final NSIC South opponent UJ will host is Concordia-St. Paul on September 26, with the Jimmies taking down the Golden Bears 33-22 in the Twin Cities last year.  
 
The NSIC North schedule will begin with the two North Dakota opponents in University of Mary on the road (10/3) and Minot State University at home on homecoming weekend (10/10). Jamestown has the following Saturday off before getting back into action on October 24, hosting Bemidji State University.  
 
The Jimmies then travel to preseason North Division favorite - University of Minnesota Duluth (10/31), host Minnesota State University Moorhead (11/7) in the home finale and then finish the season at Northern State University (11/14).  
 
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